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Originally Posted On: The 4 Most Common Cases Personal Injury Lawyers Handle | Wells and McElwee (wmpc-lawyers.com)

 

Every year in the US, nearly 40 million people suffer injuries severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. Someone else’s negligent or reckless actions are often to blame for these injuries.

Personal injury law aims to help injured victims recover compensation for their injuries and hold the responsible party liable.

If you’re injured, you may be looking for a lawyer in Athens, GA, who can take on your case. Before meeting with any personal injury lawyers, it can be helpful to know what type of cases they handle.

Keep reading to learn more about the top 4 most common types of personal injury cases.

1. Auto Accident Injury Cases

There are over 6 million auto accidents in the US every year. It’s no wonder that auto accident injuries are among the most common types of personal injury cases that attorneys handle. In fact, motor vehicle accidents cause more injuries than all other types of personal injuries combined. They make up over half (52%) of all personal injury cases!

Motor vehicle accident cases are traumatic and often life-changing for the victim. Car accident expenses can quickly add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars, and even minor injuries can result in additional bills over time.

If you were hurt in a car accident that you didn’t cause, you might be entitled to money for your injuries — even if the insurance company makes you think otherwise. We recommend immediately contacting a personal injury lawyer in Athens for the best chance at recovering many of your expenses.

When you or your loved one suffers an injury, we understand that the last thing on your mind is shopping around for a lawyer. That’s why we offer free initial consultations. This ensures you have experienced legal help when you need it most.

Our personal injury lawyers will fight for your rights and help you explore every legal option to get a fair personal injury settlement so you can recover and get back to life as usual.

At Wells and McElwee, P.C., in Athens, Georgia, we help people with all types of motor vehicle accidents, including the following:

• Car Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Tractor-Trailer and Semi-Truck Accidents
• Distracted Driving Accidents
• Uber and Lyft Accidents
• Intoxicated and Drunk Driving Accidents
• Pedestrian/Auto Accidents
• Hit and Run Accidents

Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Athens, GA

Some personal injury examples of the most common causes of car wrecks in Athens are:

• Negligence
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drunk or intoxicated driving
• Vehicle defects
• Bad weather
• Reckless driving
• Aggressive driving
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Roadrage

Suppose another driver breaks the law or is unreasonably careless and causes an injury. In that case, they will be classified as at-fault and held responsible for any damages to the injured party.

It’s in your best interest to hire a personal injury lawyer in Athens for the best chance at the highest financial recovery. At Wells and McElwee, P.C., our attorneys have the training and experience needed to fully understand the law and handle the insurance company for the best result. Plus, we don’t get paid until after we win you money — so there’s no risk in hiring us!

2. Work Injury Cases

Another typical case that some personal injury lawyers handle is a work injury case.

In Georgia, people who are injured at work due to no fault of their own may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim to collect money for their injuries.

Workers’ compensation is often the primary source of benefits for many injured workers on the job. However, there may be other benefits available in particular situations. For example, if your supervisor, coworker, or employer intentionally caused your injury, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them directly to collect compensation.

At Wells and McElwee, P.C., we handle almost all types of severe work injury cases, including:

• Construction Worker Injuries
• Logging Injuries
• Heavy Equipment and Machinery Injuries
• Utility Worker Injuries

Is There a Time Limit for a Worker’s Compensation Claim in Georgia?

Georgia workers should notify their employer of their injuries immediately, even if they do not seem very serious at first. Although Georgia law provides up to 30 days from the injury date to file a claim, any delay can lead to lost workers comp benefits or compromise the claims process. The reviewing board might think that a claimant’s injuries are not severe if they wait too long to see a medical provider.

Why You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer for Workers Compensation

Being a victim of an injury is tough, especially when it’s an injury sustained on the job. Your employer should have insurance coverage to pay for your expenses, recovery time, and other damages. Often, though, the victim doesn’t know how to get help in obtaining these benefits.

That’s where the personal lawyers at Wells and McElwee, P.C. step in.

Athens Lawyer for Worker’s Compensation in Georgia

Work-related accidents can be devastating. They can significantly complicate your life – from getting medical care to worrying about providing for your family’s needs. Add that to the challenge of working with an insurance company that provides your employer’s worker’s comp coverage, and you may have a mess to deal with.

This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer comes in handy. We aggressively seek the maximum benefits and compensation that you are entitled to after sustaining an injury at work. Wells and McElwee, P.C., has helped hundreds of victims obtain the money they deserve for their injuries.

3. Slip and Fall Injury Cases

Many people don’t realize how much harm a slip and fall can cause. In fact, slip and fall injuries result in over a million emergency room visits every year!

