Georgia Personal Injury FAQs
Atlanta Injury Attorney Answers Frequently Asked Questions About Georgia Personal Injury Law
Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most frequently at Sawyer Injury Law as we help accident victims and their families recover compensation after a vehicular collision, workplace accident, slip and fall or other negligence claim in Metro Atlanta. If you have other questions or if you’ve been in an accident and need help recovering compensation for your injuries, call Sawyer Injury Law at 404-777-7890 for a free consultation. Our firm is here for you in your time of need.
How long’s this going to take?
Every case is unique, and there is no way to know upfront how long your case will take to resolve, but certain general principles apply that can provide a rough guide in most cases. First of all, your case should not get resolved before it is ready to be resolved. For instance, your lawyer should not attempt to settle your case until your doctor declares you medically stationary and you know what your past and future medical bills and health condition are and will be. Another important factor is whether liability is clear-cut or disputed. If both sides are arguing over who is at fault or whether both parties are partly to blame, the case can take longer to resolve.
All told, personal injury cases can take anywhere from six months to two years to resolve, depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. Despite the various unknowns, your lawyer can probably give you a general idea of how long your case will take as early as your initial consultation. An experienced personal injury attorney won’t try to settle your case before it is ready but will also stay on top of important deadlines such as the statute of limitations.
If you are concerned about paying for medical care or covering other expenses while your case is pending, talk to your lawyer, as you may have some options at your disposal.
How do you guys get paid?
Sawyer Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge any fees up-front. We only collect a fee once we are successful in recovering money damages on your behalf. Our fee comes as a percentage of the amount we recover for you; no recovery, no fee. Our firm also advances all the costs of litigation so you don’t have to pay one cent out of pocket to retain your case. With a contingency fee, injury victims can get the best legal representation without having to worry about affordability, while their lawyers are motivated to get the biggest compensation award.
How long do I have to file a claim?
The statute of limitations for a personal injury case is two years from the date of the injury, with a few exceptions. In a municipal claim against a governmental entity, you must also provide the appropriate agency with written notice and a description of your claim. Notice of claims against the state of Georgia or a county must be filed within one year from the accident, while notice of claims against municipalities like Atlanta must be filed within six months.
What if the insurance company blames me for the accident?
It’s not uncommon for the insurance company to try and shift all or part of the blame for the accident on the victim. Every percentage of fault allocated to the plaintiff proportionately reduces the amount the defendant would have to pay. Also, under Georgia’s comparative fault law, plaintiffs who are 50% or more to blame cannot win a case against another negligent party.
At Sawyer Injury Law, we use our decades of experience in personal injury matters to build a solid case that proves the defendant’s negligence, and we are ready to challenge any unfounded allegation that the victim bears responsibility as well. We are committed to putting in the work that gets a successful result for our clients and gets them the full amount of compensation they need and deserve after being injured because of another’s negligence.
