Fulton County Personal Injury Lawyers
When someone gets into an accident that is someone else’s fault, the best-case scenario is that their injuries are very minor. When the injuries are more serious, though, they can leave the accident victim with high medical bills, an inability to work to pay those bills, and an inability to enjoy the activities they love.
In order to recoup compensation for financial costs such as medical bills and lost income, you have the option to file a lawsuit if someone else caused the accident. Other damages such as pain and suffering and punitive damages may also be available. In order to get the full amount of compensation to which you may be entitled, you should speak with a compassionate attorney. A Fulton County personal injury lawyer brings experience and dedication to every case. These things could prove to be most beneficial towards building a strong injury claim.
Personal Injury Laws in Fulton County
Like all states, personal injury cases in Georgia rely on the concept of negligence. Negligence occurs when one person’s careless or reckless actions cause an accident and injure another person. If someone can be found negligent after an injurious accident, they can usually be held liable for paying the injured party compensation.
However, that compensation may be limited depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Like the rest of Georgia, Fulton County is governed by a legal doctrine known as modified comparative negligence. Under this law, the injured party in an accident may be assigned a percentage of fault.
If that percentage is under 50 percent, they can still receive compensation, but it will be reduced by the percentage of fault they carry for the accident. If the injured party is more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, though, they are not entitled to receive any compensation at all.
Modified comparative negligence can complicate otherwise straightforward personal injury cases. The other party may try to prove the injured individual was at fault to reduce or nullify any compensation they may otherwise be required to pay. Because of this, it is often important that anyone injured in an accident speaks to a local personal injury lawyer that could fight for them and present evidence showing they were not at fault.
Compensation in Fulton County Personal Injury Cases
In Fulton County, injured parties may be able to claim compensation for a number of damages, including:
- Medical bills and treatment
- Lost wages
- Damage to property
- Loss of consortium in wrongful death
- Emotional distress/pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
In most cases, there are no limitations on financial damages that can have an actual dollar amount placed on them. It is important that injured victims are reasonable in evaluating these damages, but a Fulton County personal injury attorney could rely on their experience and knowledge to accurately estimate future medical costs and future lost wages.
Non-Economic and Punitive Damages
Non-economic damages are those that do not have a qualitative dollar value but still leave the injured party hurt. These damages typically include compensation for pain and suffering and may be limited depending on the specifics of any one case.
Finally, punitive damages are only awarded when the court wishes to punish the at-fault party for malicious or reckless behavior. In Fulton County, these damages are limited to $250,000, although there are some exceptions to this rule under certain circumstances.
Hiring a Fulton County Personal Injury Lawyer
Civil injury cases can quickly become complicated, particularly when the individual being sued fights hard to prove they were not at fault and that the party bringing the lawsuit was. To achieve a positive outcome in such a case, it may be important to speak with a Fulton County personal injury lawyer who could help you with your case and work to pursue compensation on your behalf. Call today to get started on your case.
