If you or anyone you know has been involved in an accident through no fault of your own, you have a legal right to compensation. Whether you need to recover costs for hospital bills, medication, or even time missed from work, our law firm is here to help.
Known as the “Strong Arm of the Law,” John Foy & Associates has been successfully serving residents of Decatur, Georgia, for over 20 years. Let our Decatur personal injury attorneys help you hold the negligent party accountable and recover compensation for your accident.
What Should I Do if I’ve Been Injured?
Take your injury seriously. Even injuries that seem minor at first can end up costing you a substantial amount of money. Document everything, from how the injury happened to what the doctor said at your appointment, and take simple steps to protect your right. The two most important things you can do after your injury are:
Don’t Sign ANYTHING From the Insurance Company
In most cases, once you report your accident, the insurance company will want to settle quickly offering to pay the least amount of money possible. While the initial sum may be tempting, it may not cover subsequent medical bills and employment struggles.
Remember, when you sign a check from the insurer, you are signing away your right to the rest of the money you deserve. Put aside anything they send you and get a professional legal opinion first.
Contact a Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer
Dealing with insurance companies can be confusing, and they have a team of lawyers working against you. Having a lawyer of your own levels the playing field and shows that you will not settle for less than you deserve.
An experienced personal injury attorney in Decatur knows how to bargain with the insurance company and how to make sure that they are the ones under pressure, not you.
How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case?
The only way you will know for certain is to contact a lawyer who understands these types of claims. Do not assume your injury was an “accident” or couldn’t have been prevented, and above all, do not blame yourself.
Under the law, most injuries are not accidents. Usually they are caused by someone’s negligence. According to the law, if another person (or business) was careless or inattentive, and that’s why you got hurt, you have a valid claim, and you are eligible for a financial recovery.
Personal injury claims include more than car accidents and falls. Never assume that you don’t have a claim until you have spoken to a lawyer. The most frequent types of personal injury accidents include:
- Truck, car, motorcycle, and bike accidents
- Falls, trips, and slips
- Criminal assault
- Abuse in a nursing home or hospice
- Product liability claims
- Dog bites
- Faulty medical devices
- Mixed up prescription drugs or medication errors
Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 404-400-4000
Understanding the Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer
Any personal injury lawyer has to prove four things for most personal injury cases. If your lawyer proves these things, chances are high you’ll win your case. The four things are:
- Identifying the responsible parties.
- Proving they acted negligently, that is, in a way that could hurt someone.
- Proving their negligence did, in fact, hurt you.
- Showing the damages, both economic and non-economic, caused by the injury.
The key to proving all these things is evidence. Our investigative team will leave no stone unturned looking for proof that will improve your chances of fair compensation. Naturally, the insurance company will do their best to disprove these four things.
Will I Have to Go to Court for My Personal Injury Claim?
In most cases, going to court is unnecessary because most personal injury cases don’t require a trial. Our team of lawyers will construct a well-documented argument showing how you were injured and the total cost of the accident.
Once our Decatur personal injury attorneys have a solid case, we take the insurance company to the negotiation table and push them to offer you a fair recovery. Most times, this is all it takes to get the money you need. Sometimes, unfortunately, the insurance company won’t budge.
If this happens, we will give you our advice on whether we believe we can win for you in the local courts. If you decide to go forward, we will represent you every step of the way and make the process simple. It is always your choice whether or not to take the case to court.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Decatur, call 404-400-4000
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Decatur?
You should never pay anything up front to speak to a personal injury lawyer in Decatur. While many law firms charge up-front fees, this rarely works to your best interest: it puts you in the position of paying them whether they win your money or not.
At John Foy & Associates, we believe we should not get paid unless we succeed on your behalf. That’s why we only take our fee as a percentage from the money we recover for you. This method guarantees a no win, no fee arrangement and no out-of-pocket expenses.
We want our legal help to be as simple and affordable as possible:
- All consultations are offered FREE of charge
- You pay nothing out of pocket, ever
- You owe us nothing if we don’t win you money
We believe that this creates a fair, no-risk way for you to get professional legal assistance. It also gives us a bigger financial incentive to work hard for you!
How Long Can I Wait to File an Injury Claim in Decatur?
The City of Decatur has strict deadlines in place for all personal injury claims. These are laid out by both federal law and Georgia state laws. The exact deadlines vary depending on the nature of the case, but in general:
- Some cases offer up to two years to file your claim, as per Ga. Code § 9-3-33
- Other cases may give a matter of weeks from the date of your injury
This is in addition to any requirements insurance companies have for reporting an accident, which can be much tighter. Never wait to file your claim. If the time limit expires, you could lose your chance to gain a financial settlement at all.
How Do I Get Paid After I Win My Personal Injury Case?
This is another job for your lawyer. After your case is won, the losing party has a deadline to deliver a check to your lawyer for your compensation. The lawyer then takes their percentage and passes the rest to you. This is often a direct deposit these days.
If the insurer or other party fails to pay in time, your lawyer can take legal action to compel payment. However, if it’s an insurer that’s paying, this is exceedingly rare. Insurers know the possible consequences of nonpayment and want to avoid them as much as possible!
Talk to a Decatur, GA, Personal Injury Lawyer for Free
At John Foy & Associates, it is our policy to put our clients first. We never side with large corporations or the insurance companies – always with the victim. Let our Decatur personal injury lawyers give you a free consultation to answer your questions and help you decide how to handle your claim. Call us or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
Call or text 404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form