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Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer

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    Unfortunately, personal injuries are caused every day. When you are injured through a negligent act of another, consider working with our lawyers to file a lawsuit against them.

    Many different situations can give rise to a personal injury claim, so it is important to have a legal team that understands your case and how to evaluate your damages. Whether you were injured in an auto accident, on another person’s property, or through malpractice, we can identify critical evidence showing how the defendant caused your injuries by violating their duty of care to you. We will also calculate your losses so you can recover the full value of your claim. This includes economic damages from medical expenses, income lost from missing work, and non-economic damages brought on by the fallout of your accident. If the defendant should be punished for malicious or wanton misconduct, we can argue for punitive damages to be awarded.

    Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (470) 287-3070 for a case assessment with our personal injury lawyers free of charge.

    Common Reasons to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Decatur, GA

    There is no shortage of causes for accidents in Decatur. While some accidents might be self-contained, many result from someone’s negligence. If this sounds like your situation, our personal injury attorneys can help hold the negligent party responsible in a legal claim. Whether we negotiate a settlement with an insurance company or take a case to trial, we can find useful evidence and calculate your damages accurately.

    Decatur, a suburb just outside of Atlanta, has its fair share of vehicle accidents. Your claim might be relatively straightforward if we are suing a single negligent driver, but we can also sort out liability if multiple drivers are involved in the crash. It might also be possible to add an employer as a defendant to your case if the driver who injured you was working at the time of the collision.

    Motorcycle accident victims should also not lose compensation because of the hobby they enjoy, which an insurance company might try to get away with when a rider does not have legal counsel. You can also recover compensation if a negligent driver hits you while riding your bike or walking around, as damages from these accidents tend to be high.

    Negligent property owners are another common reason for personal injury claims. Many people suffer serious injuries in slip and fall accidents because a business fails to address a hazard or make reasonable inspections to maintain its property.

    Perhaps you suffered harm because your doctor did not diagnose your condition accurately or prescribed a medication you were allergic to before confirming what allergies you have.

    In each of these examples, the negligent party failed to live up to their duty of care, resulting in the victim’s damages. What duty the defendant owed you will depend on the type of accident in which you were injured. Our team can help define the duty of care in your claim and get evidence showing how the defendant breached it.

    Damages that Can Be Recovered in Decatur, GA Personal Injury Claims

    One part of your legal claim is establishing that the defendant owed you a duty of care and breached it by injuring you. The other part is assessing the damages that their negligent acts caused. Damages are all the losses, both financial and non-monetary, you have that you would not have had if the defendant had not been careless. Special damages account for the economic expenses you have had to pay, while general damages reimburse you for the pain and suffering the defendant’s negligence causes you. Punitive damages, while rarely awarded, can be claimed if the defendant acted recklessly or maliciously.

    Special Damages

    Your special damages should cover the economic losses from the accident. Typically, medical expenses are chief among these damages. The costs of healthcare today are by no means insignificant. Even if you went to the emergency room by ambulance, followed by a month or two of continuing treatment, you could be facing thousands of dollars in medical bills. Those with serious injuries could incur costs long after the accident has happened, including making modifications to their home and vehicles. Your special damages should compensate for medical bills you have already paid, as well as future healthcare costs related to your treatment.

    Lost wages are another common component of an injury victim’s special damages. Perhaps your injuries prevent you from working entirely or force you to reduce your hours. Lost income and reduced future earning capacity can be claimed in a lawsuit.

    Damaged property can also be included in your claim for special damages. For instance, you can claim the market value if your vehicle was totaled after a collision or repair costs if it was salvageable.

    General Damages

    General damages are considered non-economic, accounting for any impacts the accident causes that are not financial in nature. Many injury victims contend with physical pain even after their injuries have technically healed. They also commonly develop emotional and psychological conditions that impact their daily lives, such as depression, anxiety, and even PTSD. Because general damages are based on your subjective experiences, they can be challenging to assess. Still, our team can work with experts and your mental health providers so these losses are fairly compensated.

    Punitive Damages

    Punitive damages are not awarded in most personal injury claims because they are reserved for cases involving aggravating circumstances. They are intended to punish, penalize, and deter the defendant and others from acting the same way in the future rather than compensating the victim, according to O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1(c).

    To recover punitive damages, we need clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously, wantonly, or consciously indifferent to the consequences of their actions, as per § 51-12-5.1(b). For example, the blood test results from a DUI accident would likely serve as clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted in the manner described above.

    Call Our Decatur, GA Personal Injury Lawyers Today for Help Covering Your Losses

    Call the personal injury lawyers of Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070 for a free case review.