A car accident can have a major impact on your everyday life, and in some cases, it can even become a life-altering event. Without your vehicle, you may be left scrambling to find ways to make your routine routes to and from work, school, or the grocery store. Just to name a few. The aftermath of a car accident could even lead to pain and suffering from personal injuries caused by the collision. Sometimes these injuries are minor, but there are other times where the injuries are severe and could impact the rest of your life physically and financially. But you don’t have to feel or live in despair. Our Douglasville injury lawyers can help you find the financial relief and peace of mind you deserve, especially it can be proven that the auto accident was caused due to negligence on the other driver’s behalf. In this post, we will discuss how to prove auto negligence in Douglasville, GA, we can get you the monetary compensation you deserve.
You may be entitled to compensation for injuries and loss of quality of life.
If you reside in Douglasville, Georgia and have been negatively affected by a car accident, then you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, financial losses, and loss of quality of life. All you will need to do is have you or your car accident lawyer prove that the car accident was caused by negligence. Negligence is defined as an involved party’s failure to take reasonable care owed to another involved party. Being able to show negligence is crucial to the success of your case.
Below we have listed a few examples of what would be considered negligence:
- Running a stop sign or red light
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Left turn collisions
- Rear end collision
What to do to pursue a personal injury claim against a negligent driver.
Pursuing legal action against a negligent driver and winning your personal injury claim will not be an easy task. You will need to be able to show and prove the following:
- The driver was not careful.
- The actions of the negligent driver were the cause of your injuries and damages.
- The law required the driver to be reasonably careful behind the wheel.
This is where you will want the expertise of an injury lawyer or car accident attorney who is experienced with collecting the data, evidence, witnesses and professional insight that will need to prove auto negligence in Douglasville, GA.
What to know about car accident damages in Douglasville, Georgia.
Georgia state law requires the driver who is at fault to pay for vehicle damages. There are number forms of damages but the main two categories are compensatory damages (recognized as actual damages) and punitive damages. Compensatory damages, such as the injured’s medical bills, are granted to recover the injured person’s losses as if the injury had never happened. Punitive damages are those exceeding simple compensation and are awarded to punish the defendant. Most car accident claims will focus on compensatory damages instead of punitive damages.
Recovering Your Damages for Auto Negligence
It is your responsibility as the injured party to prove that the at-fault party displayed negligence that caused the car accident and injuries you received. As mentioned before, Georgia law defines auto negligence as the failure to exercise due care to the degree that an ordinarily reasonable person would and should under the same circumstances. So anyone who unjustifiably breaks a traffic safety rule is performing an act that would be considered negligence, and therefore, they are legally obligated to pay the injured party enough money to cover all the losses and harm they sustained due to the car crash.
Here is a list of the compensatory damages you can recover for auto negligence, including present and future:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Impairment or loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Alteration of lifestyle
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Psychological trauma
- Mental distress, anxiety, and depression
- Apprehension
- Future damages from permanent injuries
- Disfigurement
- Sexual dysfunction
- Deprivation of normal life expectancy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
In order to recover these damages, you must provide proper documentation of the damages from negligence in order to win or settle your case as desired. Hiring a professional and experienced car accident lawyer or injury attorney will ensure that all documentation is collected and processed as needed. For example, your lawyer will make sure that insurance providers receive a record of the claimed damages such as your doctor’s diagnosis, treatment plan, prescriptions, out-of-pocket expenses, lost time off work, etc, as well as make sure that any traumatic or debilitating disorders caused by the car crash are diagnosed then provided to the insurance company and the courts.
It is highly suggest that you keep a journal of any mental distress, pain, and suffering that you experience during this life event so that you do not forget any details that will later be requested by your injury lawyer, so they can better under how your injuries have significantly and specifically impacted your lifestyle and day-to-day routines.
How to recover punitive damages from auto negligence in Douglasville, Georgia
Although most car accident claims will focus on compensatory damages instead of punitive damages, there is still a possibility that the individual who was injured due to auto negligence may be awarded punitive damages as well. Typically punitive damages are awarded when the at-fault party’s behavior that led up to the accident is beyond reckless. For example, if the at-fault party caused the accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then most judges and juries will grant the plaintiff punitive damages as a form of punishment for the at-fault party’s behavior.
Seek compensation for your injuries caused by auto negligence.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver in Douglasville, Georgia, then you should seek full compensation with help from a skilled and reputable car accident attorney or injury lawyer. Our legal team here at the Law Office of John B. Jackson is always here to help you know your rights as well as fight to make sure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today at for a free consultation 770-988-6155.
