Personal injury cases happen far more often than you might think in Hampton, Georgia, but a lot of people are hesitant to talk to a lawyer about the situation. Some accident victims think that if they have a valid legal claim, the insurance company will call them to talk about it. However, that simply isn’t the case in most situations.
In fact, insurance companies will often ignore the situation until you make a claim. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting compensation for the injuries you sustained through no fault of your own. A personal injury lawyer in Hampton from John Foy & Associates can help you with the process.
Why Should You File a Personal Injury Claim?
If you’re injured in an accident that is not your fault alone, you may have a personal injury claim against the person who caused you harm. A personal injury claim is usually about recovering monetary damages to make up for losses the at-fault person caused, such as medical bills, lost wages, and other similar losses.
Even when you have a personal injury claim, the person who caused your injuries isn’t likely to just write you a check. Instead, you must go through a legal process that entitles you to receive money for the losses you’ve endured. In some cases, you may be able to skip filing a claim and going to court if the defendant or their insurance company offers you a reasonable settlement.
What Can a Hampton Personal Injury Lawyer Do For You?
A Hampton, GA, personal injury lawyer will help you go through this legal process after an accident. Examples of personal injury cases include:
- Slip and fall incidents
- Truck or car accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Defective product injuries
- Dangerous medications or medical devices
- Dog bites
- Nursing home abuse
An attorney can help you with these types of cases and more. They will assist you in filing an insurance claim, provide helpful advice about what your case is worth from a legal standpoint, and help you get the most for it.
Many people make the mistake of either overvaluing or undervaluing their case. If you have an unrealistic expectation of what your case is worth, you may end up getting less than you deserve through a settlement, or you might take the case all the way to trial and lose because you didn’t take a good settlement offer.
Hampton Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 404-400-4000
How Will a Hampton Personal Injury Lawyer Handle Your Case?
A personal injury lawyer does a lot more than just provide advice. They will also take action on your behalf. While they keep you informed every step of the way, your lawyer will do a lot of the legwork in preparing your case. That way, you can focus on getting your life back together after the accident.
Your attorney will often perform the following tasks:
- Getting police reports
- Talking to witnesses
- Negotiating with the insurance company or defendant
- Gathering medical records and bills
- Getting experts to present evidence of future damages
- Helping you get connected to medical specialists who can provide unique medical care that fits your needs
Your personal injury lawyer in Hampton is a valuable partner in presenting your case. Their insight and knowledge is often extremely helpful. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t often take individuals seriously if they don’t have an attorney. That means that if you want an insurance company’s attention, you should hire a legal representative.
Can You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Without an Attorney in Hampton, GA?
While technically you don’t really need a personal injury lawyer to start a lawsuit in Hampton, it’s easier if you have one by your side. Navigating the legal system and winning your personal injury case is extremely difficult without the guidance of an experienced lawyer.
Instances where your damages and injuries are very minor, for example, and you needed very limited or no follow up care, can be easier to handle if you do not have legal help. Most accidents, however, do warrant the attention and expertise a lawyer can bring. If you’re unsure, it’s best to at least schedule a consultation to discuss your options.
The recovery component is very important. If your doctor predicts you will need to have follow up care for quite a while or you may never completely recover, you need to talk to a personal injury lawyer in Hampton, Georgia.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Hampton, call 404-400-4000
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
The short answer is “it depends.” Many experienced and professional personal injury law firms take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means that they don’t collect any fee at all if you don’t get money out of your personal injury case.
Some firms might charge you for costs (like filing fees or expert fees) or take an hourly fee. But you should be able to recover first. Personal injury victims deserve to get repaid, not pay more without getting anything out of it. That is also the reason why many attorneys offer free consultations.
What Is the Process for Filing Your Personal Injury Lawsuit?
As soon as you have a free consultation and a personal injury lawyer accepts your case, your legal process has begun. The first, and most critical, step in a claim is the discovery process. This refers to the exchange of information between both sides. This information includes facts about the case, witness statements, and the evidence each side plans to present.
Discovery
Discovery prevents any surprises during trial, where one side is oblivious to the other side’s witnesses or evidence until the trial and having little to no time to prepare for a rebuttal. It consists of four critical steps: interrogatories, request for production, request of admission, and deposition.
Interrogatories
This refers to the written questionnaires one legal team sends to the opposing legal team. The purpose is to get more information about events relevant to the claim. It includes fact-gathering questions to receive information about:
- Injury descriptions
- Any insurance covering the accident
- The medical treatment received for injuries
- The medical history of the plaintiff
- Contact information of involved parties and witnesses
Written Request for Production
This request asks the at-fault party’s attorney to present all relevant documents for cross-examination. Typically, this step follows interrogatories, and all parties must turn over all relevant documents. Depending on what type of personal injury lawsuit you’re filing, the opposing party may ask for:
- Police reports
- Photographs taken at the scene of the accident
- Receipts proving repair work and out-of-pocket expenses
- Copies of medical records
Request of Admission
This request is one side’s written factual statement served to the opposing legal team who then must deny, accept, or object to the statement. If the party who received the statement of admission fails to respond within 30 days, a judge will deem it as admitted.
Deposition
Any out-of-court testimony that is recorded and transcribed by a courtroom reporter for later use is known as a deposition. It helps to capture the basis of the lawsuit and even the most minute details. If your case goes to trial, the video recording or transcript of the deposition can be used to dispute or corroborate a testimony.
Damages You Can Recover in Personal Injury Lawsuit
When you file a personal injury case, you will be required to provide evidence of your damages. With this proof, you may be able to recover compensation to cover any of the following expenses and losses:
- Economic damages: These represent current and future medical costs, income loss, property damage, therapy bills, and out-of-pocket expenses
- Non-economic damages: These are intangible losses you experienced, also referred to as pain and suffering
- Punitive damages: These damages are set as a form of punishment to the at-fault party and exceed simple compensation
A Hampton personal injury attorney can assist you with determining the value of all your damages. This total value will be used in settlement negotiations or in court to ensure a fair award.
Talk to a Hampton Personal Injury Lawyer for Free
At John Foy & Associates, our Hampton, GA, personal injury lawyers give you the tools and information needed to help recover the full value of your case. We’ve been helping personal injury victims for over 20 years, and we can put that knowledge and experience to good use for you.
You shouldn’t feel guilty or nervous about holding someone else accountable for their actions if they caused you harm and pain. Don’t wait to talk to a lawyer about your situation. The sooner you have this conversation, the more likely you are to receive the full value of your claim.
We can help you realistically examine your situation and determine what your next steps should be. Let us give you a FREE consultation. 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