A personal injury accident can cause your whole world to be flipped upside down in an instant. Not only can these accidents impact you physically, but they can also affect you emotionally and financially as well.
That is why if you suffered harm in an Athens personal injury accident at the hands of another, you should reach out to an experienced Athens personal injury attorney as soon as you can. At Morris Bart, our legal team has the experience, skills, and resources to take on these complicated claims and go after the compensation you deserve.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases does Morris Bart Handle in Athens?
A personal injury claim is a legal dispute that arises when a person suffers harm because of an accident, and another individual is legally responsible for these losses and injuries. Generally, there are various situations that give rise to a personal injury case, including:
- Accidents: An accident occurs when an individual acts in a careless or negligent manner that causes harm to another person.
- Intentional actions: Personal injury laws may also apply when a person intentionally causes harm to another.
- Defective products: If a consumer product, medical device, vehicle component, or other good is unreasonably dangerous or defective, and an individual uses that product and is harmed, the manufacturer of this good can be held liable for the harm and losses that result.
- Defamation:Personal injury laws also apply when defamatory statements cause another individual to suffer damages.
As you can see, personal injury law is a vast field of law that involves numerous types of accidents. At Morris Bart, our skilled personal injury lawyers handle multiple types of personal injury cases, often involving motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice incidents, premises liability accidents, and workers’ compensation claims.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Athens, call (800) 537-8185
What Types of Damages Can You Pursue Following a Personal Injury Accident in Athens?
If you have been injured in a personal injury accident in Athens, you may be entitled to certain types of compensation. In Alabama, this compensation includes economic damages, which are intended to compensate the victim for their monetary losses due to their injuries, and non-economic damages, which are meant to compensate the victim for their subjective losses. These losses tend to include the following:
- Past and current medical expenses related to doctor visits, hospital stay, surgeries, prescription medications, and emergency services
- Future ongoing medical treatments
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Personal property damages, including replacement or repair costs
- Rehabilitation therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In addition, a victim may also be able to receive punitive damages, which tend to be more challenging to qualify for than the other damages. This is because punitive damages, unlike the other damages, are not meant to compensate the victim for their losses. Rather, they are in place to punish the defendant for their horrendous actions and to deter others from committing this act in the future.
The Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim in Athens
The statute of limitations is a law that puts a strict time limit on an individual’s right to pursue a lawsuit. These deadlines will vary depending on the kind of case and the harm they suffered. However, if they miss this deadline, they can be stopped from collecting compensation for the injuries and losses they sustained.
In Alabama, the statute of limitations to bring a personal injury claim is two years from the accident date. Yet, there are exceptions to this rule that can impact this filing period. That is why if you suffered injuries in an Athens personal injury accident, you should reach out to an experienced Athens personal injury accident lawyer as soon as possible.
At Morris Bart, our lawyers can determine the maximum amount of time you have to file your case, help you prepare your legal motions, and ensure they are filed before the statute of limitations expires.
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Contributory Negligence Laws in Athens
Under Alabama’s contributory negligence laws, an individual cannot receive any money for their damages following an accident if they are found even the slightest bit at fault for the accident. As a result, not only do these rules bind the state’s juries and judges, they will also guide an insurance adjuster when they are evaluating your claim. Consequently, if the insurance company finds that you share blame for the accident, you may expect these adjusters to play hardball when it comes to your settlement.
For these reasons, after your Athens personal injury accident, you should promptly retain a skilled and knowledgeable Athens personal injury lawyer. These lawyers can help you understand your situation and determine the best course of action you should take.
How Can an Experienced Athens Personal Injury Lawyer Help Your Case?
If you have been injured in a personal injury accident, it does not mean that you will automatically be able to secure compensation for the harm you sustained. In truth, before you can collect this money, you need to provide strong legal arguments and evidence showing what happened and who was at fault for your accident. Thankfully, with an experienced personal injury attorney in Athens, you will not have to tackle this legal fight alone.
Once retained, these attorneys can go over your case in detail, determine your legal options, and investigate the accident thoroughly to secure the evidence required to prove fault. In addition, these lawyers can also handle all the negotiations and discussions with the other side and fight for the financial recovery you are entitled to.
Do You Still Need a Lawyer If You Only Suffered a Minor Injury?
Even though not all accidents result in immediate devastating injuries, it does not mean that a victim of this accident did not sustain debilitating harm from it. In fact, since symptoms of serious injuries such as head or brain trauma can take some time to develop following an accident, it can be days or weeks before a person realizes the extent of their injuries.
For these reasons, following a personal injury accident in Athens, you should immediately head to a doctor to get examined and reach out to an experienced Athens personal injury attorney to discuss your case. After you complete your medical treatment, these lawyers can determine the extent of your medical bills and financial damages and help you fight for the economic recovery you need.
Can You Pursue Legal Action If You Have Been Injured in an Accident in Athens?
Unfortunately, even if you suffered significant harm in an accident, it does not mean you can automatically bring a legal claim against the party responsible for your harm. There are various factors that need to be examined before it can be determined that you can pursue legal action for the injuries and losses you sustained. For instance:
- Were you injured in the accident?
- What was the extent of the harm you suffered?
- Was another person responsible for this harm?
- Is there insurance money available?
- Is there still time to file a legal claim in Athens?
As a result, there is no standard response to this question. However, a skilled Athens personal injury lawyer can review your claim and help you figure out if you have a viable case.
We’ll Help You Take on the Insurance Adjusters
Whenever you are dealing with an insurance company, it is best to err on the side of caution. You need to remember that these insurance companies are not your friends, and the less money you get, the more profit they make. That is why insurance adjusters will do anything to get you to admit fault for the incident so they can pay you less than you are entitled to or deny your case altogether.
For these reasons, before you discuss your case with the insurance company, you should contact an experienced Athens personal injury lawyer. These lawyers can not only tackle these conversations on your behalf, but they can also make sure they go after the fair settlement you need.
How Much Money You Could Get for Expenses Related to Your Personal Injury Accident
Even though you may be entitled to pursue certain types of damages following an Athens personal injury accident, no lawyer can guarantee compensation or promise a specific amount. This is generally because there are numerous factors that can impact the value of your legal claim, such as:
- The extent of your injuries (for instance, did they include spinal cord damage or minor bumps and bruises)
- The extent of the medical treatments you need
- The length of these medical treatments
- The ability to work following the accident
- The amount of lost wages endured
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- The certainty of the defendant’s liability
- The credibility of the witnesses and evidence presented
- The need for replacements services following the accident, such as child care help, grocery services, or cleaning services
Fortunately, with a personal injury lawyer in Athens on your side, you will not have to deal with these factors on your own. Instead, once retained, these attorneys can figure out which of these factors can impact your case, prepare the strongest case in response to them, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Should You Accept Money from the Insurance Company Following Your Accident?
Although accepting money from the insurance company may seem like a no-brainer, it actually may not be in your best interest. Many times, following a personal injury accident, insurance companies will try to offer you a quick settlement in hopes that you do not verify whether this amount will cover all of your bills and losses.
Yet, what often ends up happening is this offer is so meager that it will barely cover any of your costs. However, if you have already accepted the settlement, you cannot go back to the insurer and ask for more money down the line, even if your additional expenses are related to your accident.
That is why, before you settle your case, you should discuss any settlement offers with an attorney who understands what amount is fair and just.
Get the Legal Help You Need Today With Morris Bart
Contact Morris Bart today to discuss your case with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Athens. Our legal team is not only here to help you and your claim but to pursue the justice you deserve.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
