Personal Injury
In addition to recovering for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other economic loses, some injured victims care even recover for punitive damages. Punitive damages arise when the negligent driver's conduct is more than just negligent, but conduct that shows a reckless disregard for human life. The most common examples of conduct which may create punitive damage exposure is driving while intoxicated (DUI drunk driving), racing, hit and run, or other similar behavior.
Spouses of personal injury claimants sometimes have a separate claim for loss of consortium. A loss of consortium claim is a claim which compensates the spouse of the injured victim for the loss of the physical relationship and companionship that the injuries cause. This claim does require that the spouse is married to the injured victim during the time the loss in companionship occurs.
Personal injury recoveries involve monetary settlements only. Even though money can never replace the health and quality of life of the personal injury victim, money settlements can help ease the financial burdens created by car accidents. The personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm will make sure your recovery everything you deserve for your personal injury claim.
INSURANCE POLICY LIMITS AND STACKING POLICIES: The personal injury attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. have the knowledge and experience needed to identify the many insurance policies which may cover your personal injury claim. Sometimes there are liability insurance policies for the negligent driver's family members, employers, rental car companies, or umbrella policies which may cover the claim. Then our personal injury lawyers will find out what the policies limits are for each policy. Our personal injury attorneys will guide you through the process and make sure that all insurance policies which apply are utilized and stacked when needed and appropriate. Since Georgia only requires liability insurance policy limits of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per occurrence, it is not uncommon for personal injury claims to be worth more than these minimum coverage. Automobile policy limits vary because everyone can decide for themselves how much coverage they wish to purchase. Some choose the $25,000 / $50,000 minimum policy limits, while others higher policy limits. If you do not have a personal injury attorney, then it will be difficult to negotiate a fair settlement and to know how to properly stack the insurance policies that do apply.
In many instances your own uninsured motorist coverage (UM coverage) may also cover your personal injury claim. Uninsured motorist coverage (UM coverage) is not required by Georgia law, but is essential to have. An uninsured motorist policy covers you when you have a personal injury claim against is an uninsured negligent driver. It also can cover you if your claim is worth more than the liability policy but this is only when you have purchased more UM coverage than there is in liability coverage. This form of UM coverage is known as under-insured motorist coverage. The personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm are experienced in stacking insurance policies to make sure you are fully compensated for your personal injury claim.
INSURANCE ADJUSTER STRATEGIES: Insurance adjusters are paid and trained to pay as little as possible on each personal injury claim. This means that insurance adjusters will always try to save their employers (the insurance companies) money at your expense. Personal injury victims often hope that the adjuster will "do the right thing". Unfortunately the right thing for the insurance company is exactly the opposite of the right thing for you.
Insurance adjusters are trained to investigate the car accident as quickly as possible. Adjuster's investigations usually include taking recorded statements from the drivers and witnesses, getting the police report, and photographing the property damage of the cars involved in the car wreck. The adjuster will try to complete their investigation to establish the extent of the injures within the first week of the accident. It is important to hire the personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm as soon as possible so that we can fully investigate the claim and preserve the evidence that supports your case. Our personal injury attorneys will also make sure that the adjuster's recorded statement of the injured victim is done correctly and in a fair manner.
Many insurance adjusters will try to settle the personal injury claims as quickly as possible. This often results in settlements that do not fully compensate for the future medical expenses and lost wages which often result. Quick settlements mean that your rights to your personal injury claim end. If your injury later worsens and requires extensive treatment or surgery, then the quick settlement may have been a huge bargain for the adjuster but a huge loss for you.
Adjusters often argue that you could not have been injured if you delay in seeking medical treatment, if you have gaps in your medical treatment, or if the property damage to your vehicle is less than a thousand dollars.
The personal injury attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm specialize in personal injury claims. We negotiate hard for our clients to maximize their recoveries.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS: There is a two year time period to file a personal injury lawsuit for most personal injury claims in Georgia. This two year time limit is called the Statute Of Limitations. Personal injury claims must be settled or a lawsuit filed prior to the Statute Of Limitations running or the claim is barred from any recovery.
SUBROGATION CLAIMS: Health insurance companies will often seek reimbursement from your personal injury claim for the medical bills they pay. Worker's compensation insurance companies will also often seek to be reimbursed from your personal injury settlement for medical expenses and lost wages they have paid. These claims are called subrogation claims. The personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm know that there are significant limitations on the rights these insurance companies to be reimbursed. Our personal injury attorneys will make sure these subrogation claims are negotiated fairly and paid only when required.
VALUE OF PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS: The value of any personal injury claim is based on what the jury would award if the case were tried. There are many factors which determine how much a personal injury claim is worth. These factors include the type of injury, the type of treatment required, the cost of the treatment, the amount of the lost wages, the location or venue where the case would be tried, and many, many other factors. If a personal injury claimant is not represented by a personal injury attorney, then they are at the mercy of the insurance adjuster. Without an attorney you do not know the value of your claim and cannot litigate if the adjuster does not offer you a fair settlement. Each case must be evaluated thoroughly to determine what a likely settlement value would be. The personal injury attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm will be glad to provide a free settlement evaluation of your personal injury claim. Please call our personal injury lawyers at 866-847-6545 or toll free at 866-847-6545 for a free settlement or case evaluation. You can also use our Free Settlement Evaluation Form to email your case to us and our attorneys will respond as soon as possible.
REASONS TO HIRE THE GRIFFIN LAW FIRM:
- We are dedicated to helping injured victims fully recover for their personal injury claims.
- We have experience from successfully handling thousands of personal injury claims which has resulted in millions of dollars of settlements for our clients.
- We will fight to make sure you recovery everything you deserve on your personal injury claim. Adjusters are trained to pay as little as possible so you need to hire us to even the playing field.
- We will maximize your recovery by identifying the policy limits and by stacking insurance policies whenever possible.
- We are honest and hard working and will guide you through the entire process to make sure you recover all that you deserve.
Nothing replaces hiring a experience personal injury lawyer to make your claim results in your being fully compensated for your loss. There are deadlines called Statute Of Limitations which can bar you from any recovery. The personal injury attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm will be glad to provide a free settlement evaluation of your personal injury claim. Please call our personal injury lawyers toll free at 866-847-6545 for a free settlement or case evaluation. You can also use our Free Settlement Evaluation Form to email your case to us and our attorneys will respond as soon as possible.
Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog - Personal Injury Claims
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