If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by the negligence, recklessness, or carelessness of someone else, you may be eligible for compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. There are, however, a number of factors that play into your eligibility – including the statute of limitations and necessary documentation. Contacting a personal injury lawyer should be your first step but here is some information to get started.
Answer the following questions to determine whether you may be eligible for compensation.
Were You a Victim of Negligence?
All personal injury claims must involve some level of negligence. For example, if you’ve been hit by a car, you need to prove one of the following:
- The driver knew you were in the roadway and failed to stop
- The driver left the scene of the accident, causing further injury
- The driver wasn’t following traffic regulations
There’s an unspoken contract between all of us. When you get in a vehicle with someone else, you assume you’ll be driven safely to your destination. If the driver is intoxicated or distracted, they’ve broken their contract to you. This concept is similar for most personal injury cases.
Contrary to popular belief, you can bring a civil suit against anyone responsible for injuring you – even if that injury was criminal in nature. For example, in the case of OJ Simpson, a former professional football player accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, a criminal lawsuit was unsuccessful. Simpson was allowed to roam free. He was later found guilty in a personal injury lawsuit, in which a judgment awarded the families of the victims $33.5 million.
Did You Sustain an Injury?
In order to be eligible for compensation, you must have suffered some physical or emotional injury. The injury doesn’t need to be life-threatening – just severe enough to warrant medical bills.
What Documentation Can You Provide?
Filing a legal claim requires paperwork. You need to show your medical expenses, current wage, extent of property damage, marital status, and much, much more. Your attorney will assist in gathering this documentation.
How Much Time Has Passed Since Your Accident?
In every state, there’s a statute of limitations. In the state of Georgia, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit or you may never receive compensation for your injuries. There are exceptions to the statute of limitations, but they are rare. Contact an experienced attorney if you believe you may be an exception.
Contact an Experienced Atlanta Attorney to File Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
No one deserves to suffer because someone else was negligent, reckless, or careless. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney for assistance and representation. At Schnipper Law P.C., our team is dedicated to fighting for the compensation you deserve. [calltoaction]Call (404) 983-6051 to schedule a free consultation.[/calltoaction]