Even in Valdosta, named one of the “Friendliest Cities” in America, personal injury accidents happen daily. When someone has suffered a personal injury, it means they’ve been hurt because another person or entity was negligent (or “careless”) and it led to an accident where they were hurt. This is a frustrating situation, but it’s not hopeless. Under Georgia law, injured individuals in this situation can usually file a personal injury claim for compensation—and a Valdosta personal injury lawyer can help.
John Foy & Associates is one of the largest and most respected personal injury law firms in the state of Georgia. We’re proud to represent injury victims in Valdosta—and we’ve been helping victims win money for more than 20 years. Our mission is to get you full compensation for your damages, as soon as possible, so you can recover and move on. To get started with a FREE consultation and case evaluation, call us today at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form on this page.
Do I Have to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After My Injury?
You aren’t legally required to work with a personal injury lawyer after your accident. However, we highly recommend it. An experienced attorney can help your case in a variety of ways, as we have outlined below.
Gathering Crucial Evidence for Your Claim
As the victim of a personal injury accident, it can be hard to know where to turn first. You might have trouble positively identifying who’s at fault in your accident (which is the key factor any claim). It’s also hard to know what evidence is most relevant if you aren’t well-versed in tort actions. (And you aren’t expected to be. Lawyers are required to spend so many years in school and on-the-job so they can handle the complex details of these cases for you.)
A Valdosta personal injury lawyer will be able to start on your case as soon as they know the details. They can help you gather the right evidence from your accident to prove that the accident happened and who was at fault. This includes evidence like:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Pictures and videos of the accident scene
- Medical bills and doctor reports
- Quotes for vehicle repairs, such as in a car accident
- Physical evidence, such as torn or bloodied clothing
- Insurance information
- And more
It takes a lot of mental and emotional energy to figure out what evidence you need and what you should do first. With a good lawyer, you’ll have a clear plan of action and can focus on a recovery above all else.
Calculating Damages
Your personal injury claim will need to include a total calculation of all your damages. Your attorney can make sure everything is accounted for, including hard-to-quantify damages like pain and suffering.
Meeting Deadlines
There is always a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This means you only have a certain amount of time to file your claim before it’s no longer valid. In Georgia, that’s usually two years from the date of your injury.
Sometimes factors can expedite or delay that deadline, but regardless, it’s best to get started as soon as possible. An attorney can make sure you’re on track to meet all deadlines to file on time.
Communication and Negotiation with the Insurer
Insurance companies can make a seemingly straightforward personal injury case very frustrating and confusing. Even though the person who caused the accident is liable for your damages, it’s usually their insurance company footing the bill. And insurance companies care about their bottom line more than anything.
After your injury, the insurance company may reach out to you by phone or mail. They commonly use tactics like:
- Calling you and asking how you feel. Most of us tend to answer that we’re doing “fine” even if we aren’t. But if you say this or sound at all cheerful on the call, they could use that against you later to say you aren’t hurt that badly.
- Mailing you a letter with a settlement upfront. They’re hoping you’ll accept the money and end your case, even though it’s a lowball settlement.
- Delaying your case by taking a long time to answer your settlement.
Basically, the insurance company isn’t your friend—and it’s best to avoid contact with them until you talk to a personal injury lawyer first. When you have an attorney, they can communicate with the insurer for you. And if the insurer denies your claim or tries to offer you much less, they can negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf.
Get the strong arm
What Counts as a Personal Injury Accident?
Some of the most common personal injury accident cases we take on include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Slip and falls
- Dog bites
- Defective products
This is just a short list compared to the different types of personal injury cases. If you were hurt because of someone else’s negligence, chances are your accident counts as a personal injury.
Negligence means someone has acted (or failed to act) in a careless way that put someone else in harm’s way. A person does not need to intend to cause harm to be at fault. Many times, they simply exercised poor judgment and it led to an accident and injuries. Even if they are a good person, they are still at fault (legally liable) for your resulting costs.
Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Valdosta, GA for Free
If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to pay for the damages they caused. Let John Foy & Associates help you every step of the way. Our goal is full compensation for your costs. And you don’t pay a fee unless we win you money. To schedule a FREE consultation with us and talk about the details, contact us today. Call 404-400-4000 or fill out the form on our contact page to get started.
229-232-8678 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form