Georgia Car Accident Lawsuit
How Do I Know if I Should File a Lawsuit?
Filing a lawsuit after a car accident is not always a given. Minor incidents with minimal injuries and expenses don’t usually require this step. However, if you find yourself in these circumstances, you may want to sue the negligent driver or their insurer:
- Your injuries are severe.
- Your expenses are high and may grow in the future.
- The injuries impact your ability to work and earn an income.
- You have been unable to get adequate compensation from your insurance policy or the at-fault driver’s policy.
- The insurer claims you were at fault.
- A loved one died in the car accident.
What Happens in a Georgia Car Accident Lawsuit?
The first step in filing a car accident lawsuit is the right lawyer. An expert in these types of cases will provide the best advice and can take you through all the steps of a lawsuit:
- Filing a complaint
A complaint outlines your allegations, notifies the defendants of the suit against them, and enters the lawsuit into the appropriate Georgia court. - Building a case
The complaint triggers a discovery period during which lawyers on both sides build a case. Your lawyer talks to witnesses, holds depositions, and works with experts and investigators to prove the defendants’ negligence and liability for your expenses. - Getting a settlement
Most personal injury cases end in a settlement. This is a faster option, and for the defendants is often cheaper. Your lawyer may be able to get you fair compensation without going to trial. - Litigating
If they cannot, you can choose to go to court. In a trial, your lawyer shows evidence and brings in witnesses and experts to convince a jury the defendants owe you compensation. - Appealing
Defendants often appeal big jury awards. If they do, your lawyer will fight that appeal in a higher Georgia court to ensure you still get the money you’re owed.
How Will My Lawyer Prove Negligence in My Lawsuit?
Your lawyer will rely on physical evidence, expert reconstruction of the accident, expert and witness testimony, and medical evidence to make your case. They must show that the defendant breached a legal duty to act in a certain way.
In the case of a car accident, this usually means showing they drove recklessly or failed to follow traffic laws. Your lawyer must then show the breach of duty resulted in the accident that caused your injuries and resulting damages.
What is the Statute of Limitations on a Car Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?
Georgia’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases is two years. This gives you only two years to file a suit after an accident. You must act quickly and find a lawyer right away to avoid missing the opportunity to sue.
What is My Georgia Car Accident Lawsuit Worth?
Your lawyer will use several factors and past experiences with similar clients to estimate a reasonable amount of damages for your case. They cannot guarantee you a result, but they can come up with a good number based on:
- The extent of your injuries
- Any disabilities or disfigurements expected to be permanent
- Your medical bills
- Expected future costs for treatments or care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- The degree of pain and emotional suffering
Fortunately for victims, Georgia law does not cap non-economic damages for these types of personal injury cases. You can seek as much as you find reasonable for your pain and suffering.
Examples of Personal Injury Lawsuits from Georgia
These examples of Georgia car accident lawsuits demonstrate what victims and their families can do to advocate for themselves. Relying on the right lawyer or firm gives you the best chance to recover damages, as these victims did:
- $2 Million Settlement in Truck Collision. A trucking company settled with the family of 83-year-old Oliver Jordan, who died months after a collision with a semi truck. The driver of the truck was backing into his driveway, blocking lanes of traffic when Jordan turned onto the road. He could not stop in time and slid under the truck. He suffered serious injuries and died ten months later. His family carried out his lawsuit, ending with the settlement.[1]
- $500,000 Settlement for Police Crash. Sarah Wood suffered injuries in 2019 when a Gwinnett County police hit her vehicle. Wood was sitting in traffic on I-85 when Officer Todd Ramsey rear-ended the car. The hit caused Wood’s car to strike the median and a truck. The officer was found to have had internet browser windows open as he entered the freeway. The county agreed to settle with Wood.[2]
- $8 Million Verdict for Motorcycle Accident. A jury in Clayton County returned a favorable verdict for victim Ronnie Stevens over a 2015 accident. Stevens was riding his motorcycle on I-75 when a dump truck struck a construction barrel causing him to crash. His injuries forced him to retire early from the military. The jury found the driver and the trucking company to be negligent and liable for his expenses.[3]
- $15 Million Verdict for Semi Accident. Five young women died in a crash on the way to Savannah in 2015. Two other women suffered serious injuries after a semi driver failed to stop in time as cars ahead of him slowed for another accident. He struck several vehicles, and the accident ultimately included four vehicles and three trucks. One of the survivors, Megan Richards, sued the driver and trucking company and won the large jury award.[4]
If you have suffered significant injuries in an accident or a loved one died, contact an experienced Georgia lawyer to take legal action. You should be able to recover damages for your expenses and begin to put your life together again.