Accidents happen all the time, and people are often injured. Whether your injuries are minor or severely debilitating, you deserve justice through fair compensation.
A personal injury claim often arises from an accident or incident that causes physical injuries. While you might have various other claims, your bodily injuries are at the heart of your case. You might be able to sue several potentially liable parties, including individuals, organizations, and maybe even the government. Personal injury cases frequently involve car accidents, dangerous or unsafe premises, and faulty products that cause injuries when they are used for their intended purposes. Proving that the defendant is responsible for your injuries is no easy task. Some evidence might be found at the location of the accident, while other evidence might be found in witness testimony or even your medical records.
If you were hurt in an accident, call our Atlanta personal injury lawyers at (844) 876-4357, and our experienced staff at Howe Law will arrange a free initial case review.
How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Claim in Rome, GA?
It can be hard to tell that you have a valid legal claim for damages after being injured. People often chalk up bad experiences to unavoidable accidents or blame circumstances beyond their control. The uncomfortable truth of the matter is that many accidents are avoidable, and an attorney can help you pinpoint who is to blame.
The primary requirement of a personal injury claim is that the plaintiff experienced some form of bodily harm. The harm need not be severe for you to have a valid personal injury claim. However, the more serious your injuries, the more valuable your damages likely will be, and the more financial compensation you might be entitled to.
A good way to assess your personal injury claim is by the physical pain from your injuries and how much it costs to get back to normal. If your injuries were especially painful and cost a lot of money to treat at the hospital, you should speak to a lawyer immediately. Even if you can afford the cost of treatment, you might still want justice, and an attorney can help you.
Who You Can Sue for Damages in a Personal Injury Case in Rome, GA
The people involved in a personal injury case may vary based on the nature of the accident and your injuries. Some cases involve only one defendant, while others involve multiple defendants. In some cases, defendants are not even people but groups or organizations. Our personal injury attorneys can help you determine who is responsible and how to prove it in court.
Private individuals are often named in personal injury lawsuits. Sometimes, the other person is someone you know, like a friend, neighbor, or coworker. Other times, they are a stranger, and your only connection to them is the accident. You might sue the other driver after a car accident, a property owner where you slipped and fell, or even a doctor who provided negligent medical care.
In other cases, you might not sue a single person but a group. Often, this means suing a business that somehow injured you through negligent business practices or negligent employees. For example, in a case against a negligent doctor, injured plaintiffs often sue the doctor and the hospital for hiring the negligent doctor. If you were injured in a bus crash, you might sue the bus company in addition to the negligent driver.
In some cases, the government might be responsible for causing injuries, and suing them tends to be more complicated. Even so, suing governmental entities is possible. For example, you might be able to sue your child’s public school for injuries. However, according to O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5(b), you must file a notice of your claim with the appropriate government entity or agency within 6 months of the injuries. If you fail to do this, you might be unable to bring a claim against the government.
Common Cases Involving Personal Injuries in Rome, GA
Some of the most common reasons behind personal injury cases are car accidents. You might be injured in a collision with one other vehicle or badly hurt in a multi-vehicle accident or pile-up. Car accidents may range from minor to moderate to deadly, and there may be a whole host of damages to claim.
Premises liability claims involve personal injuries sustained in accidents caused by hazardous conditions on someone’s property. For example, rickety stairs, broken windows, wet floors, and faulty wiring might all lead to painful injuries. Property owners have a duty to remove or repair these hazards. They must also make reasonable inspections for hazards they might be unaware of. If you were hurt on someone else’s property (e.g., someone’s home, a store, a restaurant), you can sue them for your injuries.
Product liability cases involve personal injuries resulting from faulty, damaged, or defective goods and products. For example, if someone purchased a power tool for some home repair work and was injured because the tool was poorly designed or damaged by the manufacturer or retailer, the injured person may sue. Generally, you must have been using the defective item for its intended purpose in a reasonably safe way. Otherwise, the defendant might argue your own reckless or negligent behavior caused the injuries.
Evidence to Support Personal Injury Claims in Rome, GA
Evidence to prove the defendant’s negligence often comes from the accident scene. If you took photos, recorded videos, or have information regarding details of the accident scene, they may be entered as evidence. We might also present physical objects if they are important to the case. For example, if you were injured because of a faulty power tool, the tool itself is crucial evidence that must be examined.
Witness testimony is important. If anyone at all saw your accident unfold, we need to speak with them and ask them about what they saw. The more people who can back up your claims and testify that they saw the defendant cause the accident, the more likely you will succeed.
Your testimony is also crucial. Only you can testify about certain details, such as the degree of pain caused by your injuries or how your injuries have prevented you from working or enjoying your life. There are no other witnesses in some cases, and the plaintiff’s testimony is the lynchpin of the whole case.
If You Were Hurt, Call Our Rome, GA Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Now
Call our personal injury attorneys at (844) 876-4357, and our experienced staff at Howe Law will schedule a free initial case evaluation.
