Personal injury is a broad legal term that covers a wide range of civil cases. In Martinez, victims of negligence can sue for compensatory damages.
Personal injury claims can be brought for various reasons, like because of auto accidents or slip on falls on someone else’s property. So long your injuries were due to negligence, you can sue or compensation in Martinez. To ensure your claim is strong and successful, report your accident after it takes place. You can do so by calling 911 and speaking with law enforcement. Then, focus on collecting evidence. By going to the hospital, you can begin building up medical evidence of your accident injuries. Our attorneys can handle other evidence collection efforts so that you can focus on your health. Finally, officially file your claim in court before the two-year deadline for personal injury lawsuits in Georgia.
To have the Augusta, GA personal injury lawyers of Howe Law review your case for free, call us now at (844) 876-4357.
Types of Personal Injury Claims in Martinez, GA
There are many reasons why someone might sue for a personal injury in Martinez. Any type of accident caused by negligence can make you entitled to compensation for your damages.
Many personal injury cases are brought because of auto accidents. These include car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. Other times, victims might be hurt because of slip and fall accidents on someone else’s property. Such accidents are often caused by hazards or obstructions on negligently maintained properties, such as faulty handrails, poor lighting, and broken floorboards, among other dangers.
The crux of any personal injury claim is whether or not another person’s negligence caused the victim’s injuries. This means that, if someone owed you a duty of care and breached it, hurting you, you can bring a personal injury claim in Martinez. If you are unsure whether or not negligence was at play during your recent accident, allow our lawyers to review your claim and determine whether or not you can sue.
Duties of care vary, depending on the type of relationship between the involved parties. For example, drivers owe a different duty of care to other drivers than property owners owe to visitors. Still, a duty of care exists. We can examine the facts of your case to determine the level of care owed to you at the time of the accident and identify the exact breach of duty that caused your injuries in Martinez.
Preparing Your Personal Injury Claim in Martinez, GA
Preparing a strong personal injury claim can make all the difference regarding your recovery. Start by reporting the accident that caused you injury to the necessary parties, like law enforcement. Then, you can move forward with the evidence collection aspect of your claim in Martinez.
Reporting the Incident
Reporting personal injuries to the proper parties and agencies is important. If you were hurt in an auto accident, for example, you must report it to the police in Martinez, according to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273. Officers will complete an accident report, which our attorneys can help you obtain and review in the time following the incident. When reporting an accident to the police, provide them with as much detailed information about the event as possible. If you were hurt on someone else’s property, inform the property owner of your injuries. This is best done in writing so that there is documentation of the accident. If you are having difficulty doing this, our lawyers can assist you.
Collecting Evidence
The next step is to collect evidence. After taking on your case, our personal injury lawyers can use their resources and experience to investigate the incident in question. Such investigations can turn up evidence, such as eyewitness statements and video footage from security cameras. Victims can certain types of build evidence, such as medical evidence, by going to the hospital for treatment immediately after they become injured. Starting the evidence collection process as soon as possible is important, as certain evidence might be more likely to degrade or become lost as time passes. For example, eyewitnesses might forget what they saw, or surveillance footage might get deleted.
Filing a Lawsuit for Personal Injury in Martinez, GA
The process of pursuing litigation can be a confusing one for victims, especially if they are suffering from serious injuries. Our attorneys can handle the various aspects of filing a lawsuit so that you can focus on your physical recovery in Martinez.
When filing your complaint with the court, you must include the name of the defendant, your desired compensation, and a general summary of your claim. Including the necessary information in your initial complaint will be essential to order to avoid certain hurdles in the future.
Victims must pay attention to the statute of limitations as well. In Martinez and the rest of Georgia, the deadline to file a lawsuit for a personal injury is two years from the date of the accident, according to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
There is tolling for delayed discovery in Georgia, but that does not apply to all personal injury cases. If you should have reasonably known about your injuries on or near the date of the accident, the statute of limitations will not be tolled for any amount of time. Adhering to the filing deadline is of the utmost importance for injury victims, as missing it could bar them from recovery of damages in Martinez.
Furthermore, waiting too long to file your claim, even if you do so within the allotted timeframe, could cause issues with your case. Urgency is crucial to any personal injury claim as it shows the defendant and the jury that you are committed to your financial and physical recovery.
Call the Martinez, GA Lawyers of Howe Law to Discuss Your Case Today
Call our personal injury lawyers at (844) 876-4357 to get help with your case from Howe Law.
