Accidents happen all the time, and sometimes they cause severe injuries. If you were hurt in an accident that someone else caused through their own inexcusable negligence, you should contact a lawyer immediately.
While injured victims often hesitate to sue, doing so might get you the money and closure you need to attain justice and move forward with your life. Damages can be very high in personal injury claims. Common damages include medical bills, the value of destroyed property, pain, suffering, and other injuries or traumas. You need to present evidence to prove your claims and get the compensation you rightly deserve. Photos of the accident scene, records from the hospital about your injuries, witness testimony, and more can be used to support your case. It is wise to talk to a lawyer and begin your case sooner rather than later, as the filing deadline for your lawsuit might be fast approaching.
Schedule a free, private case evaluation with our personal injury lawyers to start your case by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Why You Should Sue for Personal Injuries After an Accident in Gainesville, GA
You might have a swirling mix of emotions after being hurt in an accident. Many people report feeling a sense of violation on top of great physical pain from their injuries. Even though the person who caused the accident and harmed you might not have committed a crime in the legal sense, they should still be held accountable for their actions. A personal injury lawsuit may help you get the justice you so deserve.
The driving force for many plaintiffs in personal injury cases is money. This is a perfectly valid reason to begin a lawsuit. People sometimes feel embarrassed or ashamed that money is why they want to sue. It makes them feel greedy. The truth is, you might have outrageously high medical bills and other expensive costs related to the accident that you cannot afford without the money you would get from a lawsuit.
Many other plaintiffs report that money is important but not their main focus. Instead, these plaintiffs want closure so they can put the whole ordeal behind them. Your accident might have been quite traumatic. The defendant’s callous behavior and lack of remorse might amplify these negative feelings. Getting a jury verdict holding the defendant liable can help people get the vindication they need to move on.
Damages Available in Many Gainesville, GA Personal Injury Cases
As mentioned before, damages in personal injury claims are known to be high. Our personal injury lawyers can help you evaluate your damages so you can get the most compensation possible.
A big source of damages is pain. Your injuries likely came with much physical pain. Depending on the nature of your injuries, this pain might have been excruciating. Sometimes, the pain is long-lasting and lasts for weeks, months, years, or indefinitely. Your pain, although unconnected to money, deserves substantial financial compensation.
You might also experience emotional or mental suffering, humiliation, trauma, and other painful experiences. For example, in slip and fall injuries, many plaintiffs report being laughed at by passersby rather than being helped, and they are left deeply humiliated in addition to being badly hurt. Perhaps your accident somehow damaged your professional reputation, and you lost business and income. Talk to your lawyer about everything you felt and endured after the accident. You might have greater damages than you realize.
Medical bills are infamously expensive, even for people with health insurance. In severe cases, plaintiffs need extensive and long-term medical care. This kind of care often leads to thousands or even millions in medical debt.
You can also claim the cost of lost or destroyed property. Your wrecked car or even things like jewelry, phones, and personal items can be claimed after a crash.
If you are too injured to continue working, or if your professional life took a big hit, as discussed above, you can claim lost income and wages as part of your damages. These damages can be staggering depending on how long you are out of work or how much business you lost.
When and How to Sue for Personal Injuries in Gainesville, GA
Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Georgia is only 2 years. This might initially sound like plenty of time to start a lawsuit, but the deadline is surprisingly tight, and you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
The time goes by much faster than many plaintiffs realize. You might spend weeks or months recovering from your injuries before spending a few more weeks or months mulling over the idea of a lawsuit. By the time many plaintiffs approach an attorney about their case, a huge chunk of time has already passed. It is best to hire a lawyer sooner rather than later. This way, your lawyer has more time to prepare and deal with any unforeseen legal hurdles that could come up.
To start your lawsuit, you need to file a complaint with the courts. Your complaint should contain information regarding evidence, damages, and why you believe the defendant should be held responsible.
You must gather enough evidence to show the court that you have a valid cause of action. Remember that this does not mean you must include all possible evidence in your complaint or even enough evidence to meet the burden of proof. You only need enough to show that you have a valid legal claim and that a trial is warranted.
You must also assess damages and claim relief in your complaint. Any damages left out of your complaint might not be considered by a jury and might be lost.
Spell out how you were injured, how the defendant was involved, and why you believe the defendant should be held liable. If your complaint is too vague or otherwise insufficient, it might be rejected by the court.
If You Were Injured in an Accident, Call Our Gainesville, GA Personal Injury Lawyers Now
If you were hurt in an accident that someone else carelessly caused, contact our personal injury lawyers at Howe Law to arrange a free case review by calling (844) 876-4357.
