Georgia personal injury attorney

Dog Bites in Georgia: What You Should Know

January 14, 2022 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

In 2020, mostly due to coronavirus restrictions, the number of dog bite claims fell slightly. However, the average settlement per claim hit an all-time high. Medical bill inflation, which has increased significantly since 2008, is partly responsible for this increase. Furthermore, doctors better understand the nature of dog bite physical and emotional injuries. More on that below.

Animal attack laws vary significantly in different jurisdictions. Georgia’s dog bite law is especially complex. Essentially, lawmakers have tried to balance the interests of pet owners, who usually want limited liability laws, and victims, who need protective laws. Typically, if you stay in the middle of the road, you get run over.

So, only a highly-experienced Marietta personal injury attorney should handle these claims. A less-experienced attorney might not be able to obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Fatal New Year’s Eve Wreck in Barrow County

December 31, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Investigators believe alcohol was the primary factor in a serious collision that killed one person and sent another one to a hospital.

The wreck happened near the intersection of Dee Kennedy Road and Emperor Lane. According to state troopers, a 55-year-old man, who was behind the wheel of a pickup truck, smacked into the rear of a 20-year-old’s Ford Focus. The force of the collision caused both drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The Focus left the road and careened into a tree, killing the driver almost instantly. Emergency responders rushed the other driver to a nearby hospital.

Charges are pending against the truck driver as the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team continues its investigation.

How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Usually Take?

November 26, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

If you were recently injured by the actions of another party, you may contemplate filing a personal injury lawsuit against that party. The following is some information regarding the amount of time it takes for a typical personal injury lawsuit to be resolved.

What Factors Determine How Long a Personal Injury Lawsuit Will Take?

The amount of time that it takes for a personal injury lawsuit to be resolved will depend on some of the following factors:

Whose Insurance Applies in Rideshare Accidents?

September 30, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

If you are injured in an accident while traveling in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare service, you may question whose insurance policy applies. Should you attempt to seek coverage from the rideshare company’s insurance or from the driver’s personal car insurance? The answer will depend on the type of insurance the driver possesses and the status of the driver when the accident occurred. The following article will discuss situations where a rideshare company’s car insurance applies to an accident, as well as situations where a rideshare driver will have to use his own auto insurance after an accident.

When Does the Rideshare Company’s Car Insurance Policy Apply?

In order to determine if the rideshare company’s car insurance applies, you must first determine the status of the rideshare driver at the time of the accident. For example, if the rideshare driver’s app is on and that driver is waiting for a customer to request a ride when an accident occurs, Uber and Lyft both provide the following types of liability coverage for the driver:

How Motorists and Cyclists Can Prevent Bicycle Accidents

August 31, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

According to the National Safety Council, there were approximately 1,089 bicycle deaths that occurred in 2019. Furthermore, 712 of these deaths were the result of motor vehicle accidents. The National Safety Council has classified these as preventable deaths, meaning that if motorists and cyclists take the proper precautions, these deaths would be less likely to occur. The following article will provide some helpful tips for both motorists and cyclists to avoid the occurrence of bicycle accidents in the future.

Tips for Motorists

Obey all posted speed limits. By adhering to the posted speed limits, you can help ensure that you are able to safely avoid hitting a cyclist in an emergency. Additionally, you should also ensure that you adjust your speed accordingly when there are dangerous road conditions, such as ice or rain.

Exploring Spinal Cord Injuries

August 27, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Spinal cord injuries can have devastating physical and mental effects. These types of injuries often require extensive treatment which could last for months or even several years. The following article will prove an in-depth analysis of spinal cord injuries.

What are Some Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

The severity of a spinal cord injury is classified as either “complete” or “incomplete.”

What You Should Know About Georgia Workers’ Compensation

August 13, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

If you were recently injured on the job, you may have started the process of filing for workers compensation benefits. The following article will provide some helpful information you should know about workers’ compensation in Georgia.

Important Information Regarding Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation

You have 30 days to report the accident to your employer. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80, an employee must report an injury-causing work accident to his employer within 30 days after the date the accident occurred.

Georgia Enacts Changes to Law Regarding Teen Driving

August 6, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2,400 teenagers (aged 13 to 19) were killed in car accidents in 2019. This same year, an estimated 258,000 teenagers were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in car crashes. Georgia has recently enacted some changes to a law that was created to reduce the amount of teenage car accidents.

Joshua’s Law

In 2007, the state of Georgia enacted “Joshua’s Law.” On July 1, 2003, 17-year-old Georgia resident Joshua Robert Brown was driving on a two-lane highway in the rain when his vehicle began to hydroplane and crashed into a tree. The accident left Joshua severely injured and though he fought to stay alive for nine days, he finally passed away on July 9, 2003.

Should You Handle Your Own Settlement Negotiations?

July 2, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

If you have suffered an injury in some kind of accident, is it a good idea to handle your own settlement negotiations? Some people think so. They can see themselves saving the cost of an attorney, and they might have a job that they believe gives them the ability to negotiate a settlement for their injury. No matter what your background is, however, unless you are a personal injury attorney, it is unlikely that you have the experience and knowledge necessary to successfully negotiate a satisfactory settlement. You might think you are a shrewd bargainer, but you will be facing an insurance adjuster or the other party’s attorney – or both – who have been a part of dozens, if not hundreds, of such negotiations, while you will be involved in your first. Still like your odds?

Most Personal Injury Cases Settle

You will only get one shot at a good settlement, so it makes sense to do everything you can to get the best settlement possible. That probably does not involve you handling negotiations yourself. Virtually all aspects of life have become more complex, and the legal system is no different. It is unlikely you have the skills or knowledge to successfully handle your own legal case, including settlement negotiations. Nothing personal, but that is the way things are these days.

Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney?

June 18, 2021 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

If you were recently injured and are intending to file a personal injury claim, you may not know exactly where to begin. Should you hire an attorney? Is that actually necessary? What benefits come with hiring an attorney to handle your personal injury claim? The following article will provide a few key reasons why you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney.

An attorney can help you build a stronger personal injury case.

Personal injury lawsuits require that you prove that another party is responsible, at least in part, for your injuries. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to prove with certainty exactly who or what was the cause of your injuries. This is when it would be helpful to hire a personal injury attorney, who can gather evidence to help you properly identify the cause of your injuries and the responsible parties.