Personal Injury

Atlanta Attorneys Representing People in Personal Injury Matters

Sudden injuries often cause not only physical trauma but also result in emotional and mental anguish and significant financial hardships. Generally, unexpected injuries arise out of accidents brought on by reckless behavior, and many people who suffer losses are able to recover damages from the party who caused the harmful incident through a lawsuit. If you suffered bodily harm due to someone else’s carelessness, the dedicated Atlanta personal injury attorneys of Poole Huffman can assess the circumstances of your harm and advise you of your potential claims. Our skillful attorneys regularly represent injured parties in personal injury lawsuits in metro Atlanta, Decatur, and throughout Georgia. We will work tirelessly to help you seek a just outcome.

Common Causes of Personal Injury

While various incidents can lead to personal injuries, some causes are more common than others. For example, many personal injuries arise out of motor vehicle collisions, like car, motorcycle, or truck accidents. Liquid or debris on the surface of a floor or steps or sidewalks that are not properly maintained or have fallen into disrepair can cause dangerous conditions. Such hazards may lead to slip and fall and trip and fall incidents, which are another frequent cause of bodily harm. Dangerous and harmful products cause many incidents producing injuries as well, such as fractures, lacerations, burns, and other serious harm. Personal injuries may also arise from assaults and other intentional acts, animal attacks, and medical negligence.

Pursuing Personal Injury Claims

Although numerous things can cause bodily harm, the underlying factor in most instances in which a person suffers injuries is negligence. As such, most plaintiffs in lawsuits arising out of personal injuries set forth a negligence claim against the defendant. In Georgia, a plaintiff alleging negligence must first show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances, but the defendant behaved in a manner that represents a breach of the duty. The plaintiff must then prove that the defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff actual harm. This means that the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s actions were a substantial factor in bringing about the plaintiff’s harm and that the plaintiff would not have sustained damages absent the breach.

To successfully establish liability for negligence, a plaintiff must prove each element of negligence by a preponderance of the evidence. In other words, the plaintiff must present evidence demonstrating that it is more likely than not that the defendant caused the plaintiff’s harm. Typically, this evidence will consist of eyewitness testimony, police reports, surveillance video or photographs, and medical records. Depending on the cause of the plaintiff’s harm, experts may need to be engaged to testify about issues that fall outside of the scope of a jury’s understanding.

A plaintiff who proves the defendant was negligent may be awarded damages for the financial harm sustained due to their injuries, such as the cost of plaintiff’s needed medical treatment, out of pocket expenses, and lost wages. A plaintiff frequently will be awarded damages for the intangible harm caused by their injuries as well, such as the emotional distress, anguish, pain, and suffering they endured. If a plaintiff was married when the injury occurred, the spouse may also be able to recover compensation for loss of consortium.

Speak to a Trusted Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney

People and businesses that fail to exercise reasonable caution or care should be held accountable for any injuries caused by their carelessness or negligence. If you were hurt in an accident brought on by someone else’s negligent acts or omissions, you should speak to an attorney regarding your right to pursue damages. The trusted Atlanta personal injury attorneys of Poole Huffman possess the skills and experience needed to help you strive for the best result available under the facts of your case, and we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. We regularly assist injured people in cases in metro Atlanta, Decatur, and throughout Georgia. We also represent people in civil lawsuits in cities throughout DeKalb, Cobb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties. You can contact us through our online form or at 404-373-4008 to set up a confidential and free meeting.