Sometimes, one of our clients tells us that they were injured in an accident but that they aren’t sure who caused it. Sometimes, these clients know who primarily caused the accident but they don’t know the law. They aren’t quite sure how the courts will determine who was at fault. The good news is that our personal injury attorneys in Georgia are very familiar with the law. They know how to prove negligence and will do whatever they can to prove your case. They also understand that you can still collect damages even if you were partially at fault.
We suggest that anybody who is hurt in an accident call one of our Atlanta personal injury lawyers. Take the time to sit down and voice your concerns to a licensed professional. Let them know what you’re afraid of. If you think the judge will determine that you were primarily responsible for the accident, let your attorney know. This way, they can thoroughly review all the evidence and let you know where you stand.
We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. We do this so you have a chance to discuss your case with a seasoned personal injury attorney in Georgia before you make any final decisions. If you think it’s worth pursuing your claim, let your attorney know. They can let you know if they think your case has merit. If it doesn’t, they’ll let you know. We are always honest and upfront with our clients and ask them to be the same way with us.
It’s Very Hard to Apportion Fault in a Personal Injury Case
Regardless of what type of accident you were involved in, it is always hard to determine who was at fault. You may think the other party was at fault but, at the same time, the defendant is thinking the same thing about you. Your Atlanta personal injury lawyer is going to carefully review the evidence you have. One of the important things they will examine is the police report. This serves as an unbiased view of what happened. The cops don’t care who was at fault.
Whether you were in a car crash or a slip and fall, it’s important that you call 911. They will not only arrange for an ambulance to transport you to the hospital, but they’ll also do a through investigation. Of course, this will be a bit more helpful if you were hurt in a car crash. At least then, the cops will have the damaged vehicles as a guide. They can also talk to eyewitnesses. It gets a little more difficult to determine fault in other types of personal injury cases. Still, your personal injury attorney in Georgia can hire experts if need be. They can review the evidence and let your attorney know what they think happened.
Georgia Follows the Comparative Negligence Rules
Sometimes, it is clear who was at fault in a personal injury case. However, this isn’t always the case. This is why Georgia follows something called the comparative negligence rule. This rule is common in most states. It essentially holds that a plaintiff can still sue for damages, even if they were partially at fault. As long as someone is less than 50% at fault in their personal injury case, they can still collect damages. Furthermore, if you are partially at fault, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
The best way to explain this is to provide you with an example. Imagine that you are hurt in a slip-and-fall accident and suffer $100,000 in damages. You fell while at a grocery store. At the time of your fall, you were wearing stiletto high heels. The defendant’s attorney argues that, had you been wearing regular shoes, you never would’ve fallen in the first place. The judge or jury may agree with them. If this is the case, the question is – what percentage of fault do you bear? If the court says you were 30% at fault, then your damages will be reduced by $30,000. Likewise, if you were found to be 20% at fault, your damages would be reduced by $20,000. Your Atlanta personal injury lawyer is going to fight to get you as much as possible.
Contact One of Our Seasoned Personal Injury Attorneys in Georgia
The days after your accident can be very confusing. You’re trying to deal with your injuries. At the same time, you need to decide if you want to pursue legal action. These aren’t always easy decisions. Our personal injury attorneys in Georgia meet with new clients every week who aren’t sure what to do. They count on our Atlanta personal injury lawyers to help them make these decisions.
This is why we recommend that anybody who is hurt in any sort of accident call our office. You can schedule your free, initial consultation with one of our seasoned personal injury attorneys in Georgia. Sit down and tell them your story. You want to be upfront and honest with them about your level of fault. If you think you were partially responsible for the accident, let them know. They’re going to find out eventually and it’s better if they know upfront. This way, they can at least prepare your case with this in mind. If you don’t say anything and let your Atlanta personal injury lawyer be blindsided later, things won’t work out so well.
We suggest that you call our office as soon as possible after your accident. Schedule your free, initial consultation and sit down with someone who has handled plenty of cases like yours in the past. Our personal injury attorneys in Georgia have decades of combined experience handling personal injury cases. We know what it takes to win them. We also understand how to handle a situation in which our clients is partly at fault. It’s not the end of the world. In fact, as discussed here, you can still collect damages even if you were partially at fault. Call today so you can set up a date and time to come into the office. Since the initial consultation is free, you don’t have anything to lose.
