Thousands of car accidents happen every day across the United States. Things like drunk driving, ignoring traffic rules, and other dangerous driving habits cause these accidents and can seriously injure victims. It is not unusual for victims of car accidents to need medical treatment for a very long time, and medical treatment can become very expensive, even for individuals with a solid insurance plan.
Fortunately, we can assist you after a car accident in Pooler. Our firm knows how to effectively handle car accident lawsuits because of our professionalism, experience, and drive for justice. Let us work for you toward getting you the best possible outcome for your claim.
For a free, no-obligation case review from our car accident lawyers, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
What Causes Car Accidents in Pooler, GA?
Car accidents happen for all sorts of reasons. In fact, no two accidents will happen for exactly the same reasons, as there will always be peculiarities and differences that make a case unique. Determining what caused your particular accident is very important to our car accident lawyers. In law, you can only hold accountable parties that actually caused your injuries, so figuring out the distinct causes of your car accident is critical to a successful legal claim.
Driver Negligence
One of the most common causes of car crashes is negligence on the part of the driver. In law, “negligence” refers to someone being careless and injuring someone else as a result. There are two main ways that drivers can be negligent in car accident lawsuits.
First, drivers can be negligent by ignoring traffic rules, regulations, and laws. So, speeding, driving under the influence, distracted driving, and other traffic infractions are negligent acts. Such traffic violations are negligent because a law says those acts constitute negligence.
The other way that a driver can be negligent is by not acting as a “reasonable” driver should under the circumstances. Reasonable individuals, including drivers, are expected to act in a way that is not likely to hurt other people. Whether the driver in your case acted reasonably or not is ultimately a question for the jury, so our lawyers will work towards making them understand how the driver who injured you acted unreasonably.
Vehicle Defects
Another way that car accidents happen is through vehicle defects. Defects can cause accidents even when all drivers involved are doing everything right. In law, a “defect” is a problem with a product that has the potential to hurt someone else. Defects come in two main categories: design defects and manufacturing defects.
Design defects are there from the start. They are problems inherent in the vehicle’s design that are likely to injure someone in the ordinary course of use. So, a vehicle with a design defect will still have problems even if it is built exactly to specifications.
By contrast, manufacturing defects arise from mistakes made somewhere in the process. These problems come from deviations from the intended design. For example, suppose a car has brakes designed to be installed a certain way, but a mechanic does a faulty installation and also messes up the electrical wiring. That vehicle can be said to have a manufacturing defect.
Poor Road Conditions
Some accidents can be the result of poor road conditions. Things like potholes, defective guardrails, and uncleared debris can cause motor vehicle accidents to happen. Normally, government entities are responsible for maintaining and cleaning Georgia roads. There are special rules for suing government entities, so you may want to discuss that prospect with our car accident attorneys.
Damages You Can Get Pooler, GA Car Accident Lawsuits
Any car accident lawsuit aims to have the court award you damages. This is how plaintiffs are put back to the place they were in prior to getting injured. In most cases, this is not literally possible, so financial compensation is used as a substitute.
Medical treatment costs and lost wages are very common items for which plaintiffs seek damages. However, you can also get damages for more esoteric things like physical pain or mental anguish. Unlike a medical bill, those things will not have their value spelled out in print, so you will need to persuade the jury to understand their worth.
Calculating Damages in Pooler, GA Car Accident Lawsuits
When you file your claim, you have to state the amount you are asking for in damages. Accordingly, you and our lawyers will have to calculate it beforehand. While there is no required method you need to use, two very common ones are the multiplier method and the per diem method.
The multiplier method adds up your economic damages and then multiplies them by a given factor. For example, if you have $100,000 in medical expenses and multiply that by a factor of 2, you would come to $200,000 in non-economic damages for a total of $300,000 in compensatory damages. The multiplier method is most often used when plaintiffs are not expected to fully recover from their injuries.
The other method is called the “per diem,” or daily method. This method calculates a daily amount based on each day you deal with the effects of your injuries. You then add up the amount for each day you are expected to deal with the effects of the accident. The “per diem” method is most often used when the plaintiff is expected to fully recover from their injuries at some point. Otherwise, this method would result in infinite damages, which courts would be extremely unlikely to award to anyone.
Speak to One of Our Car Accident Lawyers from Pooler, GA Today
Have Howe Law’s car accident lawyers look at your case when you contact us at (844) 876-4357.
