Have you suffered a serious accident? Does your recovery involve long-term expenses, such as medical bills and lost wages? Do you think the other party’s insurance company is offering you too little money for your injuries? Is the at-fault party underinsured, or did they flee the crime scene? Are you not certain who is at fault for your accident?
If you are a Georgia resident who answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need a Georgia personal injury attorney. Hiring a personal injury attorney to recover compensation costs nothing unless you win your case, and we will help you maximize your recovery.
You won’t pay anything unless you win the case, or your case goes to trial
Most frequently, the amount you pay your lawyer is just a percentage of the compensation they obtain on your behalf (contingency fee). If you lose your case, you do not have to pay anything to your lawyer.
The average contingency fee is 33%, but some lawyers charge differently. It is important to consult with your lawyer about their contingency fee policy before going ahead with a personal injury claim.
What you will pay if your case goes to trial
Almost all personal injury cases settle out of court. Only around four or five percent go to trial. If your case does go to trial, you will have to pay court filing fees and other costs related to trial work, such as bringing witnesses to testify. This is part of why most lawyers strongly prefer to settle cases before a trial.
Personal injury cases can recoup substantial compensation
Personal injury verdicts and settlements can range in size from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars and, in highly unusual circumstances, to truly astounding figures. In 2011, a Texas jury awarded the largest personal injury award ever, to the tune of $150 billion in punitive damages to “the parents and estate of Robert Ray ‘Robbie’ Middleton.” Two weeks after Don Willburn Collins ― his alleged attacker ― sexually assaulted Middleton, Collins also set Middleton on fire. Middleton was only eight years old at the time. Eventually, his parents filed a lawsuit against Collins, winning a major symbolic and financial victory.
Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for particularly reckless behavior. They are also meant to make an example of the defendant to deter others from making similar mistakes. These damages go beyond general damages.
Need a personal injury lawyer? Hire our award-winning firm
The McGarity Group was nominated “Best Law Firm” in Gwinnett County from 2009–2011 and “Best Law Firm for Assertive Representation” in Gwinnett County in 2012. Our attorneys focus on personal injury cases and provide the highest level of client representation. For a free consultation, call us today at 770-932-8477.