A personal injury impacts more than just your health; it can also affect your finances. Unpaid medical bills, lost income while you heal, and other costs all add up to become a substantial burden. It only makes matters worse if your personal injury was caused through no fault of your own, but the one silver lining is that you may be able to hold negligent parties accountable.
By working with a personal injury attorney in Peachtree City, you can pursue compensation for all of the losses you have experienced because of someone else’s negligence. Through a personal injury claim, you will seek to hold all parties accountable for the consequences of their actions and recover the money you need to move on with your life.
Call Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer, and his team of injury and accident attorneys for assistance. With experience working on personal injury claims in both Fayette County and Gwinnett County, our personal injury lawyers know the tactics that get results. Find out the legal strategies you could be using to pursue compensation when you speak to a personal injury lawyer near you during a free, no-obligation case review. Contact us online or call (470) 323-8779 to schedule your free case evaluation now.
Practicing Personal Injury Law in Georgia: A Tale of Two Peachtrees
Living in the Peach State, you hear about a lot of streets and areas named “Peachtree”. The original Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta was renamed from Whitehall Street in 1867, and in the century and a half since it’s started a bit of a trend.
Now, there are dozens of Peachtree roads and streets and avenues, but there are only two cities in Georgia thusly named: Peachtree City and Peachtree Corners. Both were conceived and developed in the mid-20th century as planned communities for families and young professionals. They have since blossomed into well-developed areas, each with their own quaint charms — and also individual risks of personal injury.
Peachtree City Personal Injury Lawyer
Known for its walkable layout and miles of golf cart paths, Peachtree City is a close-knit community just a short drive south of Atlanta. The population has grown steadily since its founding, with more than 38,000 residents according to the most recent census. Peachtree City also boasts a high median income rate of over $84,000 per household.
Some of the increased risks to Peachtree City residents include golf cart accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycling accidents, and other road incidents. Although the city’s famous golf cart paths provide convenient travel for everyone, they can also create risks of cart-to-jogger collisions or collisions with vehicles not so eager to share the road.
Anyone hurt in an accident involving a golf cart — or any other personal injury — should know that they have the legal right to hold all negligent parties accountable. Working with a personal injury attorney in Peachtree City can allow you to fully document your damages, investigate the circumstances of your accident, and pursue a personal injury claim against any and all negligent parties.
Claimable Damages in a Personal Injury Case
The losses caused by your accident or exposure are collectively known as “damages”. They include all reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to your injury occurrence.
Damages are separated into two main categories: monetary, and non-monetary. Common monetary, or “special damages” sought include the following:
Medical Costs, Past and Future
Medical care after a personal injury is extremely expensive. The average cost of treatment for a non-fatal injury is $6,220 as of 2021, but that average cost can balloon up to $80,172 depending on the type of injury. Fatal or nearly fatal injuries have an even higher cost of care, a debt which is often transferred to the spouse of the decedent upon their passing.
Claimable medical care damages include all “reasonable and necessary” care related to your injury that you have received since the accident occurred. Ambulance rides, ER visits, diagnostics, testing, inpatient hospital stay costs, surgery, and the costs of prescription drugs are all supposed to be covered.
Medical care benefits also include coverage for projected future expenses, including follow-up appointments, long-term rehabilitation, and other medical necessities.
Lost Wages
The income you lose while you miss work is a significant financial loss that often cannot be replaced without a personal injury claim. Your losses begin the moment you first miss work or are unable to perform your regular work duties in the aftermath of your injury. Your losses continue until you are able to return to the regular earnings you once enjoyed before the accident. In cases where your ability to perform your old job is permanently compromised, you will be able to claim the difference in the income you will experience, in most cases.
Personal Property and Vehicle Repairs
Any personal property that was damaged in your accident is claimable. Common losses include clothing, personal electronics, jewelry, and personal items. If you were operating a vehicle at the time of your accident, your losses will also include vehicle repairs or the complete replacement of your irreparably damaged vehicle.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
In the wake of a personal injury accident, there will be many expenses that aren’t technically included in the category of medical care. These commonly include transportation to your medical appointments, the cost of over-the-counter drugs and medical supplies, and fees or other costs that arise during the course of treatment or recovery. Working with a personal injury lawyer in Peachtree City provides you with a resource to help you track all of these expenses and categorize which ones can be claimable as damages.
Replacement of Domestic Services
In cases where you provided extensive services to your immediate family, such as cleaning or childcare, your inability to provide these services could be considered a form of damages. Your personal injury settlement may, therefore, include compensation to help you replace these services, such as paying the cost for someone to come clean, or the cost of dropping off laundry at a laundromat.
