What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

After an accident or injury, individuals often find themselves struggling not only with the physical and emotional challenges of the recovery process but also with a complex legal landscape. During this challenging time, a personal injury lawyer is an advocate able to offer both guidance and representation to those harmed due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others.

But often, the question of what exactly a personal injury lawyer is and which type of cases they handle can arise and confuse victims who are looking for justice. With our 50+ years of experience in personal injury, we aim to answer these questions and help you determine whether you have a potential case or not.

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer and Which Types of Cases They Handle

A personal injury lawyer specializes in representing individuals who’ve suffered physical or emotional harm due to the fault of another person or entity. Overall, we specialize in tort law and focus on topics like injuries, property damage, and defamation. Some of the types of cases personal injury lawyers handle include:

Personal injury lawyers advocate for victims to receive compensation for the harm they’ve suffered, using diverse legal strategies. They also possess in-depth knowledge of personal injury law and their state’s legal system, using their expertise to protect your rights and pursue the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.

How Do I Claim an Injury in Georgia?

Claiming an injury in Georgia involves several legal steps, starting with ensuring the injury is reported promptly to the appropriate parties. This includes your insurance company, your employer (in the case of workplace injuries), or the police (for other types of accidents).

It’s also crucial to gather evidence, which includes medical records, witness statements, and photos of the accident scene.

On the other hand, Georgia, like other states, has specific laws and procedures for filing personal injury claims. For example, the Georgia Code § 9-3-33 sets a deadline for filing a personal injury claim, which is generally two years from the date of the injury. However, there are exceptions to this two-year statute of limitations that are beneficial to discuss with a lawyer.

What Is Personal Injury Compensation?

Personal injury compensation is a legal remedy designed to financially restore individuals who’ve suffered harm due to someone else’s negligence. This compensation aims to cover the various costs and losses associated with an injury, from medical bills to emotional distress.

In Georgia, there are no limits on the compensation a personal injury plaintiff can collect, but judges have the discretion to reduce excessive awards in some instances. Nevertheless, the path to achieving this is certainly complex and requires the skilled legal expertise of a personal injury lawyer.

Types of Compensation You May Be Entitled to Receive in Georgia

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation. The Georgia Code § 51-12 outlines the types of damages that can be awarded in a personal injury case, which can be broadly categorized into economic and non-economic damages. These include:

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are costs incurred for the medical care and treatment you need to recover from your injuries. These expenses include a wide range of costs, such as:

Ambulance transportation
Emergency room visits
Hospital stays
Physical therapy appointments
Referrals to specialists
Medical imaging
The costs of traveling to and from medical appointments
Long-term medical care or rehabilitation

Lost Wages

On the other hand, compensation for lost wages covers the income you’ve lost while unable to work due to your injury, including hourly wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, part-time income, and self-employment income.

Additionally, lost wages can even include missed opportunities for promotion or raises, and if the injured person would have worked overtime during that period, they can seek compensation for that time as well.

Property Damage

If real or personal property was damaged as part of the incident that led to your injury, you can seek compensation for repair or replacement costs. Real property includes land, buildings, and other fixed structures, while personal property includes movable items such as cars, furniture, and clothing.

However, property damage claims are separate from personal injury claims (which cover bodily injury and pain and suffering) and they are usually handled by negotiating with insurance companies.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering refers to the physical and emotional distress experienced by an injured person as a result of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions. This can include recovering compensation for:

Physical discomfort, pain, or limitations
Emotional distress
Anxiety
Depression
PTSD or other psychological trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life
Scarring or disfigurement
Loss of consortium

How Much Do You Get for a Personal Injury Claim?

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question. The value of a personal injury claim in Georgia can vary widely based on the severity of the injury, its impact on your life, the strength of your case, the insurance policies involved, and the skills of the lawyer you choose as your advocate.

At Deming Parker, we have a proven track record of successfully securing significant compensation for personal injury victims. As our case results show, we’ve secured millions in settlements for Georgia residents, including an impressive settlement of $12,000,000 for a motor vehicle accident.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Georgia

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer will significantly impact the outcome of your case. At Deming Parker, our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to fighting for your rights and achieving the maximum compensation possible for your case.

We have a no-fee-unless-we-win approach for personal injury cases, ensuring you can pursue justice without financial risk. So, if you or a loved one has been injured, we invite you to contact us for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you on your path to recovery.