Georgia is a tort state. If you sustained injuries in an on-road mishap in Conyers, you might want to explore your legal options to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. Laws are complex and often hard to understand, and it makes sense to hire a Conyers personal injury lawyer for your case. In this post, we are sharing key aspects worth knowing, including circumstances when you definitely need to lawyer up.
Deadline for accident injury lawsuits
The statute of limitations in Georgia determines the deadline for accident injury lawsuits. If you were injured in the accident, you could file a lawsuit against the other at-fault party within two years. The deadline is not for insurance claims and starts from the accident date. The two-year deadline is also applicable for wrongful death claims. If you want to sue the other driver for vehicle damage only, the time limit is four years.
Comparative fault system
It often happens that more than one driver is at fault for an accident. In such cases, the comparative fault rule is used. Georgia is a modified comparative fault state. You can only sue the other driver when your fault is less than theirs, regardless of the losses. For instance, if your claim is worth $500,000 and you were found to be 51% at fault, you cannot sue the other driver. The other party, however, can sue you in such circumstances, even when their losses are pegged at $10,000.
When should you hire an injury lawyer?
While hiring an injury lawyer is always beneficial, you may want to lawyer up in some circumstances in particular. Get an attorney to evaluate your case if –
- You were to blame for the accident to an extent
- There is no clarity on either fault or liability
- There were many vehicles or drivers involved
- The accident involved a truck or 18-wheeler
- The insurance company is pressuring you to settle
- The settlement offer is too less
- You were seriously injured
- Your losses are significant
- You have suffered catastrophic injuriesFor more information visit this site: superratmachine
Now that you know the basics don’t shy away from discussing the facts of the case with an attorney in detail. Let an attorney negotiate and deal with the insurance company as you recover from your injuries. Also, if you are hiring an injury lawyer for the first time in Conyers, make sure that they have experience representing clients at trials. Experience in similar lawsuits is an advantage.