A single injury can be life-changing. You may find yourself living with pain every day or unsure whether you will fully regain the health you enjoyed before the incident. Severe cases may mean a disability, the inability to work, or even the loss of someone you love.
If you were injured in Bibb County and it wasn’t your fault, you might have a legal right to recover money, and it’s probably more than the insurance company will offer. Talk to one of our personal injury lawyers in Macon to ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Our legal team is here to help during this difficult time.
How Do I Know If I Need a Lawyer?
You should talk to a lawyer if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence. This is the first thing you should do after seeking medical care for your injuries. In Georgia, victims have a right to recover money for their injuries from the person or business who caused them.
Many victims aren’t sure whether they have a case or wrongly blame themselves for their injuries. As a result, they go without money that they could have used for medical bills, missed income, and property damage.
That doesn’t mean every accident victim has a valid claim. But it’s worth sitting down to talk to a Macon personal injury attorney, especially when the consultation is free. You can get a professional legal opinion in less than half an hour and know whether you qualify for compensation.
What Are Examples of Valid Personal Injury Claims?
Personal injury is a broad field of law with many subspecialties. Examples of valid legal claims include the following scenarios:
- A driver changes lanes in front of you without using their turn signal, causing an accident that involves your car.
- A building owner doesn’t change a burnt-out lightbulb in their stairwell; you fall on the stairs and get hurt.
- A nursing home increases the number of patients they accept by 20% but fails to hire additional staff. Your parent is a nursing home resident and rolls out of bed, breaking a hip. It takes the staff four hours to notice, and the injury worsens.
- A car manufacturer sold cars with faulty airbags. Your airbag goes off suddenly while you are stopped at a red light, injuring your face.
All of these situations are different. However, they have one thing in common. The accident would not have happened if someone had acted differently. You can apply this same rule to your accident. Was it preventable?
Would it still have happened if someone had taken extra precautions or been more careful? If so, your injury is a result of negligence, and you have a right to pursue compensation.
Macon Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 478-400-4000
How Much Money Could I Recover for a Personal Injury in Macon?
Personal injury settlements typically range from $10,000 for minor, temporary medical issues to $100,000 or more for severe injuries. Every case is unique, but we have successfully helped many clients recover more than $1,000,000.
The amount you can recover is based on the severity of your injury and how much it affects your life. Under state law, the Macon-Bibb County Courts allow you to recover these types of damages:
- Money for your expenses: A fair settlement or court award would pay for all your medical costs, loss of income, ongoing care or physical therapy, and any other costs stemming from the accident.
- Money for the personal impact of your injury: Your recovery should also include money for suffering and changes to your life. This includes physical pain, emotional distress, or developing a disability or other limitation. It also includes being unable to participate in the activities you once loved.
- Money for wrongful death expenses: If your loved one passed away due to someone else’s negligence, you could recover money for funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses incurred before their death, and the loss of their income.
Your financial recovery is supposed to offset the effects of your injury on your life. That’s why accident settlements typically involve large amounts of money. You could be eligible for more than you think, and a personal injury attorney in Macon can estimate how much after a consultation.
Can’t I Settle My Own Claim With the Insurance Company?
An insurance policy ultimately pays most personal injury claims. And usually, an insurance adjuster will approach you at some point with an offer. This is especially true early in the process if you haven’t hired a lawyer yet.
There’s nothing wrong with accepting this money, as long as it’s the full amount you have a right to. Insurance companies will often try to pay less than you would get if you negotiated through a lawyer. For example:
- They may make the offer before you know how well your treatment will work and whether you’ll need additional care.
- They may not include money for your lost wages due to missed work.
- They may not include much or any money for your pain and suffering.
Insurance companies generally offer to cover your immediate medical bills plus a little more. They give you just enough to get you to say yes. But that may only be a fraction of what you are entitled to. Our advice is to talk to a lawyer first and ask if they think it’s a good deal.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Macon, call 478-400-4000
What Types of Cases Will a Personal Injury Lawyer in Macon Accept?
Thanks to our 20 years of experience, we have worked with a wide range of personal injury case types. Our most common cases include the following:
- Car and truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice and nursing home neglect
- Faulty products and harmful medications
- Workers’ compensation claims
This is not an exhaustive list of our practice areas. No matter what kind of injury you have suffered, a personal injury attorney in Macon is here to help. We understand what it’s like to face a serious or catastrophic injury, and our mission is to make it as easy and stress-free as possible.
What Happens if I’m To Blame?
Many people who get hurt will automatically blame themselves. They may even be right, but that doesn’t mean they cannot pursue financial compensation. It depends on the circumstances and how much you contributed to your damages.
Georgia law uses a “modified comparative fault” model for personal injury claims. Your amount of blame is compared to the other party. As long as you’re under 50% responsible for your accident, you can get compensated.
However, if you share fault equally or your fault exceeds that of the other responsible party, you may not be eligible for compensation. Part of your lawyer’s job is to convince the court that this is not true for your case.
What Happens if We Go to Trial?
Going to trial in a personal injury matter is less likely than you think. Many insurers will quickly settle once they find out you have a lawyer or once the attorney files a lawsuit and they see that the evidence is stacked against them.
If we go to trial to fight for fair compensation, you probably won’t have to get involved. One of our experienced trial lawyers will handle your personal injury lawsuit for you. If we need a sworn statement from you for the court, we will work with you to minimize disruptions to your schedule.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Macon
For over 20 years, John Foy & Associates has worked exclusively with injured victims. In that time, we have become respected as one of Georgia’s leading personal injury law firms. Let one of our personal injury attorneys in Macon help you get the maximum compensation for your case.
Reach out to our team to learn more about how we can help you. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and answer any questions. Call now or fill out the form on our contact page to get started.
Call or text 478-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
