LaGrange Personal Injury Lawyer

Georgia’s personal injury laws allow victims of another party’s negligence or wrongful act to recover financial compensation for their physical and emotional losses. Several types of cases fall under the umbrella of personal injury, and many factors can complicate your claim. Our LaGrange personal injury lawyer at Moffitt Law, LLC, can help you navigate the legal system and recover your losses.

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

Personal injury lawyers are essential in assisting individuals who suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence.

They offer legal counsel tailored to your case, analyzing its merits and advising you on available legal avenues to compensation. This involves investigating the incident, collecting evidence and identifying liable parties, which can encompass individuals, entities, insurance companies and governmental agencies.

These attorneys also negotiate with insurance firms to secure fair compensation for all your losses. If the adjuster refuses to offer an equitable settlement, your attorney will handle all aspects of filing a lawsuit and representing you during a trial. Throughout the process, they ensure compliance with time-sensitive statutes of limitations, safeguarding your legal rights. Hiring our firm’s personal injury lawyer in LaGrange brings peace of mind and increases your chances of obtaining just compensation while allowing you to concentrate on your recovery.

What Personal Injury Cases Do We Handle?

Auto accident cases make up the majority of personal injury claims. This includes a broad spectrum of incidents covering car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle and rideshare accidents, and how we approach each type can vary significantly. For example, truck accidents are often more complex, given the potential for multiple negligent parties.

Other common types of personal injury cases we handle include:

• Wrongful death: We support families seeking justice and compensation after they lose a loved one due to a personal injury caused by another party.
• Slip and fall accidents: Our team assists those injured due to hazardous conditions on someone else’s property.
• Dog bite cases: We represent individuals bitten or attacked by dogs, seeking compensation under strict liability laws that hold the dog owner liable.
• Nursing home abuse: We advocate for the rights of elderly residents subjected to abuse or neglect in nursing homes, holding the staff or facilities responsible for the abuse liable for damages.
• Work accidents: In cases involving third-party liability in the workplace, we help injured workers pursue damages beyond workers’ comp benefits.

At Moffitt Law, LLC, our personal injury lawyer in LaGrange, GA, will assess the details of your claim and apply the application laws to ensure you have a solid case for compensation. Even in cases of shared fault, you can pursue a portion of your losses in Georgia.

What Is the Modified Comparative Negligence Law in Georgia?

In Georgia, the modified comparative negligence law, commonly called the 50% Bar Rule, governs personal injury cases involving shared fault among multiple parties. This law outlines how courts determine compensation based on each party’s respective degrees of fault. Specifically, the rule states that you cannot recover compensation for your losses if you are 50% or more responsible for the accident.

If you are less than 50% responsible for the accident, the court reduces your recoverable damages in proportion to your assigned percentage of fault. Ultimately, the court awards you compensation reflecting your level of responsibility. A judge or jury typically determines fault by carefully evaluating the evidence presented during legal proceedings, which may include witness testimony, expert opinions and accident reconstruction.

For example, assume the court finds you 30% at fault for damages amounting to $100,000. In that case, you can still recover $70,000, which reflects the other party’s liability. If the court found you 50% at fault, you would no longer be able to recover anything. If you have questions about shared fault in your case, you can discuss it with our firm’s personal injury lawyer in LaGrange, GA.

What Damages Can You Recover From a Personal Injury Claim?

Compensatory damages encompass all losses associated with your case. This can include economic and non-economic damages based on the circumstances of your case. In rare instances, you may also receive an award of punitive damages.

Economic damages

Economic damages refer to your financial losses. Typical examples from personal injury claims include:

• The cost of necessary current and future medical care
• The loss of wages from missed employment opportunities, including loss of earning capacity or reduced earning capacity
• The cost of repairing or replacing your property damaged during an accident, which is common with auto accident cases
• The cost of any replacement services, such as childcare or transportation to medical visits, you may require during recovery

An attorney will ensure you have everything you need to prove these losses, including medical records, pay stubs and professional estimates.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages cover the psychological losses associated with your accident and injuries. These can include pain and suffering from injuries and medical treatment. Other common examples are emotional distress, mental anguish and post-traumatic stress. Valuing these losses is more complex than economic damages, but working with an attorney ensures you request reasonable compensation for your mental and emotional pain.

Punitive damages

In cases where the at-fault party’s actions display egregious behavior or gross negligence, the court may order them to pay punitive damages. These damages do not compensate you for something you lost. Instead, they act as a punishment for the defendant and a deterrent against similar behavior in the future.

Should You Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in LaGrange, GA?

If you suffered an injury in an incident caused by someone else, you would likely benefit from discussing your case with our firm’s personal injury lawyer in LaGrange, GA. At Moffitt Law, LLC, we will fight to protect your right to compensation and ensure you and your family have the financial support you need to rebuild. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.

FAQs About Personal Injury Claims

Where do I file an injury lawsuit?

In Georgia, you can file a personal injury lawsuit in the county’s civil court where the incident occurred. The specific court location may vary depending on the circumstances of the case. Still, filing in the appropriate county’s court is essential to initiate legal proceedings and avoid delays.

Should I accept the first settlement offer?

Our firm’s personal injury lawyer in LaGrange would likely advise you not to accept the first settlement offer in a personal injury case without careful consideration. Initial offers from insurance companies often aim to minimize payouts.

What if my accident aggravated pre-existing injuries?

If your accident aggravated pre-existing injuries, you may still be eligible for compensation. You will need to prove that the accident exacerbated your existing condition. Our personal injury attorneys will do all they can to help.