Injuries are unpredictable. They can occur at any time or any place. Often, most types of personal injuries are preventable, and they usually happen due to the negligence of another party. Whether you were injured in a slip and fall or a car accident, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers are here to help you demand the compensation you deserve from the at-fault party.
When filing a personal injury claim, you are going to want a competent Atlanta personal injury lawyer that is going to guide you through the process. At The Herro Law Firm, we can do this for you and will fight to ensure you receive the full compensation for your injuries and losses.
To find out more about our Atlanta law firm and get a free case evaluation, call (404) 433-6876 today!
What Should You Do After an Injury?
It’s normal to be frightened and confused after suffering an injury, but what you do at this moment is crucial for your ability to seek compensation. Following these steps will help you when it comes time to move forward with a legal claim.
Get Medical Care and Keeps Records of Treatment
Seeking medical treatment will increase your chances of making a full recovery. It will also allow doctors to document your injuries and establish a connection between your injury and the accident. Don’t forget to keep all records of treatment and copies of medical bills.
Take Photos and Record Videos
If you have your smartphone with you, take photos/video footage of the accident scene, any visible injuries you may have, and anything else that might be relevant. After a car crash, you should take pictures of any skid marks or debris on the road, damage to vehicles and nearby property, the scene of the accident, etc.
Ask for the Names and Numbers of Any Witnesses
You should ask any witnesses to the accident about what they remember. Note down their contact details so that your personal injury lawyer can contact them later.
Report the Accident
You should also report the incident to the relevant authority. If it was a car accident, report it to the police. If you slipped and fell while shopping at a business, notify the property owner or manager. Be sure that you obtain a copy of the incident/accident report.
Do Not Admit Fault
You must never admit fault or attempt to apologize for the accident. The only people you should discuss the incident with are your lawyer and doctor. If you must talk about the accident – whether to opposing counsel or an insurance agent – always have your Atlanta personal injury lawyer present.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
You don’t want to negotiate with insurance companies or file a legal claim on your own. An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you recover the highest possible amount of compensation.
Why Should You Hire an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer?
There are many reasons for going with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta. You are going to want to have a good grasp of your legal options and that is not going to be possible on your own.
At The Herro Law Firm, we help you through every stage of the legal process.
Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit
Gathering evidence and filing a personal injury case is complex and difficult for someone without legal experience. Fortunately, our personal injury lawyers know how to build a solid claim and do all the legwork so that you can focus on recovery.
Settlement Negotiations
Negotiating with insurance companies can be incredibly challenging since they can use high-pressure techniques to persuade you to accept their first offer. That’s why you need an experienced lawyer representing you to handle settlement negotiations with insurance companies.
Trial Preparation and Representation
If settlement negotiations with insurance companies fail, taking your case to court may be the only way to get the compensation you deserve. In such circumstances, you will want an experienced lawyer on your side to argue your case.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
There are three types of damages you can recover in an Atlanta personal injury case.
Economic Damages
The purpose of economic damages is to reimburse you for monetary losses. This can include a wide array of things such as your medical bills, prescription fees, loss of income, and property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can’t be calculated using financial records. The court decides what is a fair amount of compensation for the impact the injury has had on your life. This can include physical pain, mental suffering, and a drop in your quality of life.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not going to apply to all personal injury cases but are sometimes given to the victim when there is evidence the defendant’s actions were malicious or extremely reckless.
How Is Liability Determined?
In order to prove liability, your Atlanta personal injury lawyer must demonstrate that the defendant’s negligent actions caused your injuries. There are four key elements to proving liability.
Duty of Care
You must prove the defendant had a duty of care. This means they had a responsibility as it relates to your safety. For example, a business must put up warning signs when the floor is wet.
Breach of Duty of Care
You need to show how the defendant breached their duty of care. This can be something as simple as not putting up a warning sign when the floor was wet.
Causation
It is one thing for there to be a breach of duty of care and another for this to be the reason for the personal injury. You must show that the defendant’s negligent actions caused your injury.
In the above example, this would mean showing the wet surface with no warning sign was the reason you tripped. If you tripped due to another reason (i.e. untied shoelaces) then the store would not be liable.
Damages
You must also prove a “legally” recognized harm, that’s shown through economic and non-economic damages. This can include things like medical bills and pain and suffering.
Comparative Negligence
If both parties share fault for an accident, Georgia uses the principle of modified comparative negligence to determine liability. This means you can only recover compensation if you are less than 50% at fault.
Your compensation award is reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are awarded $100,000 in a settlement but found to be 25% responsible for the accident, you would end up receiving just $75,000.
How Much Time Will You Have To File a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia?
When you are looking at all of the details associated with the personal injury claim, you are also going to want to think about the time limit on the claim. You will have two years from the time of your injury to file a claim.
This means the clock is going to be racing forward and it is time to take action with our help at The Herro Law Firm. Call (404) 433-6876 for more information on what we can do for you.
Personal Injury Claims Process
The process is going to start with a free consultation at The Herro Law Firm as we are going to begin going through the case details. This is going to allow us to determine if you have a valid case and put together the right strategy as you move forward.
The personal injury claims process generally follows these steps:
- We gathering evidence.
- We send a demand letter to the insurance company.
- We negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement.
- We take the case to trial if negotiations fail.
We are going to guide you at every stage of the process and will make sure to follow your vision for the lawsuit. Call (404) 433-6876 for more on what we can do.
How Much Will an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a lawyer shouldn’t prevent you from seeking or getting the help you need after an accident. That’s why most personal injury lawyers in Atlanta, GA, including those at the Herro Law Firm work on a contingency fee basis. That means that there’s no fee unless they win your case.
The contingency fee will typically be a percentage of the award or settlement that you receive.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle at The Herro Law Firm
At The Herro Law Firm, we represent clients in the following types of personal injury cases:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Uber Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Premises Liability Claims, including Slip and Fall Accidents
- Dog Bite Cases
- Product Liability Claims
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Call Us Today for Help With Your Personal Injury Case!
If your injuries were caused by the reckless or careless actions of another person or entity, you have the right to seek compensation. At The Herro Law Firm, we want to make sure you are comfortable with the legal process and the right steps are taken. Each client is different and we are going to use all of our resources to fight for the compensation you deserve.
To get started, call (404) 433-6876 today to arrange a free initial consultation.
