When car accidents happen, people are likely to get seriously injured. Pedestrians involved in car accidents are even more likely to get injured than passengers of vehicles that are struck by cars because passengers are afforded the safety features of the vehicle they are in while pedestrians are not. It is not uncommon at all for pedestrians hit by cars to have to go to the hospital for an extended period of time. This could lead to an arduous recovery where you may have to miss work or be unable to do activities you enjoy.
If you were hit by a vehicle while going about your day, our lawyers can help. Our attorneys will provide professional, competent representation and will never waver until your case is resolved.
To get a free review of your case from our pedestrian accident lawyers, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Why File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Newnan, GA?
There are many reasons why people choose to go to court after they are injured. Indeed, no two cases will be exactly the same, and no two plaintiffs will have the exact same reasons for going to court. However, there are some common reasons why people choose to file pedestrian accident lawsuits when they are injured. Regardless of your reason, our pedestrian accident lawyers can assist you with your needs.
Financial Compensation
One of the primary reasons plaintiffs file lawsuits after they are injured is that they need financial compensation for their injuries. Pedestrians who are hit by motor vehicles often incur very serious injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, lacerations and puncture wounds, and more. The medical expenses for initial emergency treatment, extended hospital stays, and long-term therapy and lifestyle changes can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most plaintiffs will need some kind of outside assistance to handle that kind of sudden expense, and filing a lawsuit allows them to get that financial compensation from the party that wronged them in the first place.
Justice Served
Another reason plaintiffs sue after getting injured is to try and make sure that justice is done. Some plaintiffs primarily desire to see recognition by a court of law that they were negligently injured. This can especially be true when the defendant vehemently denies any wrongdoing after they caused a plaintiff’s injuries.
Peace of Mind
Sometimes, plaintiffs wish to move on from a potentially traumatic and painful experience like getting hit by a car or other vehicle. Filing a lawsuit can sometimes help plaintiffs end a dark chapter in their lives and move on with some kind of closure for their grievances.
The First Steps in a Newnan, GA Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
For many plaintiffs, the toughest part of their lawsuit is getting it off the ground. This is because someone who was injured may not know exactly what to do right away because the amount of things they have to process is overwhelming, and emotions are still raw. Below is a quick overview of the initial steps of a pedestrian accident lawsuit when you bring your case to our pedestrian accident lawyers.
Initial Discussion
The first step towards filing a pedestrian accident lawsuit is an initial discussion with our lawyers. You will tell us about what happened, and we can give limited feedback on your situation. Then, should you choose to have us represent you, we can move on to further consultations and prepare a case to take to court.
Filing a Complaint
Arguably, the most important early step in the process of a lawsuit is filing a complaint with the court. In fact, sometimes cases can be won or lost depending on whether a complaint was filed correctly or not.
The complaint is important because it is the first impression the court gets of your situation. In the complaint, you set forth, in detail, exactly how the soon-to-be defendant injured you and what you want the court to do to make the defendant compensate you for your injuries. This is called the “prayer for relief,” which is just a complicated term for telling the court what you want them to do to fix the situation.
It is important to note that you must file your complaint fairly promptly. The “statute of limitations” sets a time limit on how long after you are injured you have to file a complaint. For pedestrian accident lawsuits in Georgia, you have two years to file a complaint under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Our lawyers can make sure that you file in a timely fashion, but it is important that you start the process early so that you do not miss out on your chance to get financial compensation.
Service of Process
The next step is to notify the defendant that they are being sued. This generally involves mailing them a copy of your complaint, calling them at their home or place of business, or, slightly less common in this day and age, hand-delivering service of process to them. Once the defendant knows that they are sued, they can respond in a handful of ways. First, they can wholly deny your allegations against them, at which point the lawsuit is in full swing, and the compiling of evidence, exchange of information, and other pre-trial preparations begin. Second, they can deny some of the allegations and concede others. Often, this leads to the same outcome as if they had denied everything. Finally, the defendant has the option to admit to the allegations against them, at which point the legal process turns to how the defendant is going to compensate the plaintiff.
Call Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
Howe Law’s pedestrian accident lawyers are available at the number (844) 876-4357 to give free case reviews.
