- Car Accidents
In the aftermath of a car accident, victims often face a myriad of challenges, including physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial hardships. If you’ve been involved in a Georgia car accident, it’s crucial to understand the types of damages you may be entitled to recover.
Our Douglasville car accident lawyers are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Hartley, Rowe & Fowler today for a free case review.
1. Medical Expenses
Car accidents often necessitate immediate medical intervention. This immediate care can encompass a range of services, including but not limited to the following.
Ambulance Services
The cost of ambulance services, which includes the transportation of the victim from the accident site to the hospital, is a significant part of emergency medical care.
Emergency Room Fees
Upon arrival at the hospital, victims are usually taken to the emergency room where they receive immediate treatment. This could involve various diagnostic tests, immediate surgical procedures if required, and other necessary medical interventions.
Immediate Medical Procedures
These are the procedures performed urgently to stabilize the patient’s condition. It could include surgeries, setting of broken bones, treatment of burns, etc.
Hospitalization Costs
In instances where the injuries are severe, victims may require hospitalization. This involves several costs such as room charges, surgical procedures, and in-patient treatments.
Rehabilitation Costs
Recovery from a car accident often involves extensive rehabilitation such as treatment methods like physical therapy exercises, massage, and heat treatment to help restore movement and function.
2. Lost Wages
If your injuries prevent you from working, either temporarily or permanently, you may be entitled to recover lost wages. This includes not only the income you’ve already lost but also any future earnings you may lose due to your injuries.
Recovering Lost Wages
Georgia law allows you to recover lost income if you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence. If your injuries from a car, truck, or motorcycle accident prevent you from working, you may be able to recover the income you’ve lost.
Proving Lost Wages
To recover lost wages, you’ll need to provide proof of your lost income to the insurance company. This can include payroll check stubs, bank deposit records, and tax or accounting records.
Additionally, you’ll need evidence that your injuries prevented you from working. This could be a note from your doctor or verification from your employer. Payroll statements, W-2s, paycheck stubs, and a letter from your employer stating your position and monthly income can serve as proof of your pre-accident income.
Recovering Loss of Future Income
If your injuries are long-term or permanent, you may also be able to claim future income that you would have earned if not for the accident. This is often referred to as “loss of earning capacity”.
Proving Loss of Future Income
To claim loss of future income, you’ll need evidence showing how the accident has affected your ability to earn. This could include medical records indicating a long-term or permanent disability, as well as documents showing your earnings before the accident.
3. Property Damage
Property damage refers to the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.
4. Compensation for Pain and Suffering
Victims of car accidents can claim compensation for “pain and suffering”, a category of non-economic damages. This encompasses not only physical discomfort but also emotional distress, diminished quality of life, fear, anger, humiliation, anxiety, and shock.
5. Awarding of Punitive Damages
In instances where the defendant’s actions were exceptionally reckless or deliberate, the court may award punitive damages. Unlike other types of damages, these are not intended to compensate the victim but to penalize the offender and discourage similar conduct in the future.
Georgia Car Accident Laws
Georgia operates under a “fault”-based system when it comes to car accidents. This implies that the individual responsible for the accident is also financially liable for any injuries, vehicle damage, and other consequences. The insurance company of the at-fault driver is responsible for covering losses incurred by others in the accident, up to the limit of the driver’s liability coverage.
Statute of Limitations
According to Georgia Code section 9-3-33, any person injured in an accident—be it a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist, electric scooter rider, or pedestrian—must file an injury claim within two years.
Call Our Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Review
Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming. It’s crucial to consult with an experienced Douglasville personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
The types and amounts of damages available will depend on the specifics of your case. Therefore, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced professional at Hartley, Rowe & Fowler at 678-825-6004.
