Suffering physical injuries can cause injured victims to experience temporary or permanent disability. Accidents can occur under many different circumstances, and injured victims need to understand the options available to them for enforcing their legal rights. Securing the expertise of an Atlanta personal injury attorney can be crucial in navigating these complex situations. You need to contact an Atlanta serious injury lawyer if you have been harmed due to the negligent or careless actions of another individual, entity, or business
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Injured victims may suffer different types of injuries depending on many different factors. Automobile accidents, workplace accidents, and slip & fall accidents are some of the most common personal injury cases. Serious injuries may occur in the following types of personal injury cases:
- Uber accidents
- Train accidents
- Cruise ship accidents
- Boating accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Commercial trucking accidents
- Bus accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Automobile accidents
Serious injuries may occur during any type of personal injury case. Injured victims may suffer severe injuries that cause short-term or long-term disability. It is necessary for all accident victims to seek medical treatment for their injuries so they can begin to heal.
The Things to Do if You Suffer Serious Injuries During an Accident
You may not know what to do in the immediate aftermath of a serious accident. If you are able to move and walk around, then you should make sure to do the following to protect your health and your legal rights.
Never Admit Liability
First, do not admit liability. If you speak to someone at the accident scene, do not discuss the cause of the accident, and do not apologize for causing any injuries. You do not want the insurance company to claim that you caused the accident.
You should provide law enforcement officers with details regarding the accident. You should wait to discuss the facts of your case with an Atlanta serious injury attorney.
Document the Accident Scene
Second, document the accident scene and any environmental factors that may have contributed to the accident. You should photograph the accident scene and make video recordings of the injuries you suffered. Also, take note of any property damage as well as the physical location and time of the accident.
Eyewitnesses may have observed the accident. If so, obtain their contact information and plan on having them provide a statement at a later time.
Contact Law Enforcement Immediately
Third, contact law enforcement officers if they are not already present at the accident scene. You should make sure that the officers create a traffic collision report. The traffic collision report should contain a determination of cause section; typically, this document will help you substantiate your claims and establish the liability of the other party.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Lastly, seek medical treatment for any injuries you suffered. After you obtain medical treatment, you may need to undergo physical therapy and rehabilitation. During this time you can seek out the advice of a serious injury lawyer in Atlanta who can help you assess the legal options available to you for seeking financial compensation for your injuries.
The Types of Damages Injured Victims May Claim in Accident Cases
A damages award is intended to make the injured victim whole after suffering losses due to an accident caused by another party. Typically, accident victims can seek general damages and special damages in a personal injury lawsuit. You may also seek punitive damages, but these are reserved for specific types of cases in which the defendant committed wanton, willful, or malicious conduct.
Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant and deter the defendant from committing the same conduct in the future. The following are common types of damages injured victims claim in accident cases:
- Lost wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Psychological counseling
- Lost earning capacity
These types of damages are often substantiated by medical bills and other forms of documentary evidence. Preserving evidence is essential to your accident cases. Speaking to an experienced Atlanta injury lawyer will help you understand which types of damages you may claim in your accident case.
How Personal Injury Cases Proceed
A personal injury case begins when an attorney drafts and files a complaint in state or federal court. The party liable for the injured victim’s harm is named as the defendant in the complaint. Typically, a civil complaint will contain multiple defendants.
An Atlanta serious injury lawyer will help you understand every aspect of your civil lawsuit. You will be the plaintiff in the case, the party who suffered injuries, and it is important that you correspond with your attorney regarding other phases of the case.
The Discovery Phase of a Civil Lawsuit
During the discovery phase, you will be asked to produce documents regarding your injuries and your claims regarding the accident. You will need to work with your attorney to make sure all relevant documents are produced to opposing counsel.
Most defendants will attempt to negotiate a settlement. The vast majority of civil lawsuits are resolved through settlement negotiation. Only a small portion of civil lawsuits go to trial.
Preparing for Trial
If you cannot reach a mutually agreeable settlement, then an Atlanta serious injury attorney will help you prepare for trial. You may need to undergo coaching regarding cross-examination. Retaining a serious injury lawyer is one of the best things you can do if you intend to pursue monetary compensation for your injuries.
The paperwork and legal filings can take up a substantial amount of time. You can focus on healing from your injuries while your attorney focuses on the technical parts of your case. Also, a serious injury lawyer will not cost you anything upfront because our injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
Contact Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
You may not understand every aspect of your personal injury case, but a knowledgeable Atlanta injury lawyer can guide you through every aspect of your case. Do not be afraid to stand up to insurance companies that will attempt to deny or delay your claims. By retaining a serious injury lawyer you can seek financial compensation for your injuries.
You need a serious injury attorney in Atlanta with extensive experience handling complex claims. An Atlanta car accident lawyer is standing by to help, and we offer free consultations. Contact us today.
