How Can A Georgia Personal Injury Attorney Help Me?
Unless you have legal training and experience, you likely have little to no knowledge of the relevant laws and statutes that govern personal injury cases in Georgia. Who you can pursue compensation from, when you have to submit the claim, and what is needed for a successful claim are all matters which a personal injury lawyer in Georgia will be well versed in and can assist you with.
Evaluating Your Claim
When it comes to a personal injury, it can be difficult to calculate how much you’ve lost in the accident. This is where a personal injury lawyer can help you determine a fair settlement amount.
If you attempt to tackle the situation on your own, you may not include everything that you’re entitled. While your medical bills may be a big part of your claim, there are many other losses that should be included. A Georgia personal injury lawyer can help you figure out how much to claim for pain and suffering, loss of earnings and future loss of earnings. You may also be entitled to expenses such as damaged possessions, travel costs, and medical equipment.
Assembling Your Documentation
The amount of paperwork can be staggering and difficult to maintain during a personal injury claim. The court will request a variety of documents including bills, reports, letters, emails, and anything else related to your case. This part of the process can be overwhelming, especially when you need to focus on your recovery. With the aid of a Georgia personal injury attorney, you can rest knowing that they will help compile and organize your documents. After retaining a lawyer, they also become the point of contact for any future dialogue with the opposing party and the court system, leaving you free to recover.
Your personal injury lawyer will also help you identify and obtain the evidence you will need to make your case. Without the guidance of an attorney, you may overlook items such as photographs and witness statements which can be critical to the success of your case. A lawyer will know exactly you need and what that evidence needs to include to support your claim.
Navigating the Insurance Claim Process
Personal injury claims can be complicated and insurance companies know this. Insurance adjusters will frequently offer you less than the value deserved in hopes that the frustration of the system will make you want to just get the process over. You can be certain that the insurance company is going to scrutinize your claim, because it’s their job to save their company money, not to make sure you receive a fair settlement.
However, you can protect yourself with an experienced personal injury lawyer who knows how the claim process works and how insurance companies think. Your attorney will handle the complexity of the claim process, from speaking with the adjusters to negotiating a settlement of your claim.
Negotiate the Best Possible Settlement
Insurance adjusters know that you are in a difficult situation and will exploit this to their advantage. You can automatically help your case just having a lawyer on your side. Insurance adjusters take everything into account, and simply by having a lawyer, they will be more likely to offer a fair settlement.
By hiring Georgia personal injury attorney, you are investing in a skilled negotiator who knows when a deal is fair or when it’s time to make a counter-offer.
Represent You in Court
If you, the counter-party, or the insurance company cannot agree on the terms of settling a claim, then it will need to go to court. The court system can be extremely difficult if you don’t know the procedure. If the counter-party’s lawyer is clever, he can even have the case dismissed on a technicality.
By having an attorney on your side, you are certain that the legal system won’t be used against you.
No Upfront Legal Fees
Georgia personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, this means that they don’t get paid until you do. You can feel safe because you never pay any legal fees out-of-pocket, and your attorney gets paid only if they are successful in handling your case.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
The most common type of personal injury compensation is a contingent fee. With this arrangement, you don’t need to pay your attorney by the hour, instead, your attorney’s fee will be a percentage of your settlement.
Contingency fees allow you access to an experienced attorney even while your injured and missing out on work. These fees also incentivize your personal injury lawyer in Georgia to go for the maximum settlement. Because of the contingency fee, the more you get from the settlement, the more he earns, and if you do not win your case, then you don’t owe the lawyer any fees.
The fee owed to your personal injury lawyer will normally depend on whether you settle the case before or after filing to the courts.
If your lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement before the claim goes to court, then the fee will usually be around one-third of the settlement. If you settle after filing the lawsuit, your attorney w ill normally get forty percent of the amount. This fee will be dependent on the lawyer you hire of course.
What is the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Case in GA?
According to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you typically have two years to file a lawsuit for a Georgia personal injury case. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, this will be the date on which you were struck, since your personal injuries should be apparent at the scene of the crash.
If you are bringing a loss of consortium claim, however, then you have four years to bring a lawsuit.
Loss of consortium refers to claims your spouse might have after your injury for negative changes to your marriage, such as loss of care or loss of companionship.
If your spouse files the claim, the law gives them an extra two years to do so.
Contact Dr. Ted Injury Law Today for a Risk-Free Consultation
To get the advice and help that you need to take on a claim, contact the Georgia personal injury lawyers at Dr. Ted Injury Law for a free no-obligation consultation. When you’re searching for a professional who can take the lead of your claim, look to our law firm, because we bring the fight to the insurance adjusters. By choosing Dr. Ted Injury Law as your personal injury lawyers, you get a doctor and a lawyer. If you have questions, contact us or call (800) 693-7833 today.
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