‘Personal injuries’ occur when someone is injured because of another party’s negligent actions. Victims of an accident can face a difficult road to recovery in the months and years following the event. The damages suffered by personal injury victims can be extensive. Furthermore, insurance companies may fight to decrease the value of a victim’s claim.
Our Alpharetta, GA personal injury lawyers can ease victims’ stress by taking responsibility for their case. Our lawyers will gather evidence and fight insurance companies on behalf of our clients. Furthermore, we will reject low settlement offers and negotiate for fair compensation.
If you have been injured because of another’s negligence, get help from experienced Alpharetta personal injury lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Elements of a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Alpharetta, GA
In order to proceed with a personal injury lawsuit in Alpharetta, plaintiffs must first establish that a defendant had a duty to act or refrain from acting in a certain way under specific circumstances. For instance, drivers on Georgia roads have a legal duty to operate their vehicle in a reasonably safe manner and follow the rules of the road. Legal duties can be established through laws or through court decisions. Our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers can explain which legal duties apply to your case.
Second, plaintiffs have to prove that defendants breached a legal duty for a personal injury claim to proceed. The breach of duty requirement is typically satisfied through proof of the defendants’ negligent acts or failures to act. Defendants’ acts may be classified as negligent if they were careless, unsafe, or dangerous.
Next, each personal injury plaintiff must prove that they were injured because of a defendant’s breach of duty. In other words, defendants’ actions must cause or contribute to plaintiffs’ injuries in order for a personal injury lawsuit to proceed. In order to prove defendants were at fault, plaintiffs may be required to gather copious amounts of evidence. If you were injured because of another party’s negligence, our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers can help gather evidence and build your case.
Finally, personal injury victims have to have suffered damages. Any damages plaintiffs seek to recover must have been caused by defendants’ negligent conduct. However, there are a variety of damages that may be recovered in Alpharetta personal injury lawsuits.
Damages Available in Alpharetta, GA Personal Injury Lawsuits
Damages refers to the forms of monetary compensation awarded to plaintiffs if their personal injury claim is successful. In Alpharetta, there are three categories of damages plaintiffs should be aware of. Our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers can help determine which damages may be available in your case.
Special Damages
Special damages refer to quantifiable financial losses that personal injury victims suffer because of negligent conduct. A common form of special damages is medical expenses. There are numerous injuries that may stem from a personal injury. Accordingly, there is a wide range of medical expenses that may be compensated, from expenses for ambulance rides to the cost of rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Property damage is another common form of special damages. For instance, you might have suffered vehicle damage if you were in a car accident. Our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers can help you recover for damage to property after any kind of accident, especially car accident claims.
Finally, lost wages are third type of special damages that our lawyers fight for. Personal injury victims may suffer injuries that inhibit their ability to work. If you suffered a personal injury, you may recover damages for lost wages incurred during the recovery period. Furthermore, you may be compensated for future losses if you are unable to return to your former job because of an injury.
General Damages
General damages are less easily identified. People commonly refer to these damages as “non-economic damages.” These damages are harder to quantify but can be just as impactful on personal injury victims. Accordingly, personal injury victims in Alpharetta may recover for physical pain, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, physical impairment, and other damages stemming from an accident. Our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers can help you recover compensation for general damages after an accident.
Punitive Damages
Lastly, punitive damages may be awarded in some personal injury lawsuits. Punitive damages seek to punish a defendant and disincentivize especially egregious behavior. However, punitive damages can be difficult to recover. If you were injured because of a defendant’s especially egregious conduct, you can speak with our Alpharetta personal injury attorneys to determine if punitive damages may be available in your case.
Lawyers’ Fees for Alpharetta, GA, Personal Injury Lawyers
If you suffered a personal injury, you may have concerns regarding how to pay for a lawyer. Our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers will consult with you and review your case for free. Furthermore, Alpharetta lawyers are permitted to work on a contingency fee pay structure. This allows our clients to pay attorneys’ fees with a portion of money won in their case. Therefore, our clients using this pay structure will not have to pay anything up front and our lawyers can get to work on their case immediately.
Statute of Limitations for Alpharetta, GA Personal Injury Lawsuits
Time limits for filing a personal injury case are governed by a state’s statute of limitations. In Alpharetta, GA, plaintiffs have two years from the date of their injury to file a claim. However, evidence related to your case may become harder to collect over time. Waiting to file a claim can cause you to miss out on compensation.
Furthermore, special rules exist regarding a minor’s right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Minors lack the capacity to file a lawsuit on their own. Accordingly, parents may bring a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of their child. Once a minor reaches the age of 18, the two-year time limit for filing their own claim will begin to count down. In other words, if a minor suffers an injury because of another’s negligence, then they can typically file their lawsuit on their own between the ages of 18 and 20.
Understanding how the statute of limitations applies to your case can be confusing. Accordingly, you can consult with our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers to get help filing a case.
If You Suffered a Personal Injury in Alpharetta, GA, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you have been injured because of another’s negligence, get help recovering the compensation you deserve by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
