Norcross Personal Injury Lawyer
Injuries can be devastating, especially when the negligence of another party causes those injuries; that’s why it’s important to take the necessary steps to heal your injuries, protect your rights, and recover your quality of life.
According to the Department of Justice data, only 4% of personal injury cases make it to court because most of them are settled out of court. Norcross personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation to those who were injured in an accident and are looking to protect their rights in court or via settlement. Read more below about what a personal injury lawyer does to handle your case.
Common Personal Injury Claims
Unintentional poisonings, car or truck accidents, and unintentional falls are the leading causes of personal injury claims. For example, according to the Center for Disease Control, over 37,000 people die each year due to fatal car accidents, and over 39.5 million individuals visited the emergency room for injuries. A personal injury lawyer will help their clients handle car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and other types of accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians. Medical malpractice is another serious issue in Norcross, GA that deserves legal support to get you the money you deserve.
A personal injury lawyer can also handle wrongful death claims from loved ones seeking justice on behalf of the deceased. Norcross personal injury attorneys can recover damages for the families of those who have died due to the negligence of another party. Contact our office as soon as possible to speak with an experienced legal professional about your options after the wrongful death of a loved one. Personal injury law also applies to other types of cases, including dog bites, slip and fall accidents, and product liability cases.
Reasons To Choose A Norcross Personal Injury Attorney
There are many advantages to inquiring about the services of a legal professional to handle your personal injury or wrongful death case. Here are a few of the benefits that Norcross personal injury victims have found helpful:
Contingent Payment Terms
Personal injury law firms normally get paid via a contingency, meaning you don’t pay unless your case has been successfully tried or settled. Personal injury lawyers usually take an agreed-upon percentage of your damages, which is capped at 33% in the state of Georgia. This could be very beneficial to those that feel as though they can’t afford an attorney.
Free Consultation
It costs nothing to consult with a Norcross personal injury lawyer today because they offer a free consultation. At your free consultation, you’ll be able to sit down with a personal injury attorney, outline the details of your case, and speak with your potential attorney about ways that they could defend your case.
Vital Experience With Insurance Companies
Personal injury law professionals will have lots of experience with cases like yours. They’ll also have experience supporting those who’ve been in a car accident. An adept attorney will have skills negotiating with insurance companies on their client’s behalf to get maximum compensation.
The goal of the insurance company is to pay out the least amount of money possible and they will use all of the tools and resources at their disposal to do so but a skillful professional attorney will work tirelessly to combat that by conducting an investigation that justifies why you should receive all of the damages that you’re entitled to by law.
Continued Support
It’s normal for Norcross personal injury lawyers to provide support for your case until it has been resolved. The perfect personal law professional will be dedicated to your case and work tirelessly to your benefit. When you consult with your lawyer, ask them about their caseload, which lawyers will be working on your case, and how much experience they have with cases like yours to ensure that you’ll get the continued support necessary to successfully defend your case.
However, if at any point, the lawyer or client feels that they aren’t in agreement, then either of them may terminate the relationship. Could a personal injury lawyer drop your case? The answer is yes, but they’re obliged to inform you and get approval from the courts. A law firm could terminate a client when they feel they’ve negotiated the best deal possible but the client disagrees.
Local Touch
Each courtroom has norms and practices governed by the judges and laws that reside in that community. Gwinnett County and Norcross, GA accident victims can benefit from having an attorney familiar with the customs of the local courthouses. A firm with lawyers that try cases in the Gwinnett County community will have an advantage over those who don’t.
Clear Understanding Of Georgia Statutes
It’s not only important for your firm to understand the local customs but also all the important Georgian laws that affect your case. One particular law that it’s super important for your potential personal injury attorney to be familiar with is the Georgia Statute of Limitations that apply to your types of accident. Under Georgia Statute §9-3-33, plaintiffs have only two years from the date of their injury to file a suit before the applicable statute of limitations expires and they are forever barred from filing.
The benefits of retaining the services of an injury lawyer could far outweigh personally dealing with insurance companies, bureaucracies, filing the right documents, and learning all of the applicable laws of your case.
Elements Of A Personal Injury Claim
It’s the job of your representation to demonstrate that your injury was caused by the other party’s failure to fulfill their obligation to a “duty of care”. To resolve your case successfully, you’ll need evidence documenting how your injury occurred and who you feel is responsible. It’s important to understand the four elements that apply to personal injury cases including:
1. Duty of Care
In order to have a viable personal injury claim, accident attorneys must first show that the defendant had a duty of care. For example, in motor vehicle accidents, drivers have a responsibility to drive within the limits of the law and to avoid a car accident if possible. In a slip and fall personal injury case, the plaintiff must show that the property owner or custodian had a duty of care for individuals lawfully entering the premises.