Fractures are the most common type of injury resulting from a slip and fall, but patients have also suffered from broken bones, brain damage, head injuries, and more. Older patients are even more likely to suffer these severe injuries from a fall.

For a slip and fall injury that occurred on property owned by another person or business, working with a personal injury attorney familiar with Georgia premises liability law is best. Your lawyer will need to prove that the property owner failed to uphold their legal duty to protect you from injury while on their property. If the property owner or business is found to have acted negligently, they may be held liable for your injuries.

At Wells and McElwee, P.C., our attorneys have experience handling all of the above types of accidents and more successfully. When you hire us, your Georgia slip and fall case will be in good hands.

4. Wrongful Death Cases

In a wrongful death claim, the person who caused the death of another person is held liable. Our Georgia personal injury attorneys handle these cases often.

When a loved one is killed due to someone else’s negligent actions, you may experience anger and confusion‚ and may have many unanswered questions. Your family shouldn’t have to suffer this loss without answers. If the death was caused by the fault of another party, like a drunk driver – you deserve to get compensation through a Georgia wrongful death claim. When you are seeking this type of legal action, contact a personal injury attorney in the city of Athens, Georgia.

We know you are struggling through a difficult time, and the last thing you need to worry about is a complicated legal case. That’s why we are here. We’ll fight to defend your rights and handle your entire case, so you don’t have to worry. We’ve represented victims throughout the state of Georgia, and we provide the kind of personal attention that can be hard to find.

It is crucial that you retain a personal injury attorney with experience and a track record of successful results. The skilled attorneys of Wells and McElwee, P.C., Stephen H. McElwee and Donald T. Wells Jr., have over 30 years of experience helping families of fatal accident victims file wrongful death claims.

We’re known for our aggressive strategy, and we’re committed to protecting our clients’ rights and getting them the maximum amount of compensation they deserve.

Why Should I Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Quickly for a Wrongful Death Case?

By contacting a personal injury attorney immediately, you will get help preserving necessary evidence, taking photos of the accident scene, interviewing witnesses, and referring to experts. Much evidence can get lost, even after a short time, which is why it’s essential to act quickly.

On top of that, the expenses from medical bills, funeral expenses, and other costs that come with losing a family member can create a financial nightmare. The victim’s spouse, children, and parents can bring a wrongful death lawsuit to help cover those expenses. Unfortunately, many families unknowingly forgo their compensation because they wait too long to contact a Georgia personal injury attorney.

What Should I Do to Move Forward With a Wrongful Death Claim?

If you are unsure how to navigate a legal claim for expenses, schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Georgia.

The personal injury lawyers at Wells and McElwee, P.C. will carefully assess your case and answer any questions you may have. We will also provide legal guidance and can help determine the best strategy for moving forward. Call us today at 706-543-8596 – we will gladly consult with you for free.

How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Claim?

If the accident you were injured in was not your fault, you probably have a valid claim. We often see injured victims who blame themselves or write the injury off as a freak accident, but the law doesn’t see it this way.

Most commonly, the damages our clients sustained resulted from someone’s negligence and could have been prevented. This is true of many slip and fall injuries, car accidents, and other types of accidents.

Negligence is not the same as an intentional act; It means that someone’s carelessness caused the accident or injury. If someone was negligent and caused your accident, their insurance may be liable for your expenses and bills.

Are There Time Limits on Personal Injury Claims?

Georgia law requires claimants to file their personal injury case within a specific time frame; this law is called the statute of limitations.

It is essential to file your injury claim as soon as possible to avoid missing the statute of limitations in Georgia. If you miss this time limit to file your claim, you may lose your legal right to recover compensation for your injuries.

The time limit to file an injury case can be different in certain circumstances. A personal injury lawyer can help you navigate filing deadlines for your case to ensure that your claim is filed correctly and on time.

Get in Touch With Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today

The personal injury lawyers at Wells and McElwee, P.C., have decades of experience handling personal injury cases for clients all over the state of Georgia.

We understand that navigating the legal system, especially when there’s a personal injury involved, can be daunting. We will do everything possible to ensure that you are fairly and justly compensated for your lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills, and more.

We have a unique way of looking at our work. At our firm, we’re not just focused on providing top-notch legal services—we’re equally as focused on understanding your goals and guiding you to a successful result. We take each one of our client’s cases personally because we believe you deserve nothing less.

You can meet with one of our Georgia personal injury attorneys to discuss the details of your case for free. Call Wells and McElwee, P.C., today at 706-543-8596, or fill out our easy online form for a free case evaluation.