A serious injury is one that causes the loss of a limb or other body part. A traumatic brain injury, an injury that causes long-term or permanent disability, and one that causes disfigurement also qualifies as serious. Getting appropriate medical care and documenting your injuries can aid your physical and financial recovery.
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another person or entity, an Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you obtain financial compensation. Your lawyer will review your medical records and consult with medical experts to prove your injuries are serious. They will prove your right to damages and negotiate with the at-fault party and their insurance provider.
The Potentially Life-Changing Impact of a Serious Injury
A serious injury, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI), can make caring for yourself difficult or impossible and result in lifelong medical and household support. Serious injuries can also include:
- Significant disfigurement
- Limb or digit amputation
- Full or partial paralysis
- Loss of an organ or its function
- Sever and significant burns
- Injuries resulting in fatality
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Loss of hearing or vision
It can also be emotionally challenging to live with a serious or catastrophic injury. The changes it can forge to your lifestyle can pose significant challenges to your psychological health.
Negligence-Based Accidents That Can Lead to Serious Injuries
Serious injuries can be the result of a variety of traumatic accidents. Consider consulting a law firm in your area if you were injured in one of the following types of accidents:
- Automobile accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Wrongful death
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Golf cart accidents
- ATV accidents
- Boating accidents
- Train accidents
- Product liability
This list is not exhaustive, and you could be entitled to compensation for an accident not listed here if it was caused by negligence. Most personal injury law firms will review your case at no cost.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Obtain Compensation for a Serious Injury
You can recover damages for a serious injury if it was negligence-based. If a lawyer represents you, they can explain what constitutes negligence under Georgia law. They can also document its elements, including:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Your lawyer will collect evidence to support your case, including police, incident, animal control reports, and witness statements. They will also collect medical records from every healthcare facility where you were treated. Additional supporting evidence can include photos of the accident scene and of your injuries.
Evidence That Supports the Cost of Treating Your Serious Injury
Serious injuries can require extensive care to recover from and cope with. In addition to evidence that supports your version of the events leading to your account, your lawyer will collect proof of its costs, including:
- Medical bills
- Written prognosis
- Proof of income
- First responder reports
Depending on the type of accident you were involved in, your lawyer will also collect bills and estimates for repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed property. This combination of evidence can help your lawyer steer your case toward a settlement versus a potential trial.
Types of Compensation You Can Recover for a Serious Injury
Serious injuries can leave you with temporary or permanent changes to your physical ability and appearance. Your lawyer will explain compensatory damages and help you recover economic and non-economic compensation, including:
- Medical bills, including emergency, hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy, assistive medical devices, prosthetic devices, and all other expenses your treatment and recovery require
- Lost income, including full and part-time wages, freelance and gig economy wages, loss of business income, and loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain and discomfort caused by your injury or the recovery process, mental and emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life
Additional recoverable damages include property repair or replacement. Your lawyer will carefully document your compensation request to avoid any overlooked or inadvertently omitted damages.
Living With a Serious Injury Can Necessitate Psychological Support
Psychological responses to injuries following a car or other traumatic accident can include anxiety, sleep disturbances, irritability, and depression. They can also include fatigue, loss of appetite, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you require mental health care support during your recovery, its costs can be recovered from the at-fault party.
Compensation When a Serious Injury Leads to a Fatality
Specific family members can recover damages after the loss of a loved one. Wrongful death damages typically include funeral and burial expenses. They also include:
- Loss of the decedent’s income
- Loss of their domestic support
- Loss of consortium and society
- Loss of companionship guidance
Your lawyer will clarify which family members can recover compensation in a wrongful death case. In most cases, this includes the decedent’s parents, spouse, and children. If you were financially dependent on the deceased person, you may also qualify for compensation even if you are related in a different way.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit After a Serious Injury
Filing a lawsuit in Georgia is a time-sensitive matter. According to O.C.G.A § 9-3-33, you generally have two years:
- From the date of the accident to meet the personal injury statute of limitations
- From the date of a loved one’s demise to meet the wrongful death statute of limitations
Additionally, you generally have six months to file a claim against a government or municipal agency, according to O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5. A local attorney can help you understand and comply with all notification and filing deadlines.
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Get Help Recovering Damages After a Serious Injury
If you or someone you love suffered a serious injury in a negligence-based accident, our personal injury law firm can help you recover appropriate compensation. Our legal team will explain what a serious injury is and how you can recoup the costs of your medical care and related financial expenses and losses.
Learn more about how Kaine Law will go to bat for you by contacting our case evaluation team today.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