2. Breach of Duty
To assign liability to the at-fault party, accident attorneys must demonstrate that the defendant committed a breach of their duty of care. To use the car accident example again, if the defendant was engaged in texting and ran into the rear end of the plaintiff’s vehicle, the breach of duty is apparent: the defendant was not paying attention to the roadway.
3. Causation
The third required element for a personal injury case is causation. Personal injury lawyers must show that the defendant’s breach of duty was responsible for the accident. Consider a premises liability case where the defendant was negligent in cleaning up oil on a tile floor, causing the accident victim to slip and fall in the oil, sustaining serious injuries. It’s unlikely that the accident would have occurred if the defendant hadn’t breached their duty.
4. Damages
The final element that a personal injury law firm will look for is damages. Most personal injury cases involve physical injuries (plaintiffs can also sue for emotional trauma caused by an accident). This means that the plaintiff has incurred medical expenses, lost wages, etc. Additionally, the state of Georgia allows plaintiffs to recover damages for emotional trauma, physical pain, and other intangible costs of an accident. These items are often referred to as pain and suffering.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact the Pendergrass Law Firm, where you will be able to speak to a Norcross personal injury attorney about your case for free. During this initial consultation, they will be able to assess the elements of your case and discuss how you can recover full and fair compensation for your personal injuries.
What To Do After A Personal Injury Accident
The following steps are equally important to handle your case successfully:
Call 911
The first thing that you should do after an accident is make sure that the authorities have been alerted to the situation. The responsible party may try to convince you to handle it directly with them, but this can often lead to a frustrating situation where they change their story as soon as you are no longer together. Your attorney will need to work hard to combat their erroneous claims if this is the case, so call 911 immediately to avoid any issues or confrontation about whether or not to involve the authorities.
Get Medical Attention
After an accident it is essential that you get medical attention, both from the EMTs who first arrive at the scene as well as a followup with your own doctor. If the EMTs suggest that you take an ambulance to the emergency room, it is in your best interest to do so — your personal injury lawyer in Norcross, GA will be able to seek compensation for these medical bills and more once you are being represented by our law firm.
Document Everything
Police reports, witness statements, and CCTV images and videos are often used as evidence in personal injury claims. It will be of utmost importance to the defense of your case to document as much as possible including:
- The full extent of your injuries
- Financial losses related to the injuries
- Medical records
- Contact information for other drivers and witnesses
- Photos and videos of the scene
- Hospital, therapeutic, and doctor bills
- Financial records showing your medical debts
- Loss of income from missed work
- Other evidence of your physical, mental, and social suffering after the accident
Negotiations And Demands
After your attorneys investigate your case and calculate your present and future losses, they submit a demand letter to the insurance company and start to negotiate a fair settlement. Personal injury attorneys manage all communications with the insurer and handle the paperwork. When a reasonable settlement is reached, the case can be resolved quickly without having to go to court.
When insurance companies refuse to settle, your option is to file a lawsuit. Some insurance companies look to extend negotiations well beyond the statute of limitations, or until plaintiffs fatigue and accept a lower settlement. That’s why it’s essential to work with an experienced trial attorney that is prepared to pursue justice in court.
How Personal Injury Attorneys Support You
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another, contact an experienced Norcross, GA personal injury attorney to discuss your case and the various legal options that are at your disposal. Consultation with a personal injury attorney in Norcross is free, so don’t delay.
Personal injury attorneys seek the justice that you deserve and support you in finding the peace of mind that you have been searching for. You do not have to delay getting the compensation you deserve to pay your medical bills and make up for your lost wages from missed work. Contact our Norcross, GA law office to get the legal support you deserve.
Personal Injury FAQs
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about personal injury law. To have specific answers to your questions, call The Pendergrass Law Firm and speak to a Norcross personal injury lawyer today.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for a Georgia personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident or the death of the victim. After that, you will not be able to file a civil lawsuit.
What can I receive compensation for?
Under Georgia law, accident victims are entitled to compensation for emergency services they had to pay for, medical treatment, the time they’ve missed from work, property damage, funeral expenses, and more. You are also entitled to pain and suffering for your emotional trauma and physical discomfort. The best personal injury lawyers will start by seeking as much
compensation as possible when negotiating with the insurance adjusters.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Norcross, GA
Contact The Pendergrass Law Firm to discuss your claim with a Norcross personal injury attorney today!