Approaching personal injury cases can be intimidating because of the amount of work necessary to prepare strong lawsuits. Victims with particularly bad injuries might deal with other hurdles to recovery, like having to spend months in the hospital or all their free time in physical therapy. We can be there for victims, prioritizing their lawsuits as they focus on their health.
When lawsuits get delayed, victims risk missing the filing deadline, which generally falls two years from an accident’s date. On top of ensuring you file on time, we can accurately calculate all financial losses from an accident, like hospital expenses and lost wages. We will also take your non-economic damages into account, taking your case to trial if settlement offers do not cover your pain and suffering.
Get a free and confidential case assessment when you call Rice Law’s personal injury lawyers today at (470) 287-3070.
Time Restrictions on Thomasville Personal Injury Lawsuits
The statute of limitations determines how long you have to file a lawsuit. Most likely, you will have two years from the accident’s date to sue someone for damages, according to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. According to § 9-3-90(b), the statute of limitations does not begin to count down for anyone injured under 18 until their 18th birthday. There are also exceptions for victims with intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses that make them legally incompetent.
Also, under § 9-3-94, the statute of limitations will not run for any period the defendant is out of state. Plaintiffs cannot serve lawsuits when defendants are out of state, so their absence should not eat into the statute of limitations.
Fraudulent concealment is another exception to the personal injury statute of limitations. If the defendant tries to hide their liability, the statute of limitations will not run for that period.
Another common exception is for delayed discovery. Some injuries, like soft tissue injuries from car accidents, take time to appear. Instead of the two-year clock starting on the date of injury, it would start on the date of discovery. This could be days, weeks, or months after an incident, and we must prove you could not have reasonably discovered your injury sooner.
Financial Losses to Monitor After a Personal Injury in Thomasville
Personal injuries are costly. Monitoring financial losses lets us keep a close tally of your damages. As we do this, we will keep copies of bills and records of expenses.
Medical Expenses
We can start with itemizing your medical expenses. Our personal injury lawyers will need hospital bills from your first trip to the emergency room onward.
Suppose you need multiple surgeries or have to stay in the hospital for several days. In that case, your medical bills might be overwhelming. Keeping track of each hospital bill is crucial. Otherwise, you might forget to include some in the final requests for relief, which we can avoid.
Lost Wages
Displaced fractures, burns, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage might stop you from working. Other injuries could also affect your earning ability. This translates to lost wages, which are compensable in lawsuits.
Lost wages are based on your previous income. If you cannot go back to work indefinitely, we can get experts to testify on your behalf. They can also help with calculating future lost wages.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Property damage is typical in car accidents, and victims can recover these losses in their lawsuits. We may trace other expenses back to the accident as well. For example, suppose you need to make your home wheelchair accessible. Since you are facing these expenses because of the defendant, we can help make sure they cover them.
Compensation for Pain and Suffering from Personal Injuries in Thomasville
Victims deal with more than financial losses after accidents. Physical pain from injuries and mental suffering from negligence are compensable.
Non-economic losses are subjective. Since you know the most about your pain and suffering, testifying at trial might help your recovery. In addition to your testimony, mental health experts may give their professional opinions on the stand.
Georgia does not cap non-economic damages for regular personal injury cases. Suppose your case goes to trial, and the jury finds the defendant liable. In that case, they can award the non-economic damages they deem appropriate. Note that Georgia does have a cap on non-economic damages for medical malpractice claims.
Though more likely to come from a jury award, you can get non-economic damages from a settlement, too. That said, the first few offers you get might be low. The start of negotiations is just that, the start. We can keep negotiating until offers improve. Still, you might not get better offers that also cover your non-economic damages. In that case, we can go to trial, where you might stand to claim greater damages.
Evidence We Gather for Thomasville Personal Injury Cases
When looking for evidence, we may start with interviewing eyewitnesses. Their statements can support the arguments we make in your claim, especially about the defendant’s negligent conduct.
We can also consider the accident’s location when collecting evidence. For example, there might be footage from nearby security cameras after car crashes and slip and falls and other premises liability claims.
Experts generally benefit claims. We can involve the appropriate ones early on so they have enough time to review the evidence and prepare their findings before we file the lawsuit.
For example, after a car crash, a reconstruction expert is useful. They can use their expertise to determine an accident’s cause based on the leftover physical evidence preserved through photographs.
Medical experts help explain victims’ injuries and clarify upcoming medical treatments they will need. Your medical records are very important evidence. They prove your injuries exist, so prioritize your health after an accident by seeking immediate and continuous medical care.
Call Our Thomasville Lawyers About Your Injury Case
Call Rice Law at (470) 287-3070 to discuss your case for free with our personal injury lawyers.