Have you suffered a catastrophic injury in Thomson, GA? If so, Hawk Law Group is here to provide immediate assistance.
Our top-rated Georgia personal injury lawyers have over 71 years of combined experience. We’ve won hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of clients. We are aggressive trial attorneys and skillful negotiators who diligently seek maximum compensation for each case.
Hawk Law Group has been helping injured victims and their families for decades. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your case with you. Contact now for a free consultation with one of our Thomson catastrophic injury attorneys at (706) 361-0350.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help You With a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Thomson, GA
Catastrophic injury claims are more complex than other personal injury cases. They often involve medical specialists, financial professionals, and other experts who testify about the impacts of the catastrophic injury on the victim’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We must address future damages for ongoing medical treatment, loss of income, and personal care.
The attorneys at Hawk Law Group have extensive experience handling complex catastrophic injury claims.
When you hire our top-rated Thomson personal injury lawyers, you can trust that we will:
- Investigate the cause of your catastrophic injury to determine who is liable for your damages
- Gather evidence to prove causation, fault, and liability
- Work with the leading experts in their fields to strengthen your evidence
- Determine how much your case is worth after carefully documenting and analyzing past and future damages
- File insurance claims and handle all related matters
- Negotiate insurance and personal injury settlements for the maximum amount available
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial if we cannot obtain an acceptable settlement through negotiations
Our Thomson catastrophic injury lawyers have received awards and recognition from legal organizations nationwide, including The National Trial Lawyers. We are dedicated to protecting your rights as we seek fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with our personal injury lawyers in Thomson, Georgia. Let us help you recover the money you need and deserve as you cope with the consequences of a catastrophic injury.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
There is no single definition for “catastrophic injury.”
However, most sources agree that a catastrophic injury is one that:
- Results in temporary functional disability, such as the inability to walk or speak
- Causes a permanent disability or serious impairment
- Results in death
Catastrophic injury cases can involve one or more severe injuries that cause life-altering conditions.
Examples of injuries that could be considered catastrophic because they lead to death or permanent impairment include:
- Multiple crushed or broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Severe burns
- Vision loss
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Hearing loss
- Chest injuries
A catastrophic injury could require long-term hospitalization or rehabilitation. You might need lifelong personal and/or nursing care, depending on the severity of your impairment. Some accident victims are never able to return to their normal activities, including working or caring for themselves.
Our Thomson personal injury attorneys will work to ensure you receive a settlement or jury verdict that helps you pay for ongoing expenses and bills. We’ll pursue each party who could be liable for your claim and all avenues of compensation to maximize the amount you receive.
We Handle All Types of Catastrophic Injury Cases in Thomson, GA
You can sustain a catastrophic injury in many different ways.
Common circumstances and accidents that can result in a catastrophic injury include:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Motorcycle accidents
- Defective products (product liability claims)
- Pedestrian accidents
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Bus accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Truck accidents
- Recreational and sports activities
- Bicycle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Sexual assault, assault, and other violence
Our Thomson lawyers have experience in many areas of personal injury law. We also represent families in wrongful death claims when a catastrophic injury results in the loss of their loved one.
Proving Liability for a Catastrophic Injury in Thomson, Georgia
You must prove that the other party caused your injuries to establish liability in Georgia. Many catastrophic injury cases are based on negligence.
A negligence-based claim requires you to have evidence proving each of the following:
- Duty of Care – The party you accuse of causing your catastrophic injury must have owed you a legal duty of care.
- Breach of Duty – The accused at-fault party must have failed to meet the standard of care required for the circumstances, amounting to a breach of duty.
- Causation – The party’s omissions or actions must have directly and proximately led to the reason why you sustained a catastrophic injury.
- Damages – You must prove that you sustained losses and damages, such as financial expenses, emotional distress, and physical injuries.
In addition to negligence, catastrophic injury claims may arise from intentional torts and strict liability. If an employee negligently caused your injury, you might be able to hold their employer liable under vicarious liability.
Our lawyers will determine the specific causes of action that apply based on the facts and circumstances that caused your catastrophic injury. There could be more than one party responsible for your damages and more than one cause of action to pursue.
What Damages Are Available To Catastrophic Injury Victims in Georgia?
Your damages include monetary losses and expenses related to your injuries. These amounts are included in your economic damages.
Examples of economic damages in a catastrophic injury case include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Long-term nursing and/or personal care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Past and future lost wages
- Property damage
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Reductions in future earning capacity
A catastrophic injury can also cause significant pain and suffering. Georgia laws provide for non-economic damages to compensate you for these types of losses.
Examples of non-economic damages in a catastrophic injury case include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Impairments and disabilities
- Mental anguish and trauma
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain and discomfort
Punitive damages may be awarded in some catastrophic injury lawsuits. Juries award these damages when a defendant acts with willful misconduct, oppression, fraud, malice, or conscious indifference to another person’s safety. Punitive damages require a higher level of proof than compensatory damages.
We review every case to determine whether the evidence supports a claim for punitive damages. Settlements generally do not include these damages. However, if the evidence supports the claim, the threat of a lawsuit seeking punitive damages could encourage a party to agree to a higher settlement amount.
How Does Shared Fault Affect a Catastrophic Injury Case in Georgia?
Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence law instead of a strict contributory fault standard. A victim can be partially to blame for causing their catastrophic injury and still receive a portion of their damages.
Georgia sets a 50% bar. If you are more than 49% to blame for causing your injuries, you cannot recover compensation in a catastrophic injury case. You can receive a portion of your damages if you are less than 50% at fault.
For example, suppose the jury decides you were 15% to blame for causing your injuries. Instead of receiving 100% of the amount they award for damages, you receive 85%.
Insurance companies and defense lawyers use shared fault to reduce the amount the at-fault party must pay. Because catastrophic injury cases involve significant amounts of damages, they have an incentive to shift as much blame to the victim as possible.
Our catastrophic injury lawyers in Thomson understand the law and are prepared to argue against allegations of blame and fault against you.
What Is the Deadline to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
The Georgia statute of limitations for catastrophic injury claims is the same as for other injury cases. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury date. However, there are exceptions.
If you don’t file a lawsuit before the deadline, a judge may dismiss your case without considering whether you should receive damages. Because some cases have different deadlines, it is best to seek legal advice as soon as possible after sustaining a catastrophic injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Thomson Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
Dealing with your injuries is difficult enough. You should not have to deal with the legal aspects of pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. Let our legal team at Hawk Law Group handle that for you.
Call us today to schedule a free case review with one of our Thomson catastrophic injury attorneys. We are here to help when you need legal advice, support, and guidance.
