If you are one of the thousands of individuals who have been injured in an accident, whether it be a car accident or slip and fall accident, then you should know your rights.
Personal injury accidents are extremely common, which is why there are so many attorneys available to take on your case. No matter what kind of accident you have been involved in, from car accidents to slip and fall accidents, hiring an Atlanta accident lawyer can make all the difference when it comes to receiving the compensation you deserve.
Vehicular Accidents
Some of the most common personal injury accidents are car accidents that result in property damage, serious bodily harm and even death.
A staggering number of personal injury claims stem from car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 40,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017 alone. Another 4.5 million people were injured in those same collisions. Car accident fatalities have been on the rise since 2014 — and they’re not decreasing anytime soon. If you have been involved in a car accident, you should always contact a personal injury lawyer to make sure that your rights are protected.
Here are some of the most common types of vehicle-related personal injury accidents:
- Rear-end collisions– These accidents occur when one car hits another from behind. Rear-end collisions are often caused by drivers who don’t pay attention or don’t stop in time to avoid a crash. If a car changes lanes and doesn’t signal, for example, or swerves into someone else’s lane without realizing it, this could cause an accident. If a driver is distracted by something like texting while driving, they may not notice traffic slowing down and fail to slow down themselves in time to avoid a crash. They can also be caused by drunk drivers who fail to see the car ahead until it is too late. Rear-end collisions often lead to whiplash injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
- Truck Accidents – Truck accidents can be devastating because of their size and weight. Usually, the driver or trucking company is liable for these types of collisions.
- Automobile Accidents –These accidents occur when one or more drivers are careless while operating their vehicles. They include rear-end collisions, broadside or T-bone crashes, rollovers and head-on collisions.
- Motorcycle Accidents – A motorcyclist is at a much greater risk of injury than occupants of other types of vehicles because they are not protected by a steel frame or airbags. Injuries often result from the rider’s head hitting the pavement, another vehicle or a stationary object.
- Pedestrian Accidents- Pedestrians can be injured by cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles or even skateboards. The injuries are usually severe because the pedestrian has no protection from impact. Some injuries may be permanent and life-changing.
- Public Transportation Accidents –Public transportation such as subways and buses are usually owned and operated by government entities such as city or state agencies. Special rules apply to personal injury cases involving government entities and time limits for filing personal injury claims that involve these agencies are often shorter than for other types of cases.
- Bicycle Accidents – Just like motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries because cyclists do not have full protection from outside forces. These accidents often occur when motorists fail to see bicyclists or do not notice that they are approaching an intersection. Motorists should always watch for bicyclists on the road and give them plenty of room when passing or changing lanes.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Another very common type of personal injury accident is a slip and fall accident. These often occur on sidewalks, on stairs or in parking lots where there is ice or snow present. Slip and fall accidents can be very dangerous because they can result in broken bones and sprains, as well as head injuries which may require surgery if the bone breaks through the skin during the fall.
Here are the most common type of slip and fall personal injury cases:
- Premise Liability Accidents- In some cases, the property owner could be found liable for an accident if they fail to maintain their property properly or do not offer sufficient warnings regarding potential dangers.
For example, if a business has a wet floor and doesn’t have signs up warning customers to watch their steps, then they could be held responsible if someone slips and falls on the wet floor. The same could apply if there are obstructions on the ground or other dangerous conditions that could cause someone to be injured. If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by a private road or unsafe conditions on someone else’s property then you should seek out legal advice.
- Public Liability Accidents– A public liability claim is when a person injures themselves in a public place and is seeking compensation for the injuries sustained. A public place is anywhere that the general public has access to. This can include shopping malls, supermarkets, parks, sporting arenas and footpaths.
This is when a person injures themselves in a public place and is seeking compensation for the injuries sustained. A public place is anywhere that the general public has access to. This can include shopping malls, supermarkets, parks, sporting arenas and footpaths.
- Workplace injury – An employee may be injured at work if they slip on a spill or hazardous condition that the employer is aware of or should be aware of. Many slips and falls result in serious injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, back injury, etc.
Animal Attacks
Animal attacks happen every year to people of all ages and with all types of animals. Most dog bites can be avoided by not allowing people to approach strange dogs or not allowing children to pet dogs that they do not know well. If you have been attacked by an animal, speak with a reliable Atlanta accident lawyer who specializes in animal attacks so you can be compensated for your injuries.
Medical Malpractice/Medical Negligence
Medical malpractice or medical negligence occurs when a doctor deviates from the standards of medical care, resulting in injury to the patient. If there is evidence that a medical professional breached his or her duty of care and caused you harm, you may have a medical malpractice case.
Medical malpractice occurs at all levels of health care, including assisted living facilities, hospitals, nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities), outpatient clinics and other settings. Negligence can occur at any point in the course of treatment, including diagnosis and treatment.
When a serious injury or wrongful death is caused by an act of medical negligence, the victim (or his or her family) may be entitled to compensation for damages. Common examples include:
Errors made during surgery resulting in death (the wrong limb amputated; the wrong side operated on; foreign objects left in the body during surgery);
- Failure to diagnose cancer;
- Hospital-acquired infections;
- Medication errors;
- Birth injuries; and
- Injuries resulting from anesthesia errors.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, do yourself a favor and contact an Atlanta accident lawyer immediately. Don’t take the insurance company’s word for why they will—and won’t—pay your claim. Don’t give up just because someone tells you that your claim is worth little. And don’t assume that your case is hopeless because the insurance adjuster won’t work with you. There are no guarantees in life, but there are sound legal principles that stand between you and the insurance company’s offer. It’s well worth it to find out more about how they work and let a personal injury lawyer fight on your behalf.
Story From Atty. Jason M. Ferguson
Jason M. Ferguson, the founder of Ferguson Law Group, started his career working for an automobile insurance company as a trial attorney before owning his injury law firm for over 20 years. Attorney Ferguson has a unique experience, having tried cases on both sides of the court system in personal injury trials, unlike many other lawyers. Mr. Ferguson also served over 14 years as an Army Reserve officer and the Georgia Air National Guard. The Albany Herald recognized him as one of southwest Georgia’s “40 under 40” in 2010.
