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If you or a loved one gets injured in Pooler because of someone else’s carelessness, it can leave you with a lot of questions. You might wonder if insurance will cover your costs and whether they’ll accept your claim. Maybe you’re worried about how to pay for legal services to help your case or stressing about steadily-increasing medical bills. The good news is that you can work a personal injury lawyer in Pooler risk-free.
At John Foy & Associates, we don’t get paid unless we win you money from your personal injury accident. And the initial consultation is always FREE. Our number one goal is a full financial recovery of your damages—so you can get better, cover your costs, and move on from your accident. To get started with a free consultation, call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form on this page today.
What Damages Can I Recover from My Accident?
In Pooler and the whole state of Georgia, if someone else caused your accident and injuries, you are legally entitled to file an insurance claim for all damages. Damages refer to losses you experience because of the other party’s negligence actions (or inactions) that led to the accident. Compensatory damages are typically broken two into two categories:
- General damages and
- Special damages
Here are some of the most common damages we see injury victims recover money for in each category.
Special Damages
Special damages in a Pooler personal injury case are basically tangible monetary costs you face because of your injuries. The purpose of special damages is to “make you whole” by recovering the money you lost or expenses you now face because of the accident that led to your injuries.
These special damages include:
- Medical bills from both current and future medical care
- Prescription medications
- Vehicle repair costs, such as if you were in a car accident
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
There is no limit on the types of special damages or amount of them you can claim. But you’ll need to have proof of your expenses and that they result from your accident. A personal injury lawyer in Pooler can help you compile the right evidence, and you should always keep track of records and receipts showing what you paid.
General Damages
In contrast with special damages that are fairly easy to calculate, general damages are not monetary. They may include:
- Physical or mental pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship (for family members who lose a loved one and are filing a wrongful death claim)
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Lowered quality of life
Obviously, no monetary amount can fully make up for the loss of life or other serious suffering that can result from general damages. But paying money is the only way the law knows to help make you whole. And we find financial recovery for these damages helps injury victims pay their costs and be able to focus more on being with loved ones as they recover.
General damages can be very hard to calculate, and many factors are considered when coming up with a number. That’s why we highly recommend having an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases help you with your claim.
Punitive Damages
There is another main type of damages that can apply in some situations. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoing of the at-fault party. They may apply in circumstances where malicious, wanton, or reprehensible behavior was exhibited.
What if I Was Partially Responsible for My Accident?
We find injury victims are sometimes quick to apologize or blame themselves, even if they had no fault in what happened. For example, the victim of a slip and fall accident may be called “clumsy” when in fact they fell because a property owner failed to remove a hazardous obstacle. Never admit fault until you’ve spoken to an attorney and gathered all the facts.
If it turns out you were partially at fault for a personal injury accident, you are likely still entitled to damages if you were less than 50% at fault. Your total damages would then be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
For example, say you are found to be 10% at fault in a car accident and the other driver is 90% at fault. If your damages total $10,000, you would be responsible for 10% of that (which is $1,000) and the other driver would be liable for the remaining $9,000.
Do I Really Need a Personal Injury Lawyer or Can I Handle the Claim Myself?
You have every right to file a personal injury claim yourself, and there is no requirement to hire a personal injury lawyer. However, research has shown injury victims are more likely to get a higher settlement if they work with an experienced attorney. There are many aspects of tort law that gets confusing quickly if you don’t have the schooling and experience of a legal professional.
We know many personal injury victims are hesitant to contact a lawyer because they’re already stressed about the costs of their injury. Thankfully, many personal injury lawyers (like John Foy & Associates) work on a contingency basis—meaning their fee is simply subtracted from your settlement if you win. In other words, they don’t get paid unless you do. Even the initial consultation is typically free of charge. This allows you to begin working with your attorney right away and not have to worry about payment if and when you receive a settlement.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Pooler, GA for Free
If you’ve been injured in Pooler, you shouldn’t have to pay a penny for costs you didn’t cause. At John Foy & Associates, we work exclusively with personal injury victims—and we never work for insurance companies. We’ve been helping people like you win a fair financial recovery for more than two decades. To discuss how we can help you in your case, contact us today for a FREE consultation. Call 404-400-4000 or fill out the online form to get started.
