Douglasville, GA Personal Injury Lawyers

Some accidents happen because things just go wrong, but many result from other people’s negligence. If you are the victim of another’s carelessness, you will need help covering the likely damages it will cause.

Fortunately, our lawyers can help you do this by filing a lawsuit against them. We will quickly identify how long you have to file your claim and start investigating it immediately. Our team will gather medical records, accident reports, witness testimony, and any other type of evidence relevant to proving liability and your damages. We will use the evidence to build a comprehensive picture of what happened during the accident and the efforts you have made to deal with your injuries.

Reach out to Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070 for a free assessment of your claim with our personal injury lawyers.

Time Limit to File Your Personal Injury Lawsuit in Douglasville, GA

You do not have long to file a personal injury lawsuit in Douglasville. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 generally only provides victims two years to file their claims. Two years go by quickly, so you want to begin your case immediately so our team can investigate and file your lawsuit.

Investigating and Proving a Personal Injury Claim in Douglasville, GA

The true legwork in a personal injury case is done long before it reaches the courtroom. Thoroughly investigating a claim is essential to proving and, ultimately, winning it. When our personal injury attorneys research your accident, we will build your case with several pieces of evidence, including accident reports, medical records, and witness statements. We can also use visual evidence to prove your case, such as photos you took after the accident or surveillance footage we recovered.

Accident Reports

Our investigations often begin by reviewing any accident reports in the case. If you called 911 after the accident to get medical attention, the police might have also been dispatched to the scene to take a report. For example, if you are pursuing damages from a car accident, there should be a police accident report containing important details about your incident we can obtain.

The potential defendant in your case might also have drafted an accident report. This is common in slip and fall accidents and crashes involving commercial vehicles. Perhaps you slipped in a spill while shopping in a major retail chain. If you reported the accident, an employee or manager likely made a report. Do not worry if you did not get a copy, as we can obtain it during litigation.

Medical Records

A major part of our investigation will involve gathering and organizing your medical records. Again, you do not need to have these records already. We will reach out to each provider you treated with and request the records on your behalf.

First, we will get your emergency room and medical service records if you get treatment on the scene. Emergency room records are important because they detail your injuries just after the accident, linking your injuries with the cause of your hospital visit.

We will follow up on these records with evidence from the current medical providers treating you. Depending on your injuries, you might need to visit several specialists, including physical therapists, neurologists, and surgeons. Our team will discuss where you are treated and review your insurance information so we do not overlook any providers.

Also, our investigation will not be limited to your current medical treatment. We will also review any past injuries you sustained or other pre-existing conditions. If you have a condition or injuries from a prior accident, we can get those medical records to show how your current injuries are distinct. Alternatively, we might use your current and past medical records to show how this accident made prior injuries worse.

Photos and Surveillance Footage

Photos and videos are often vital to prove liability. Regardless of the accident you were injured in, take as many pictures as you think helpful. Be sure to get shots of the scene and what injured you. If you were in a car accident, you can take photos of the crash site, the damaged vehicles, and road debris. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, take a picture of what caused your fall. You should also take photos of your injuries while fresh.

Our team will also go to the location of your accident during our investigation to check for nearby surveillance cameras. In today’s age, it is possible that a home or business camera captured your accident. If your accident occurred within a business, like a slip and fall, they likely have surveillance footage of it. We must act quickly to recover footage that is not in your possession.

Witness Testimony

Witness testimony can tip the scales in your favor and turn a close case into a winning one. Depending on where your accident occurred, several witnesses could have seen it. After a car accident, people might have stopped to render aid. The same is true with accidents that occur in business and other public locations. If your injuries allow, speak to witnesses before you leave. You do not need to get every detail they saw, as their contact information will be enough for our team to contact them later and get their statements.

We might also employ expert witnesses to help prove your case. Expert witnesses, like medical professionals and accident reconstructionists, are often necessary to explain how complex accidents happened or how serious your injuries are. Our team will arrange to get expert testimony while you recover.

You will also usually need to testify. You are in the best position to explain what happened from your point of view during the incident. You can also testify to the impact the accident and treating your injuries has had on your life, helping to prove your pain and suffering damages.

Contact Our Douglasville, GA Personal Injury Attorneys Today to Get the Legal Support You Deserve

For a free case review with our personal injury attorneys, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070.