Personal Injury
Personal injuries stem from a wide variety of circumstances. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident by no fault of your own, you need an experienced injury lawyer to help guide you.
Michael Saul is an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney who is committed to getting the injury claim results you need and deserve.
Automobile Accidents
Were you involved in an automobile accident? The accident and aftermath can be traumatizing. Following an automobile accident, an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney will guide you through the process and help you understand your rights. If you were injured in any type of automobile accident Michael Saul is committed to pursuing justice and results.
Car Accidents
Car accidents in Georgia, like most states, are quite common. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Analysis, Statistics and Information Notebook 2008:
- Number of traffic accidents: 342,534
- Number of persons injured in traffic accidents: 133,555
- Number of traffic deaths: 1,703
- Average crashes per day: 1,198
Following a car accident, Georgia follows a fault-based system regarding issues like liability and insurance coverage. An at-fault driver may be held responsible for any personal injuries and/or property damage resulting from the collision, and their insurance policy will be looked to first to cover these damages. Therefore, if you have been injured in a car accident, you can seek compensation for your losses in one of three ways:
- Pursue a claim with the other driver’s insurance company directly
- File a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party in civil court
- If the at-fault party has does not have insurance or is underinsured, then under certain circumstances you can file a claim with your own insurance company
However, your best option is to first call Michael Saul, an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney. We can analyze your case, present you with options, represent you to an insurance company, and file a lawsuit on your behalf. What is most important to remember is that you only have a limited time to file any claim. In Georgia, what’s known as the “statute of limitations” requires that you file most types of personal injury cases, including car accidents, within two years of the accident.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents in Georgia are typically much more severe and complicated than car accidents. There are a number of parties involved, and commercial trucks are dangerous for passenger vehicles in the event of an accident due to their massive size and weight. An accident can prove to be severe and devastating.
If you were involved in a commercial trucking accident, contact a Georgia personal injury lawyer from our firm who will help navigate the Georgia laws and regulations regarding commercial truck drivers. Michael Saul will fight for justice on your behalf against negligent trucking companies and careless truck drivers.
Highway Accidents
Highway accidents occur where increased speeds and longer braking times often cause much more severe damage to both people and vehicles.
According to the CQ Press, rural highways are the most dangerous, especially after dark. The National Safety Council reports that the death rate is nearly three times as high at night as in daylight hours and that seven out of ten traffic deaths occur in rural areas.
Passenger Accidents
Passengers who have been injured in an automobile accident in Georgia have two distinct advantages:
- They do not need to be concerned with being found to be liable. One or more of the drivers in the accident will be responsible for damages.
- A passenger also does not have to worry about being intoxicated. There is no law against drunk riding, since drunk driving laws, by definition, mean you must be driving.
Any passenger who is injured in an automobile accident is entitled to the same damages as a no-fault driver, including full reimbursement for all medical treatment, lost income, and other expenses stemming from the accident and injury.
Automobile Accident Injuries
Any automobile accident can involve forces that cause a wide range of traumatic injuries to drivers and passengers. Some of the most common injuries caused by automobile accidents include:
- Soft tissue injuries, such as tears, cuts, and scrapes, contusions (bruises), sprains, and strains
- Head/neck injuries, such as eye and ear injuries, jawbone and tooth injuries, nose injuries, neck fractures, whiplash, and herniated neck discs
- Broken bones, such as arm bones, wrists bones, hand bones, and backbones
- Back injuries, such as herniated discs and spinal fractures
One important aspect of automobile accident injuries is that symptoms often do not appear for days, weeks, or even months.
DUI Accidents
If you have been injured in an accident in which the other driver was legally intoxicated, the criminal charges are sometimes, but not always, handled first. The results of the criminal case can have a direct impact on any civil claims you bring. The driver’s assets will be severely diminished, and he or she may even land in jail, unable to work.
The state will be absorbing some of the resources that could be transferred to you, the victim. It is important you seek the help of a Georgia personal injury attorney, Michael Saul, to help you recover damages you are entitled to beyond what the state takes.
Ridesharing Accidents
Uber and Lyft are popular ride-sourcing services, commonly known as “ridesharing” services, that have fundamentally changed the landscape of public transportation. Following a rideshare accident, there are several ways you can protect yourself and gather valuable information to provide to your lawyers, including:
- Report the accident to local law enforcement, even if the driver is reluctant
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anybody is hurt
- Get your ride-sourcing driver’s contact information, some of which may be available in the app
- Get the personal insurance information for your ride-sourcing driver
- Collect any insurance information regarding the ride-sourcing company’s insurance
- Obtain the other driver’s contact information
- Get the other driver’s insurance information
- Collect all vehicle information, such as the registration number, make, model, and license plate numbers, for any vehicles, involved
- Gather names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses
- Take pictures and/or video and notes regarding any injuries, any damage to vehicles, and the accident site
- Seek medical treatment
- Do not sign anything
- Do not call your insurance company until you have spoken with Michael Saul, a Georgia personal injury attorney
If you were involved in a ridesharing accident, your best bet is to contact Michael Saul, a Georgia personal injury attorney, to handle your case for you.
