Every year, countless injuries take place in Evans. What all of these injuries have in common is that, no matter how they happened, in most cases they could have been prevented—which means that someone is responsible. Unfortunately, many victims will never pursue their legal rights and many will be left with medical bills, difficulty working, or permanent and life-altering effects.
Don’t miss out on your rights. If you were injured and you are not at fault, money is likely available to help you. You need to talk to an Evans personal injury lawyer.
John Foy & Associates can help you. We founded our law firm with a vision: to champion those who have been injured. And for over 20 years, we’ve been doing just that: winning cases, helping families and making a reputation that even the insurance companies know they have to respect.
We never charge our clients anything if we can’t get money for them. Let us give you a free consultation.
Call us at 706-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
Trust your instincts. If you were hurt you should talk to a professional and at least get an opinion on whether you might have a case. But there are other steps you can take to protect yourself in the process. They are:
- See a doctor. If you were injured, don’t wait to get treatment. This is because many injuries get worse if they’re not treated. And, insurers will use your lack of action against you in your claim.
- Gather information. Depending on the injury, try to get information at the scene. This could involve taking photos or videos, talking to eyewitnesses (and getting their contact info), or documenting what happened. The more information you have, the better.
- Don’t talk directly to the insurers. Insurers may ask you to make a written or recorded statement. Or they may call you up to ask you questions. The only thing you should tell them is that you are seeking legal advice and you have to wait until you’ve talked to a lawyer.
- Don’t take the money. Insurance companies will often make a fast offer of cash. The amount often seems large at first. But you haven’t gotten all your medical bills yet, and you don’t know how long you will need treatment for. Never accept the first offer or sign away your right to more.
- Talk to a lawyer. This is really the best way to find out if you have a case and what your options are. Getting a consultation is free, and you’ll walk away with a much clearer idea of your options.
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Who Pays for My Claim?
Technically, whatever person, company or entity is responsible for the injury are considered liable. However, in most cases it will be their insurance paying the actual costs.
In Evans, and statewide, liability is based on the idea that we all have a duty to not be careless with other people’s safety. If someone neglects that duty, their carelessness is known as negligence. Negligence doesn’t mean they wanted to hurt anyone. Often, they will be upset about what happened. But it does mean that they are the ones whose action or inaction caused the accident, and they will be held responsible for all costs.
Unfortunately, the liable party may also try to avoid responsibility. Individuals will get angry or argue over blame. Companies or organizations will put their own lawyers on the case to try to get out of paying. You should not be facing this kind of pushback personally. Always get a lawyer to work on your behalf. Not only are you likely to recover more money, you will also get peace of mind while you recover.
How Much Money Can I Recover for a Personal Injury Claim in Evans?
The law in Georgia doesn’t place any kind of limit on how much money you can recover. Instead, the amount you get is based on the severity of your injury. In theory, the money is supposed to make up for two kinds of losses:
- Actual financial losses, like your medical costs or missed work time.
- The impact that the injury has had on your life, through pain, permanent effects, and other serious losses.
Obviously, money can’t really make up for this second kind of loss. And there’s no way to calculate what that kind of loss is “worth,” so instead it’s treated as a multiplier. All of the financial costs are added up, and they’re multiplied by a number between 1 and 5. That’s how your settlement is determined.
Example: Let’s say you have $40,000 in medical costs and $10,000 in other losses which includes weeks when you were unable to work. So your actual costs were $50,000. However, you also suffered extreme pain for weeks, and you now have a permanent scar that’s very visible. Because of this severe impact, the costs are multiplied by 3 and you recover a total of $150,000.
The reason the law awards this extra money is to recognize that you will need time, and likely financial resources, to put your life back together. Life after a serious injury is not the same as life before the injury. The money provides stability when you need it most.
Be aware, however, that this kind of math reflects what you could win in the local courts. Insurers will always try to offer you less, especially if you don’t have a lawyer. They will go to great lengths to get you to accept and offer that’s far too low—even twisting your words against you to blame you. Never face the insurers without a legal professional on your side.
Talk to an Evans Personal Injury Lawyer for Free
Let John Foy & Associates put over 20 years of experience on your case. We know how to win cases and we won’t charge you a penny unless we win you money. Let us give you a free consultation to get you started.
Call us at 706-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form