Countless car accidents take place every day across the state of Georgia. These accidents can result in grievous injuries. These injuries can require many medical treatments, and paying for medical care can easily balloon into enormous expenses. For that reason, many car accident victims choose to file lawsuits in order to get the compensation they need to handle the cost of dealing with their injuries.
If you are considering filing a car accident lawsuit in or around Duluth, our legal team can help. We have represented countless plaintiffs injured in car accidents and held many defendants accountable in court for their negligent acts. It is imperative that you get in contact with legal counsel as soon as possible following your car accident.
To have a free, no-obligation review of your case, call our team of car accident lawyers from Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
What Can Lead to a Car Accident in Duluth, GA?
Car accidents happen for all sorts of reasons. The vast majority of car accidents are the result of negligence. In law, negligence means that someone else was careless, and their carelessness led to you getting hurt. That definition is very broad, and negligence can take many forms. Below, our car accident attorneys have compiled some of the ways that negligence can lead to a car accident and serious injuries. However, you should not be dissuaded from filing a claim if you do not see something that caused your particular accident in this article, as our lawyer will be able to assist you either way.
Driver Negligence
Driver negligence often results in car accidents. Drivers can partake in negligent behavior by disregarding basic driving rules and violating traffic laws. Speeding, drunk driving, running red lights, going right through stop signs, and other traffic infractions are all considered negligent acts. Additionally, things like driving aggressively can also be considered negligent even if there is not a direct traffic law or rule prohibiting them.
In this day and age, distracted driving is also a serious problem. A driver talking on the phone or texting can easily lose track of what is going on around them and get in an accident.
Defective Vehicles
Sometimes, a car accident is caused by something other than driver error. If an accident was the result of a defective vehicle, you can file what is called a product liability lawsuit against the car designer or manufacturer – depending on the kind of defect involved.
Defects can be classified as design defects or manufacturing defects. First, design defects come from problems with the car that are deeply rooted in its design. So, even if the care is built “correctly,” it is still dangerous when used in a responsible manner. For example, gas tanks that are prone to exploding on impact can be considered design defects.
As opposed to design defects, manufacturing defects are mistakes made along the way that deviate from the otherwise good design. For example, improperly installed brakes that do not stop a car in time or airbags that get stuck and will not deploy when the vehicle is hit are manufacturing defects.
Dangerous Road Conditions
In other cases, car accidents are the result of poor road conditions. Potholes, defective guardrails, debris, and other road obstructions can result in accidents.
Government entities are generally responsible for cleaning up roads in Georgia, and there are special rules about suing government entities that you may need to follow. Accordingly, you should speak with our car accident lawyers if you want to file against a state or local government.
Damages From Duluth, GA Car Accident Claims
In any car accident lawsuit, your goal is to collect damages from the defendant. Damages are the court’s way of compensating plaintiffs who prove the defendant caused their injuries. The idea is to get plaintiffs back to where they were prior to getting injured. Of course, depending on the plaintiff’s injuries, this may not be literally possible, so financial compensation is used as the next best thing.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are based on things that can have their monetary value quickly proven. For example, your medical bills and expenses fall under the category of economic damages, as would any property damage that may have happened in your accident.
Additionally, lost income from work can be counted under economic damages. If you had to spend time recovering instead of working, that potential income can be factored into damages. Additionally, if you have to take a less lucrative job because of your injuries, that factors into damages. Finally, if you cannot work anymore because of the accident, you can be awarded damages based on your projected future income for what would have been your career.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, by contrast, are harder to establish than economic damages. This is because they are for more esoteric things like pain and mental anguish. It is impossible to put a price tag on, say, how much a broken bone hurt or on recurring nightmares about car crashes, so you will have to establish their worth with the help of our attorneys.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are a special kind of damages based on the conduct of the defendant. They are awarded when a defendant has acted in a particularly bad way. Usually, you need to prove that the defendant set out to intentionally harm you and was not just merely negligent. For that reason, you should talk to our lawyers about whether it makes sense to seek punitive damages in your claim.
Have a Chat with a Duluth, GA Car Accident Lawyer About Your Case
Howe Law’s car accident attorneys are ready to review your claim when you reach out to us at (844) 876-4357.