Rollover Accidents
Two of the most common causes of rollovers during an accident are (1) drivers may lose control of their vehicles and drift off the roadway, and (2) drivers may engage in high-speed, risky driving.
There are a few simple tips you should be aware of to help prevent a rollover accident:
- Do not drive while impaired. Taking a turn too quickly when you are sober is already dangerous, and if you’re intoxicated, it becomes a considerable hazard.
- Do not speed. According to NHTSA, excessive speed is a factor in 40 percent of all fatal rollovers, and the vast majority of rollovers happen in areas with posted speed limits of 55 MPH or faster.
- Pay all of your attention to the road. Always stay focused on the road and nothing else. Rollovers are more likely when you are texting, talking on the phone, eating, reading, or engaging in any other distracting activity.
- Know your vehicle. It is more likely for an SUV, van, or pickup truck to roll over than a sedan because of the higher center of gravity and the larger vehicles’ weight. If you drive a vehicle with a high center of gravity, be aware of the tipping potential.
Recovering from an Accident
If you were involved in an automobile accident, you may not be thinking clearly and may not know what to do to care for yourself, others involved, and even beginning to prepare your claim if the fault lies elsewhere. The most basic steps to take include:
- Check yourself for injuries to yourself, your passengers, and other drivers.
- Move to a safe location if possible.
- Contact the police. Call 911 if anyone has severe or life-threatening injuries. Otherwise, contact the state highway patrol, sheriff, or local law enforcement.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with any other involved drivers, including full names and contact information, insurance company and policy numbers, driver’s license and license plate numbers, type, color and model of the vehicles, and location of the accident. Take phone video for simplicity’s sake.
- Document the accident. Take photos of all damage to your vehicle and others, record the names and badge numbers of the assisting officers, get a copy of the police report, if possible, and take witness statements.
- Contact an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney before you speak with any insurance company.
Premises Liability
If you were injured in Georgia due to contact with unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, you may have a premises liability claim against that business. For example, if a customer slips and falls on the uneven flooring of a business.
Premises liability claims are a type of personal injury claim that people may assert against a property owner or property manager if they are injured in some way by a dangerous condition on the property.
To successfully establish a premises liability claim in Georgia, you must prove the following four elements:
- The property owner or manager owed you a duty of care
- The property owner or manager breached the duty of care owed to you
- This breach caused you to suffer injuries
- You did indeed suffer injuries
Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability cases. If you have slipped, tripped, and fallen on somebody else’s property, report your accident to the property owner or manager immediately and promptly seek medical attention, even if you believe your injuries are minor.
To prove a slip and fall claim in Georgia, you must be able to prove the following:
- Liability. You must show the defendant property owner had a duty of care to keep visitors and others safe from harm.
- Negligence. You must demonstrate the defendant breached or failed to fulfill that duty.
- Responsibility/Fault. You must prove the breach of duty. In other words, negligence, on the defendant’s part, was a significant factor in causing your injuries.
- Injury. You must show you were actually harmed or injured.
Work-Related Accidents
In Georgia, work-related injuries and illnesses are covered by Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws. The workers’ compensation program is designed to protect workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses and are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits for things like medical expenses and lost wages. Workers are not required to prove the employer was at fault for their injuries. They simply receive the benefits if they are hurt at work.
However, the downside of the program is that workers’ compensation benefits become their only remedy. If an injured employee uses the Workers Comp program, they cannot sue their employer for the injuries, even if the employer was indeed at fault. Although the process sounds simple enough, it can actually become quite complex. Let Michael Saul, a Georgia personal injury attorney, help you navigate your claim.
Wrongful Death
It can be devastating when facing the loss of a loved one. Wrongful death can occur when a person or business’ wrongful act, either intentionally or accidentally, causes a person’s death. Families of individuals who lost their life due to the negligent acts of others may be able to sue the responsible party. Michael Saul is a proven trial lawyer who can fight for damages and justice for your loved one.
FAQs
Should I accept the insurance company’s offer to settle my personal injury case?
Your insurance company will act as if they are on your side but will likely undervalue and under-compensate your damages. It is important not to accept an insurance settlement or sign off on your claim until a qualified personal injury attorney has reviewed the facts of your injury and a potential settlement.
When is the best time to contact an attorney if I am injured in a car accident?
There are time limits to file legal action after a personal injury. The best time to seek legal advice is immediately after the accident, even before you call your insurance company. Evidence disappears and goes stale, and memories can fade quickly after a traumatic accident.
Should I give the insurance company a recorded statement after a personal injury?
Most insurance policies require notification to your insurance agent following an accident. Beyond providing notice and talking to your agent, do not provide a recorded statement to any insurance company without consulting an attorney.
What type of damages could I qualify for in my personal injury case?
Depending on the cause and circumstances surrounding your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of opportunity, and more.
Who can be held responsible for my injuries?
The individual or party that acted negligently or wrongfully and caused your injuries may be held responsible. Nonetheless, because every case is different, it may depend on the cause of your personal injury.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you have suffered personal injuries resulting from someone else’s negligence or wrongful act, contact an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney for your free consultation. We will examine your case, analyze the evidence available, give you your options, and handle any insurance or legal claims you may have.