It doesn’t take a lot to understand that burn injuries cause excruciating pain. The recovery process can be extremely slow, and even after you are healed, you may have to deal with scarring, which can dent your life and self-esteem. If these injuries resulted from someone’s reckless conduct or negligent action in Atlanta, you should consider filing an injury claim. Before important pieces of evidence vanish without a trace, speak with an attorney today and discuss your case in detail. Here are some more details worth knowing.
The damages you can recover
Before anything else, you must know the damages you can recover following the mishap. People suffer burn injuries in different kinds of mishaps, including product-defect-related accidents and premise incidents. Depending on the nature and extent of your injuries, you can recover the following –
- Medical expenses for current and future medical care
- Lost income and wages
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring
- Disability
- Loss of ability to live a normal life
Your fault share in the mishap
The degree of your fault, if any, matters huge in determining the settlement. If you are also found to be responsible for the accident to an extent, you cannot sue the other party if you are more at fault than them. In that context, Georgia is a modified comparative fault state. Your settlement will be adjusted as per your degree of responsibility. Let’s say you recovered $100,000 in a settlement but were also 10% liable for your injuries; you can now only recover $90,000.
Should you get a lawyer?
Ideally, yes. While hiring a lawyer is not mandatory to file an injury claim in Georgia, you should still consider the option for two reasons. Firstly, seasoned injury lawyers have years of experience and have probably handled numerous burn injury cases, which gives them the liberty and expertise to take appropriate action. They can negotiate your settlement with the insurance adjuster and take care of the entire investigation and claims process. Secondly, most lawyers work on a contingency fee in Atlanta, and therefore, you don’t have to pay out of your pocket immediately. If you win, the lawyer will take the agreed percentage of the recovered amount, which may vary between 25% and 40%.
No lawyer can guarantee an exact settlement, but they can certainly improve your chances. At the least, meet and discuss your case with a reliable and known lawyer to understand the details and state laws.