Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured because of another party’s negligence, Georgia law allows you to recover compensation from the at-fault party for the harm they’ve done to you. Unfortunately, getting this compensation isn’t as simple as filling out a claim form with the insurance company. Instead, the burden falls on you to prove every element of a negligence claim, including:
- The other party owed a duty of care to you
- The party breached (violated) that duty
- Their negligence caused you to suffer an injury
- The extent of the damages inflicted on you
While you are building a case that proves these elements, the other side will be building their own case that says they weren’t at fault, that your own negligence is to blame, or that you weren’t really seriously injured by their actions. These allegations, if allowed to go unchallenged, can defeat your claim or greatly reduce the amount the other party owes you.
Getting into an automobile collision, suffering a slip and fall, or otherwise getting injured is a scary experience, and the days, weeks and months that follow can be painful, difficult and disruptive to you and your family at home as well as your ability to earn a living. Sawyer Injury Law is here for you with the knowledge, skills, experience and dedication to advise you, represent you, and get a successful result that meets your needs and reflects the value of your claim. Call Sawyer Injury Law for help with a personal injury matter in Metro Atlanta.
What can I recover in a personal injury claim?
Financial compensation in a personal injury case is known as money damages. Damages for the most part are meant to be compensatory – as near as possible, they should compensate the victim or make up for the fact they were injured by another’s negligence or carelessness. Compensatory damages can be both “economic” and “non-economic.” Economic damages, for example, cover costs such as:
- Hospital stays
- Doctor visits
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Other present and future medical expenses
- Lost wages for time missed from work after the accident
- A disability that prevents working at the same earning capacity as before the accident
So-called non-economic damages, on the other hand, include compensation for harm such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss in quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment in life
Georgia law also allows for certain non-compensatory damages called punitive damages. The purposes of punitive damages are to punish a defendant for especially bad behavior that goes beyond ordinary negligence and to serve as an example to hopefully deter others from engaging in similar bad conduct. Punitive damages in Georgia are limited to cases where the defendant engaged in willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or showed a conscious indifference to the consequences of the party’s actions.
Punitive damages have to be proven by “clear and convincing evidence,” which is a tougher standard to meet than the “preponderance of the evidence” standard that applies to proving other aspects of a negligence case. The amount of punitive damages depends on the harm caused, the resources of the defendant, and the severity of the conduct, but they are often double or triple the amount of the actual or compensatory damages. Georgia law limits punitive damage awards to $250,000, except in cases of intentional harm or if alcohol or drugs were involved.
Dedication, experience and a record of success in Atlanta personal injury claims
Sawyer Injury Law works to document, prove and recover the maximum compensation available according to the facts of the case and the applicable law. Attorney Norman Sawyer has over two decades of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in Georgia personal injury claims, with an emphasis on vehicular collisions, premises liability, and municipal claims. Attorney Sawyer also possesses a high level of jury trial experience, meaning that not only is he willing and able to take your case to court when necessary, but the insurance companies are much more likely to settle out of court rather than face a jury opposite someone like Mr. Sawyer with a well-established record of success at trial. With Sawyer Injury Law on your side, you’ll be in an excellent position to get significant compensation for the harm done to you by another’s negligent behavior.
Get the Help You Need After a Serious Personal Injury in Atlanta
For help with an automobile collision, workplace accident, premises liability injury, or a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim in Metro Atlanta, call Sawyer Injury Law at 404-777-7890 for a complimentary consultation about your case.
