Atlanta Internal Body Injury Lawyer

Since 1973, Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has stood as a pillar of support for families across Georgia, offering unwavering legal assistance to those who have suffered injuries due to accidents. With a history spanning nearly half a century, our firm has cultivated a deep understanding of the challenges faced by injury victims and a steadfast commitment to securing the justice they deserve. This extensive background equips us with the knowledge and insight necessary to handle even the most intricate cases, ensuring that our clients receive the highest caliber of legal support.

Recognizing that the aftermath of an accident can be a physically and emotionally challenging time, an Atlanta internal body injury lawyer from Merritt & Merritt Law Firm is committed to providing accessible and responsive service. Call us for a free consultation today at 404-975-1775 to see what we can do for you.

Understanding Internal Body Injuries

Internal injuries represent a particularly dangerous form of harm that can arise from accidents. These injuries involve damage to the body’s internal structures, affecting vital organs, blood vessels, or internal tissues. What makes them especially dangerous is that, unlike visible injuries such as cuts, burns, or bruises, internal injuries often lack immediate external signs. This hidden nature can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment, potentially resulting in more severe complications.

It is crucial to understand that even accidents that may initially seem minor can lead to significant internal damage, which is why seeking prompt medical attention after any accident is of paramount importance, regardless of how minor your injuries after an accident may appear. The risk of internal injuries is not limited to car accidents; they can also occur in various other scenarios, including motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, and even slip-and-fall incidents. This widespread potential for internal harm underscores the importance of understanding your legal rights in any accident situation. An Atlanta internal body injury lawyer at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm can evaluate your case for free when you call us at 404-975-1775 to see what kind of damages you may be able to recover.

Common Types of Internal Injuries in Accidents

Accidents can result in a range of internal injuries, each with its own set of potential complications. Among the most common are internal bleeding, organ damage or rupture, lung injuries, kidney damage, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries or fractured ribs. The diverse range of potential internal injuries underscores the complexity of accident-related trauma and highlights the necessity of a comprehensive medical evaluation following any accident. Often, the symptoms of these injuries can overlap, making self-diagnosis unreliable. For instance, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath can be indicative of various internal injuries. Therefore, it is crucial to seek professional medical assessment to accurately identify the nature and extent of any internal injuries sustained.

Prevalence of Internal Injuries in Georgia Accidents

In 2020, motor vehicle crashes ranked as the second leading cause of both injury-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits across the state of Georgia. This significant number of hospitalizations and ER visits strongly suggests a substantial occurrence of serious injuries such as internal injuries.

The financial burden associated with these accidents further underscores the prevalence of significant injuries. In 2019 alone, the total hospital and emergency room charges related to motor vehicle traffic accidents in Georgia reached a staggering $1.8 billion. This immense cost reflects the extensive medical care required for individuals injured in accidents, such as those who suffer from internal injuries as a result of an accident. Although direct statistics on internal injuries are not explicitly provided, the substantial data on serious injuries, hospitalizations, and the associated costs from motor vehicle accidents in Georgia strongly imply that internal injuries are a significant and concerning consequence of these incidents.

Your Rights Under Georgia Law: Negligence and Duty of Care

In Georgia, the legal framework for seeking compensation for injuries sustained in an accident is primarily based on the principle of negligence. Negligence, in a legal context, refers to the failure to act with the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances.

To establish a claim for negligence, several key elements must typically be proven.

• First, there must have been a duty of care, which means that the person responsible for the accident had a legal obligation to act in a way that would prevent harm to others. For example, drivers have a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely and to obey traffic laws to avoid causing accidents.
• Second, there must have been a breach of that duty. Examples of a breach of duty by a driver could include speeding, driving while intoxicated, running a red light, or driving while distracted.
• Third, there must be a connection between the breach of duty and the resulting injuries that you have suffered. In other words, your injuries were not caused by anything but the actions of the driver who caused the accident.
• Finally, you must have suffered actual damages as a result of the injuries. In cases involving internal injuries, these damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related losses. If another person’s negligence directly leads to an accident in which you suffer internal injuries, Georgia law provides you with the right to seek compensation for the harm you have endured. Establishing negligence is the cornerstone of a successful personal injury claim in Georgia.

The concept of a “duty of care” sets the standard for how individuals are expected to behave to prevent harm, and when this standard is violated, resulting in injury, the law provides a means for the injured party to seek recourse.

Hiring an experienced Atlanta internal body injury lawyer at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm raises your chances of success in your personal injury lawsuit as we will fight for your rights in court to make sure that negligence is proven in court so we can get you the compensation you deserve.

Georgia’s Statute of Limitations

It is critical to understand that in Georgia, there is a specific time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. For most personal injury cases, including those involving internal injuries sustained in accidents, the general statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident or the date when the injuries were discovered.

This two-year timeframe is a strict legal deadline, and failing to file a lawsuit within this period will likely result in your claim being barred, meaning you will lose your right to pursue compensation for your injuries that you sustained from this accident. This is why it is important to call Merritt & Merritt Law Firm as soon as possible to make sure your case is filed on time.

Compensation You Can Get for Your Injuries

Under Georgia law, if you have suffered internal injuries due to the negligence of another party, you have the right to seek recovery of any injuries you suffered, called damages. These damages are intended to compensate you for the losses and harm you have experienced as a result of your injuries, aiming to make you as whole as possible under the law.

The types of damages you may be entitled to include medical expenses, lost wages for past or future work lost, pain and suffering, any property damage or any other damage that you are seeking to recover as a result of injuries you suffered from the accident. Georgia law recognizes the wide-ranging impact that internal injuries can have on a person’s life and provides for various forms of compensation to address these losses. This comprehensive approach ensures that victims of negligence can seek to recover for the full extent of their harm, both financial and personal.

Filing Your Personal Injury Claim in Georgia

The process of filing a personal injury claim in Georgia can appear complex, but with the guidance of an experienced attorney at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, you can navigate this legal landscape with greater confidence. The initial step typically involves a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers. During this consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss the details of your accident and the internal injuries you sustained, and our attorneys can assess the merits of your case and explain your legal options.

If you decide to proceed with a claim, our firm will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident to gather crucial evidence. This may involve obtaining police reports, collecting medical records, interviewing witnesses, and gathering photographs or other documentation from the accident scene.

Next, we will engage in negotiations with the insurance company to attempt to reach a fair and just settlement. If a settlement is not to your satisfaction, then our attorneys are prepared to fight for you in court. This step must be taken before the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Throughout this entire process, having an experienced Atlanta internal body injury lawyer from Merritt & Merritt Law Firm by your side is invaluable. We will handle all the legal complexities, protect your rights at every stage, and tirelessly advocate for your best interests to maximize your chances of recovering the full compensation you deserve for your internal injuries and other damages.

Let An Atlanta Internal Body Injury Lawyer From Merritt and Merritt Fight for You

If you or a loved one has experienced the trauma of internal injuries due to an accident in Georgia caused by someone else’s negligence, please know that you do not have to navigate this challenging journey alone.

An Atlanta internal body injury lawyer from Merritt & Merritt Law Firm is here to provide you with the experienced, compassionate, and dedicated legal representation you need and deserve. With our long-standing history of serving the injured in Georgia and our unwavering commitment to justice, we are prepared to fight tirelessly for your rights and help you secure the full compensation you are entitled to for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

We encourage you to take the first step towards recovery and justice by contacting Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you by calling 404-975-1775.