Personal Injury Lawyers in Columbus Providing Quality Legal Representation For Georgia Accident Victims
If you have suffered severe injuries due to another person’s negligent actions, you are most likely trying to decide what you should do next. You may feel overwhelmed and apprehensive about your future and how you will support yourself and your family. Even if you have only suffered minor injuries, you may still be entitled to recover compensation related to lost wages, medical expenses, and emotional suffering.
One of the best steps to protect yourself after being injured in an accident is to contact a qualified personal injury lawyer who can thoroughly review your case and explain your legal rights. Insurance companies often try to lessen their liability by asserting that the victim is to blame for the accident.
Go Big Injury Law is a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping accident victims obtain the compensation they need to regain the peace of mind they deserve. Our personal injury attorneys have comprehensive experience handling various personal injury claims and will help you receive the justice you deserve.
Contact our law firm and ask to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
Will I Have to Go to Court if I File a Personal Injury Claim?
Most injury victims are unaware that most personal injury claims are settled out of court through negotiations between their attorney and the insurer. The two sides will confer with one another to discuss the needs of the accident victim and to reach a satisfying resolution for both sides. If each side can come to a mutual agreement, this helps to avoid the costly and lengthy litigation process.
However, if both sides cannot reach a mutual decision or the insurance provider is unwilling to negotiate, your personal injury case will most likely need to go to court to be resolved. Some of the most common reasons that the insurance company may be unwilling to negotiate include:
- The injury victim waited too long to seek treatment for their injuries
- Failure to file the necessary paperwork on time
- Errors in the insurance paperwork
- The claim does not meet the terms of the insurance coverage
- Failure to keep accurate records detailing medical costs and other injury-related expenses
A personal injury lawyer assisting you with your claim can help you avoid these mistakes and allow your claim to progress more quickly through the insurance claims process. If necessary, our legal team is ready to assist you in fighting for the fair compensation and justice you deserve after being injured by another person’s actions or inactions.
Will a Personal Injury Settlement Reimburse Me For Permanent Injuries?
If you have been the victim of an accident, you may be able to take legal action to recover economic and non-economic damages, often referred to as compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are awarded to recover compensation for your injuries and expenses. Depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding your case, you may also be eligible to receive punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are awarded in a personal injury lawsuit to compensate the victim for out-of-pocket expenses related to being injured in an accident. If you have been involved in an accident that was someone else’s fault, it is essential that you keep all of your receipts and a log of your expenditures so that you may be rightfully reimbursed.
Some of the most commonly awarded economic damages include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
If you have suffered severe or catastrophic injuries, you may require long-term medical treatment such as physical therapy or rehabilitation. This type of medical care can be very costly and quickly create financial hardship for families. The skilled personal injury attorneys of Go Big Injury Law will evaluate your case and fight tirelessly to help you recover a settlement that will properly account for future medical costs.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are meant to reimburse injury victims for the intangible losses they have suffered due to an accident. They differ from economic damages as they are more subjective and do not have a fixed monetary value. The amount and type of non-economic damages awarded are unique to each case.
Some commonly awarded non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
When it comes to accessing non-economic damages, it is vital that you have a knowledgeable attorney assisting you. Without an understanding of personal injury law, you may not understand what damages you are entitled to and the amount that needs to be requested in a settlement.
Punitive Damages
Under Georgia law, punitive damages can only be awarded to personal injury victims if the defendant acted in a particularly egregious manner or with willful, wanton, or malice intent without regard for the plaintiff’s safety. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are meant to punish the other party for their wrongdoing and send a message to other community members not to repeat the same behavior.
Punitive damages are capped at $250,000 unless the lawsuit involves a product liability claim. The personal injury lawyers of Go Big Injury Law can provide you with a free case review to determine if you are eligible to collect punitive damages and what amount would be appropriate for your case.
Should I Speak With an Insurance Adjuster After An Accident?
Many injury victims have initially tried to handle an insurance claim on their own after an accident. However, they quickly discover that personal injury matters are more complicated than they anticipated.
An insurance carrier might contact you immediately after a claim has been filed. An insurance adjuster may ask you to consent to give a recorded statement detailing the facts of the accident. You should never agree to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company without first receiving legal counsel from a qualified attorney. Once you give the statement, the insurer has the legal right to use the information you provided against you to reduce their liability for the accident and avoid a large payout.
You should never agree to anything the insurance company asks you to do without consulting your personal injury lawyer. Our legal team is familiar with the tactics that insurers often use to try and undervalue or outright deny your claim.
Go Big Injury Law of Columbus can act as your legal advocate to ensure that your legal rights are upheld and that you obtain a settlement that is in your best interests and not that of the insurance provider.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
Accident victims may believe it is too expensive to hire a personal injury attorney to pursue their compensation with an insurance claim. However, most personal injury attorneys only get paid if their client recovers financial settlement. The first step you must take after an accident is to seek out medical care immediately. Then you should hire an attorney with comprehensive knowledge of personal injury law to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
One of the most significant benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney is that they have a working knowledge of the legal requirements to prove fault of the liable party. A qualified attorney understands what legal criteria must be met to prove fault and liability. The requirements can vary due to the type of accident and the severity of the victim’s injuries. For example, if your claim involves medical malpractice, there would be much research and investigation necessary to prove your claim. Your attorney would need to review hospital and medical records and other documentation that can be very technical in nature.
Attempting to prove this type of personal injury on your own would be challenging, if not impossible, for an individual with no legal training. Wrongful death and product liability claims are also difficult to prove without a qualified lawyer assisting you with your case.
A knowledgeable personal injury attorney will handle negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. An insurance company will often try to offer you a quick settlement that may seem tempting at first. However, upon closer inspection, it will become apparent that the settlement amount they have offered falls short of providing you with the financial resources you need and deserve to recover and pay medical expenses.
When an insurer knows that you have a personal injury attorney, they typically will offer you a more substantial settlement than if you did not have legal representation. Our law firm is passionately committed to reaching a financial settlement that will comprehensively cover the damages you have incurred due to being injured by another person’s negligence.
Contact Go Big Injury Law of Columbus by calling 800-777-7777 and asking to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. A qualified legal team member will gladly sit down with you, provide you with a free case review, and determine the best action for your situation.