Brain injuries have serious consequences, and many brain injury victims are left dealing with the effects of their injuries for the rest of their lives. If you have suffered a brain injury in Atlanta, Georgia, you need an experienced lawyer who can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages resulting from your injury.
The team at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC has over 85 years of combined experience advocating for the rights of injury victims. We have recovered over $600 million dollars for our clients against some of the largest insurance companies out there. We are ready to put our experience to work and help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (404) 869-8600 to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta brain injury lawyer.
How Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC Can Help After an Accident in Atlanta
The time after an accident in Atlanta, Georgia, can feel like a whirlwind. You are likely missing time from work, and you might start to have medical bills piling up. Although money cannot undo the injury you suffered, it can help take away some of the financial stress of the situation.
The team at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC can help you get compensated for your brain injury. Some ways we can help you include:
- Fully investigating your accident to determine who was at fault
- Gathering evidence to help support your claim
- Engaging experts as necessary to support your case
- Evaluating all your injuries and medical records to appropriately value your damages
- Handling all paperwork and communications with the insurance company
- Aggressively negotiating a full and fair settlement that includes all your damages
- Fighting for you in court and arguing your case before a jury when necessary
If you have suffered a brain injury because of someone else’s negligence, you need the help of an Atlanta personal injury attorney right away. Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation, and let us get started helping you.
What is My Brain Injury Case Worth?
The value of a personal injury case is typically dependent upon the severity of your injuries. Cases with more severe injuries will usually have higher recoveries, while cases involving only minor injuries generally have lower values.
Brain injuries can have catastrophic effects on victims. Cases involving catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, are commonly worth more than the average personal injury case. The specific value of your case will depend on the specifics of your injuries and the details of your accident. Other factors affecting the value of your case usually include:
- Whether you share any fault for the accident
- Whether you will be able to return to work
- The total amount of your medical bills
- Your expected future medical needs
To get an estimate of the value of your brain injury case, contact Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC today. We will thoroughly assess the details of your case and help you determine an accurate estimate of its value. Do not let the insurance company take advantage of you with a lowball offer. Give us a call today to let us help ensure you are compensated in line with your case’s value.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
Accident victims who suffer brain injuries are entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages from the responsible party. Economic damages are the direct financial losses suffered by the victim. These damages have a specific value, and their value can be proven by receipts, bills, or invoices. Some common examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills (present and future)
- Lost wages (present and future)
- Lost earnings capacity
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses
- Property damage
Accident victims are also entitled to recover non-economic damages. These damages can be harder to value because they are more subjective. These damages compensate victims for the physical and mental suffering they endured because of the accident. Some examples of non-economic damages often recovered in accident cases include:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
Non-economic damages are commonly higher in value than the economic damages associated with an injury claim. The more severe the injuries, the higher the value of the non-economic damages will be.
In some limited circumstances, punitive damages may be available to accident victims in Georgia. These damages are not to compensate the victim for their losses but rather to punish the wrongdoer for their behavior. Punitive damages are only available in cases involving extremely egregious behavior, and they are rarely awarded in personal injury cases.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Brain Injury Lawyer?
After a brain injury, you have enough to worry about. The cost of hiring a brain injury attorney should not be another thing you have to stress over. Thankfully, hiring a brain injury lawyer usually does not require you to pay any money upfront.
Most brain injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the attorney’s fee is collected as a percentage of any compensation recovered by the client. If the attorney does not win the case, they will not receive a fee.
Contingency fees in brain injury cases can range from 25% to 45% of the total recovery amount. Some factors that influence the amount of the fee include:
- Geographic location
- Complexity of the case
- Experience level of the attorney
- Attorney’s success rate in previous cases
Georgia law requires that contingency fees be in writing and signed by the client. At the conclusion of the case, the attorney should also provide the client with a detailed breakdown of the fee calculation.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For a Brain Injury in Georgia?
A tactic often used by the big insurance companies to avoid paying brain injury claims is to blame the victim for the accident. The good news is that you may still be entitled to recover compensation in Georgia, even if you are being partially blamed for the accident.
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Under Georgia’s rule, you can still recover compensation as long as you are found to be less than 50% responsible for the accident that caused your injuries.
If you are found to be partially responsible for the accident, your recovery will be reduced by your portion of fault. For instance, imagine you are injured in an accident and sustain $10,000 in damages. If you are found to be 30% at fault, you are still entitled to recover 70% of your damages, or $7,000, from the other responsible parties. If you are 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover at all.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation For All Of Your Injuries
Accidents that result in brain injuries often cause many other injuries as well. You have a right to be compensated for the damages from all your injuries, and we can help make sure that you are. Other injuries that are commonly associated with brain injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Our experienced team can help review your medical records and work directly with your healthcare providers to ensure that all your injuries are presented appropriately in your claim.
What Causes Most Brain Injuries in Atlanta, Georgia?
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, there are nearly 30,000 traumatic brain injuries reported across the state each year. Brain injuries can arise in a variety of different accidents. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Sports injuries
- Construction accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
If you have been involved in an accident that resulted in a brain injury, you need an experienced brain injury lawyer on your side. The team at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC has over 85 years of combined experience, and we are ready to put our experience to work for you. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can help.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Brain Injury in Georgia?
Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including brain injuries. This means that you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident that caused your injury. Failure to file your claim within this timeframe could cause you to lose all your rights to compensation.
In some limited circumstances, the timeframe could be shorter or longer than the general rule. The best way to ensure that you do not miss the filing deadline is by consulting with an experienced attorney. Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC can help you determine the specific deadline associated with your case to make sure that you do not lose your ability to recover compensation for your injuries.
Contact Our Atlanta Brain Injury Lawyers For a Free Consultation
If you or a family member have suffered a brain injury in Atlanta, Georgia, we know the lasting effects these injuries can have on victims—the time after one of these injuries can be stressful and emotional. We are here to let you know that you do not have to go through this situation alone.
The caring team at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC is here to help. Let us handle every aspect of your case while you focus on getting better. We will thoroughly assess every detail of your claim and handle all communications with the insurance company. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta brain injury lawyer to learn more about what we can do for you.