Personal Injury Law in Columbus, GA
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Columbus? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Columbus, GA can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Columbus relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Columbus, GA
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Columbus
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the leading cause of accidental injury in Columbus is falls. In fact, falls are the leading cause of all hospitalizations in Georgia. In addition, auto accidents and poisoning also result in significant numbers of Columbus injuries. The severity of these injuries can range from minor to very serious. Unfortunately, injury is the leading cause of death for Columbus residents aged 1 to 44.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Columbus, GA
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Georgia
A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations, and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either a settlement or a court appearance.
Columbus cases involving damages of less than $15,000 will usually be handled by the Magistrate Court of Columbus. Additionally, larger cases are under the jurisdiction of the Muscogee County State Court.
Georgia Personal Injury Settlement
With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and the factors that impact the final amount.
Multiple factors are used to determine the settlement amount for a personal injury case in Columbus. Actual costs of medical bills and lost wages generally make up the majority of a personal injury settlement. According to the National Safety Council, the average cost of a non-fatal injury ranges from $9,000 to $40,000. Your Columbus settlement may also include compensation for pain and suffering, damage compensation, or even punitive damages.
If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in GA, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.
Damage Awards in Georgia
If your personal injury lawsuit proceeds to trial, your legal team will present a request for damages to compensate you for the harm caused by the defendant. Personal injury cases typically involve three types of damage awards the court may order the defendant to pay.
Special compensatory damages cover tangible losses, such as medical bills, lost income, and insurance deductibles. These damages require receipts or documentation to prove your expenses.
General compensatory damages address non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. If you qualify for special compensatory damages, you may also request general damages to account for emotional distress or physical discomfort caused by the injury.
Punitive damages are less common and are awarded at the court’s discretion. These damages punish the defendant for particularly reckless or egregious behavior and serve as a deterrent to prevent similar actions in the future.
Unlike many states, Georgia does not cap the amount of damages a Columbus plaintiff can receive for pain and suffering. However, Georgia law limits punitive damages to $250,000 in most cases, and further limits how much goes to the plaintiff. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant, rather than compensate the plaintiff, so 75% of that money goes to the state.
Statute of Limitations in Columbus, GA Personal Injury Law?
The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.
Georgia has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Columbus. If you do not file your claim within 2 years of the date of injury, it will likely be barred.
We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury.
Work With an Experienced Columbus, GA Lawyer
Pursue a personal injury claim in Columbus against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Georgia state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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