There are many unpredictable accidents that could cause you injury: another car swerves into you on the highway, a loose tile in a store causes you to lose your footing, or a trained professional acts negligently when providing a service. Whatever circumstances led to you sustaining a personal injury, it is important to understand your legal options.
Assistance from a Clarkesville personal injury lawyer could be critical when it comes to seeking restitution for your ordeal. Once retained, a knowledgeable attorney at Smith Hulsey could work to assert your rights, preserve your best interests, and demand fair compensation through a settlement demand or a lawsuit in civil court.
Any situation that involves someone violating a duty of care owed to another person and causing physical harm as a direct result could serve as the basis for a lawsuit or settlement demand. Some types of cases that our Clarkesville personal injury attorneys commonly handle include:
So long as an accident results in personal losses, the victim can seek financial restitution for every consequence of that incident. On the economic side of things, recoverable damages typically center around expenses for past and future medical treatments but may also include the costs of repairing or replacing damaged property. A local personal injury attorney could also help pursue short-term and long-term loss of income and/or earning capacity.
Additionally, various forms of non-economic damages may be recoverable as well. These could include physical pain from an injury, lost consortium with a spouse, lost enjoyment of life, and the consequences of psychological conditions like PTSD. A personal injury lawyer in Clarkesville could go over specific compensable losses for an individual plaintiff during a confidential consultation.
There are several potential roadblocks that injured victims should be aware of when pursuing a civil claim. Most notably, O.C.G.A. §51-12-33 allows civil courts to reduce a plaintiff’s damages award if they are partially to blame for their own injuries. Similarly, Official Code of Georgia §51-11-7 prohibits civil recovery by anyone found 50 percent or more at fault for their own accident.
Finally, O.C.G.A. §9-3-33 sets a statutory filing deadline of two years on virtually all forms of personal injury litigation. This means that prospective plaintiffs have two years after discovering their injuries to start the litigation process. A seasoned lawyer in the area could help an injured victim file their claim on time and preserve their right to pursue compensation.
After a serious accident, you may be suffering from the physical and financial repercussions of another person’s reckless actions. Fortunately, pursuing civil litigation against that negligent individual could be a way of recovering the compensation you need for your losses.
Retaining a Clarkesville personal injury lawyer could make a huge difference in your case’s chances of success. Learn more by calling the legal team at Smith Hulsey today.
Smith Hulsey Law