How Much Is My Georgia Personal Injury Case Worth?

When you suffer an injury in an accident caused by someone else in Georgia, the value of your personal injury case depends on the severity of your injuries, the accident’s circumstances, the strength of the evidence, and the liable party’s available insurance coverage and limits. 

Obtaining maximum compensation after an accident hinges on accurately placing a value on your claim. But what determines the worth of a Georgia personal injury case? Many factors can impact the value of a claim, and the dollar value is specific to the facts of each case. An experienced personal injury lawyer from Spiva Law Group can help you pursue the money you deserve. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.

What Factors Are Used to Determine the Value of a Personal Injury Case in Georgia?

Severity of the injuries

Your personal injury attorney will examine numerous factors before estimating the value of your case. The severity of your injuries plays a significant role in how much compensation you may be eligible to receive. The more severe your injuries, the higher your potential payout. That’s because severe injuries require extensive medical treatment and leave victims facing a lengthy recovery period.

Lost wages

The value of your claim will be higher if you were forced to miss work due to your injuries. Additionally, if your injury prevents you from returning to the same job or getting a job at a similar wage, you could account for these financial losses in your personal injury claim.

Pain and suffering

The emotional toll of your injuries also impacts the value of your claim. A personal injury can be devastating, causing immense pain and suffering. You may increase your personal injury payout if you can demonstrate how your injury affected your ability to perform your usual tasks, do your job, and participate in cherished hobbies.

Insurance policy limits

The value of your case may be limited to the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits. If your damages exhaust the liable party’s insurance coverage, your attorney may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit to demand full compensation.

Shared fault

In Georgia, you can still recover damages even if you are partly responsible for an accident. However, you must bear less than 50 percent of the fault to receive compensation. Insurance companies try to exploit this rule to reduce payouts to claimants. An experienced personal injury lawyer can represent you during settlement negotiations to prevent you from being unfairly blamed for an accident and maximize your compensation.

What Are the Different Types of Compensation That Could Be Available in a Georgia Personal Injury Case?

In a Georgia personal injury case, compensation is generally divided into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages carry definitive monetary costs and can include:

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Other accident-related expenses, such as travel to and from medical appointments, assistive medical devices like wheelchairs, or home renovations to accommodate a new disability

Non-economic damages are based on subjective losses like:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement

Will Different Injuries Result in Higher Compensation?

Injuries that require extensive medical treatment — such as surgeries, rehabilitation, or lifelong care — generally result in claims with higher compensation. For instance, you can claim more for a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury than you would for a sprain or non-displaced bone fracture.

Additionally, if your incident negatively impacts your quality of life and ability to work, you may recover compensation for your loss of enjoyment of life, as well as for any job change you’re required to make because of your injury. If you cannot return to work in any capacity post-injury, your settlement or award should also include money for your future lost earnings.

Note that similar injuries can result in different compensation amounts, as no two cases are alike. For instance, the projected length of treatment can vary for two different people with the same injury. The person with the longer recovery time may receive more compensation despite the similarities in the two cases.

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Georgia?

Under the Georgia statute of limitations, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. There are some exceptions that can shorten or lengthen this time limit, such as:

• You need to bring a claim against a state, municipal, or county government.
• The victim is a minor.
• The victim is mentally ill or incapacitated.
• The defendant engaged in fraud to hide their wrongful conduct.

Other deadlines may apply depending on the type of personal injury claim you need to file. The best way to learn the limitations period for your case is by consulting an attorney as soon as possible.

How Can a Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer Help Maximize My Compensation?

When you suffer physical or emotional injuries in an accident, simply taking care of yourself can feel stressful. But when you need to recover the costs related to medical care, property damage, and your potential inability to work, it’s understandable that you might feel overburdened and overwhelmed.

A skilled Georgia personal injury lawyer can provide legal guidance and peace of mind as you heal from your injuries. They will protect your financial interests by calculating the full extent of your accident-related losses and negotiating for a settlement amount that accounts for all aspects of your physical, emotional, and financial losses. An attorney can also advise on the fairness of any settlement offer and discuss the next steps if you choose to sue.

Contact a Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer

If you need to file a claim or personal injury lawsuit in Georgia, knowing the potential value of your case can help you make smart and informed decisions. Get the counsel you need from the personal injury lawyers at Spiva Law Group. Call or contact us online today to schedule a free initial consultation.