You need a lawyer for a serious injury case to gather evidence, handle legal paperwork, and negotiate with insurance companies. Without a lawyer, you’ll be putting yourself at risk of receiving a minimal amount and not sufficiently recovering your losses.
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can prove your injuries and their severity, giving you the best chance of maximum recovery. You have limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit for severe injuries, so don’t delay getting started.
Common Types of Severe Injuries in Atlanta
A severe or catastrophic injury is any injury that causes life-altering or permanent changes. Severe injuries have far-reaching impacts that extend beyond just immediate medical costs and can affect one’s ability to work and earn a living. A severe injury can require you to switch careers or change your daily routine.
Below are common examples of severe injuries that may require extensive medical treatment and life alterations:
- Spinal cord injuries and vertebral damage
- Second- or third-degree burns
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Broken bone and fractures
- Torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments
- Crushing injuries or amputations
- Illness from chronic disease
What Accidents Cause Severe Injuries?
Many types of accidents can cause severe injury, but some are more common than others. Below are some of the most frequent types of accidents that routinely cause catastrophic injuries:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
- Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Workplace accidents (e.g., construction accidents)
- Fires and explosions
- Electrocution
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
Why Severe Injuries Require Legal Representation
There are several reasons why you need to consider hiring legal representation for severe injury cases:
High Claim Value
Severe injuries may require extensive medical treatment and other expenses. Because these claims typically involve large sums of money, they receive heightened scrutiny from insurance adjusters and companies.
Complicated Injuries
Severe injuries often result from complicated circumstances, such as multi-car pileups. The dynamic complexity of these accidents and injuries can make it hard to investigate and identify all liable parties.
Extensive Losses
Severe injuries can have far-reaching impacts that extend beyond your immediate medical costs and lost work income. You may have reductions in your future earning potential, and your case can also account for the intangible pain and suffering you experienced.
How an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
No matter what kind of injury you’ve sustained, a personal injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset during the recovery process. Below are just a few of the things you get when you work with a lawyer
Legal Strategy
At the most basic level, a lawyer can provide legal strategy. They can assess your options for compensation and give you an honest assessment of your chances of winning your case. A lawyer can also calculate your economic and non-economic losses so you can make adequate monetary demands.
Administrative Support
Filing a personal injury claim requires extensive paperwork and communication with insurance companies. Filing incorrectly or omitting important documents can delay your claim and increase the chances of a denial. A lawyer can ensure you file all the correct documents and meet relevant deadlines.
Negotiation Leverage
Most importantly, a personal injury lawyer can provide leverage during settlement negotiations. Insurance companies are trying to make money, so they use several tactics to dispute claims and avoid paying. A lawyer can push back against attempts to shift blame and deny your payments. If necessary, your lawyer can escalate the case to formal litigation in a lawsuit.
How Long Do I Have to Sue for a Serious Injury in Atlanta?
You have limited time to file a lawsuit for a severe injury in Atlanta. According to Georgia’s personal injury statute of limitations, you have two years from the injury date to sue. Once the two years pass, your legal claim to financial damages will become null and void. If you try to file a lawsuit after two years have passed, the court will summarily reject your case.
This time limit is extremely strict and has very few exceptions. Even though you have two years, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to initiate the claims process. Delays can be used as evidence against your injuries, and waiting makes it harder to gather evidence. By starting early, you can maximize your chances of achieving a satisfactory resolution.
Contact an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Today
A severe injury can radically change your life forever, but you are not alone, and help is available. If you have more questions about hiring a lawyer for a severe injury case in Atlanta, contact a lawyer today from Van Sant Law to discuss your legal rights and options. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and want to help you next.
