North Druid
Personal Injury Lawyer

Injuries can happen anymore, even in small communities like North Druid. And if you were hurt because of someone else’s actions, it can be incredibly frustrating. You’re probably facing medical expenses, lost work time, and maybe even property damage. This mental and physical toll can be a lot. That’s why it’s a good idea to contact a North Druid personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

At John Foy & Associates, we’ve been helping personal injury victims seek the financial recovery they deserve for more than 20 years. We only work on personal injury cases, and we never take the side of insurance companies. To schedule a FREE, no-risk consultation with us today, call 404-400-4000, or fill out our contact page.

How to Know If Your Personal Injury Claim Is Valid

Many personal injury victims second-guess themselves after being hurt. It’s common to worry whether you could have prevented or accident or if your case is actually valid. But in general, if you were physically injured because of someone else’s negligence, you probably have a case.

Negligence refers to a fault. If someone’s careless actions or inactions lead to an injury, they have been negligent and are considered “at fault.” And since Georgia is at an-fault state, the negligent party is responsible for all costs of the accident. To recover for these costs, you’ll need to file a personal injury claim that demonstrates that negligence.

Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Case

To prove negligence, there must be the following main elements:

Duty of Care

Everyone legally has a “duty of care” to act in a way that doesn’t harm others. The way this legal duty is established depends on the case.

Failure to Uphold the Duty of Care

If someone violates their duty of care and it leads to an injury, they are likely being negligent.

For example, if you are in a car accident and the other motorist was texting and driving, a car accident lawyer in North Druid would tell you they failed in their duty to keep other drivers from harm. Or, if you slipped and fell on the company’s property because of a broken step, they were likely negligent if they knew about the hazard but failed to take care of it in a reasonable amount of time.

In the situations above, the other driver and the property owner failed to do or not do something that would have kept you from harm.

The Duty Failure Caused an Accident

Besides proving that the other person was being careless or negligent, you must also be able to show their negligence caused your accident. Their insurance company may try to pin the blame on you, so it’s best to contact a personal injury lawyer in North Druid for help. They can investigate your case and begin building a strong claim with sufficient evidence about what actually happened.

Damages from the Accident

To seek compensation, you must have actual damages from the accident. Damages are costs or losses you suffer because of the accident and your injuries. Examples of damages from a personal injury accident include:

• Medical bills, tests, and prescription medications
• Lost wages from missed work time
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering damages, such as emotional trauma

In order to make a claim for emotional damages like pain and suffering, you must also have a physical injury.

Types of Personal Injury Cases in North Druid

“Personal injury” encompasses a variety of accident cases. Some of the most common we take on are:

• Car accidents, ranging from rear-end collisions to drunk driving or hit-and-run accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
• Workplace injuries
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful death
• And more

Four Things You Should Do After Being Injured

What you do after being injured in North Druid can actually make a big difference in your case. You can start compiling evidence right away to support your claim. Here are some things you should do—if you’re able—to protect and support yourself after a personal injury accident.

Report the Accident

As soon as the accident occurs, report it. How you do this can depend on the situation. If you were injured in a car accident, you should always call the police and tell them what happened. If you slipped and fell on someone’s property, you’ll need to tell an owner or manager that you fell and were injured. And if you were hurt on the job, that would probably be a worker’s compensation case where you need to inform your employer of your accident.

For North Druid, the nearest police stations are in Brookhaven or Emory. In some situations, officers will come to the scene and create a police report of what happened. This is good because it creates an official record of the accident. After a car accident, you’ll need to obtain a copy of this report for your claim.

Take Pictures and Notes

Photographic evidence can be invaluable in a personal injury case. Use your phone or another camera to take pictures of the:

• Accident scene
• Your injuries
• Any property damage
• Hazards or obstacles (such as in a slip and fall accident)
• Anything else you think may be relevant to your case

Having snapshots of moments after an accident preserves the scene long after it’s been changed or cleaned up. It can also help to make notes of everything you remember.

Don’t Take the First Offer or Sign Anything

The insurance company of the at-fault person will probably act quickly. They may offer you money right away. While this is tempting, you should never accept the first offer. It’s a lowball settlement amount that won’t come close to covering your full damages—and the insurer knows this.

Also, be wary of giving any recorded statements, taking any calls, or signing anything from the insurance company. Talk to a lawyer first.

Call a North Druid Personal Injury Lawyer

It’s always a good idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer near you after an accident. They can examine your case and give you an idea of your options. You’ll also need to understand the full extent of your damages before accepting any money, and a personal injury lawyer in North Druid can help you do this. They can also communicate and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Speak to a North Druid Personal Injury Lawyer for Free

At John Foy & Associates, we know what it takes to win personal injury cases. We’ve been helping injury victims win the money they need for more than 20 years. We understand how painful and stressful the days (and weeks) after an accident can be, and we don’t believe you should ever have to handle them alone.

Call us today and we’ll give you a FREE consultation to talk about your case and explore your best options. We never charge for the consultation, and we don’t get paid unless we win you money. To get your free consultation today, call 404-400-4000, or contact us here now.