Non-Monetary, “General Damages”, Including Pain and Suffering
There are other losses you may experience that don’t have a direct monetary cost but that nevertheless have a large impact on your life. Most frequently, that includes compensation for the physical pain and personal suffering you have. You may also be able to claim your own loss of enjoyment of life you have experienced, which stems from an inability to enjoy the activities you did prior to your injury.
Some cases also involve compensation for family members who are unable to enjoy the relationship they once did with their spouse or father. Someone who is permanently disabled or medically incapacitated will be unable to play catch with their children, for example, or have sexual relations with their spouse.
Those wishing to claim the maximum possible benefits for their general damages can work with an attorney to keep a rolling log of their daily experience and how their injury has impacted it. They can also develop a list of activities that have become unenjoyable, difficult, or impossible as a result of your temporary or permanent condition.
How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is appropriate for any case where someone’s carelessness, intentional actions, or failure to perform a specific duty of care led to your injury.
Common examples of situations that qualify as a negligence-caused personal injury include:
- A local business failed to maintain its flooring, leading to a trip and fall and a significant head injury
- A driver failed to yield before turning into traffic, causing a car accident
- A doctor prescribes the wrong medication for your diagnosed condition, which can be a form of medical malpractice
- You were assaulted at your apartment complex as a result of negligent security
- You sustained a catastrophic brain injury when a piece of construction debris fell onto a publicly accessible sidewalk
- Your loved one passed away after a nursing home neglected them, leading to a wrongful death case
In any personal injury case, there must be a responsible party that breached a specific duty of care, leading to the accident. A duty of care can pertain to laws, such as speed limits, or it could involve a professional standard. In any case, people and businesses have a general duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent a foreseeable injury. They also have a duty to warn employees, visitors, and others of any hazards that exist in order to minimize the likelihood of an injury.
When an injury occurs as a result of negligence and leads to financial losses and general damages, that’s when it’s best to reach out to a personal injury lawyer in your area to explore a possible claim.
What Are the Steps to a Personal Injury Claim in Peachtree City?
Every personal injury case is different, but almost all will follow the steps below:
- Document and report the injury. You should obtain personal documentation of the injury, but you should also file a formal report as soon as possible. Call 911 after a car accident or any incident involving a serious injury. Report your injury to the relevant business or property owner within 30 days, after speaking to your own attorney first.
- Seek medical attention ASAP. Your injury must be diagnosed to begin treatment, and treatment should begin as soon as possible. Do not delay seeking medical care, even if you don’t feel majorly hurt. Any delays can potentially harm your claim.
- Save all medical documentation and all receipts. You want to begin a log of your expenses while documenting their connection to your injury. You may also want to begin a “pain journal” documenting your personal pain and suffering.
- Call a Peachtree City personal injury lawyer. Business owners, property owners, and insurance companies will all do everything they can to minimize their own liability. Before you answer questions or begin talking with any other parties, appoint an attorney to represent you and guide you through the process.
- File an insurance claim with the appropriate provider. Most personal injury cases are resolved through a settlement with a liability insurance provider. Your attorney can help you determine the most appropriate insurer and begin the claims process.
- Negotiate for a fair settlement. Seeking repayment of your damages takes time, evidence, and effort. The more evidence and legal justification you are able to provide, the more likely your case will result in a reasonable settlement.
- Don’t take no for an answer. In cases where a settlement can’t be reached, you always have other options. You can file a lawsuit compelling the at-fault party to pay, which also allows you to request evidence during discovery. Whether through a jury ruling or a settlement, Ali Awad and his team will relentlessly pursue every available option.
Call a Peachtree City Injury Accident Lawyer to Potentially Start Your Case Now
Time is of the essence when filing a personal injury claim. The quicker you act, the more evidence can be obtained and the more options remain available to you.
Let the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm work hard on your behalf to seek the best outcome for you and your family. We will document your damages in full, gather any evidence we can, investigate your accident, and use all available legal means to pursue any negligent parties.
You deserve support through every step of your case, and that’s exactly what we will provide. You are kept informed at all times, and you will be able to make the most important calls when it comes to your case’s strategy.
Learn more about what you can do to receive compensation, and get answers to your most pressing questions during a no-obligation, 100% free consultation. Our attorneys also work on contingency, allowing you to obtain our services at no up-front cost. Schedule your free, confidential, no-risk consultation now when you contact us online or call us at (470) 323-8779.
