Few people in Georgia imagine ever needing an Albany personal injury attorney. The residents are caught up in their daily routine, and visitors are under the spell of the local attractions. After all, we’re talking about Ray Charles’ birthplace, a city where art meets history and untamed beauty. What happens when beauty is disrupted and someone gets injured?
The party responsible for the injuries should answer for their consequences, economic or otherwise. However, obtaining fair compensation is not that easy. It takes a thorough knowledge of Georgia laws and court rules, solid evidence, and piles of paperwork. In other words, it takes the knowledge and experience of an Albany personal injury lawyer.
Contacting an attorney should be a priority for anyone incurring injuries due to another party’s negligence in Dougherty County. If you have suffered a personal injury in Albany, call the office of Joe Durham Jr., P.C. at (229)351-5320 today, your ability to file a claim depends on taking action as soon as possible.
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How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Georgia laws set strict deadlines for claims referring to personal injuries. Known as statutes of limitations, these only allow two years from the injury date. If the case also involves damage to personal property, the state gives two extra years, allowing four years from the date of the property damage to file a claim.
Claims or court trials filed beyond this period will almost always be dismissed. For claims against the government, there are different deadlines. The ones against the state have a two-year statute of limitations. The ones against cities or counties have to be filed within six months.
Contacting a personal injury lawyer immediately after your injury can have a huge impact on your claim.
At Joe Durham Jr. P.C., we advise our clients to take action as soon as possible. In personal injury cases, the burden of proof falls on the claimant, and gathering evidence takes time. The claimant or their personal injury attorney will have to prove:
- The defendant’s negligence
- That their negligence caused the injuries
- That the injuries brought about the expenses and losses subject to the compensation claim
This is easier said than done in a state with comparative fault laws in force. Under these laws, all the parties involved in a case can share fault for it. The party who is most at fault loses their right to compensation. If their fault is lower than 50%, their compensation drops inversely proportional with the fault percentage. This system is known as the comparative fault (or comparative negligence) rule and is used throughout Georgia to determine the amount of compensation a victim is eligible to recover.
In almost all cases, the defendant will try to blame the claimant for their injuries. This way, they can pay a lower compensation or avoid making any payments. No wonder that most personal injury cases become battles of attorneys.
At Joe Durham Jr. P.C., we have handled hundreds of personal injury cases. If you incurred injuries due to another person’s negligence, chances are that we can help you too. In the following lines, we will provide you with a brief overview of the cases we handle.
Types of Injury Cases We Handle
As mentioned above, in these types of cases, one person incurs injuries due to another party’s actions. These actions can be the result of negligence or intentional wrongdoing. The difference between the different types of personal injury cases refers to the circumstances of the injuries.
Before we move on to reviewing the most common types of personal injury cases, we have an important recommendation. All injury victims should get in touch with a personal injury attorney in Albany as soon as possible. Here is why:
- Most of the necessary evidence is only available for a limited time.
- Injury signs and symptoms fade.
- Evidence from the scene disappears or can no longer be connected to the injuries.
- Witnesses leave town, change address and phone number, or forget details.
- Even the best personal injury lawyers need time to get the results they want
Now that you understand the importance of acting fast, let’s review the different types of personal injury cases our Albany personal injury attorney handles.
Car Accidents
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Dougherty County sees around 3,700 traffic accidents a year. Nearly half of these accidents result in injuries. Obviously, their victims are entitled to and deserve compensation.
If you were injured in a car accident, you should get in touch with a car accident lawyer. They will help you obtain the evidence you need and the compensation you deserve. If you have questions, we provide free preliminary consultations to car accident victims. Schedule yours to obtain the answers you need.
Pedestrian Accidents
Although not as common as car accidents, we consider these the worst. Without the frame of a car, or the seat belt and airbags to protect them, pedestrians often incur serious injuries. From traumatic brain injury to broken bones and internal injuries, nothing is surprising in these cases.
At Joe Durham Jr. P.C., we know how costly and painful treating such injuries can be. That is why we commit heart and soul to our clients. We take over all their case hassles to allow them to focus on their recovery.
Our pedestrian accident lawyers’ mission becomes to obtain the compensation that will allow starting a new life. If you were the victim of a pedestrian accident contact us to find out what we can do for you!
When pedestrians are hit by a motor vehicle the consequences are often severe. Contact Joe Durham Jr., P.C. if you have been injured as a pedestrian.
Bicycle Accidents
Although deemed environment-friendly and health-boosters, bicycles are not necessarily safe. No one knows that better than a bicycle accident lawyer. Bike lanes are not a guaranteed commodity in Albany, and drivers often do not respect bikers in traffic. When accidents occur, the bikers suffer the worst injuries.
We help compensate bike accident injuries. From gathering evidence to negotiating with insurers and going to court, nothing scares us. We want to turn Albany into a place where bicyclists are safe in traffic.
Until that happens, we will make anyone responsible for injuring them pay. Did someone injure you? Let’s get together and see how we can recover your losses!
Uber Accidents
Ridesharing services are supposed to be a safer alternative to driving and cheaper than cabs. We used to agree until the demand for Uber accident lawyer services increased. You may think that a $1 billion insurance policy is easy to access but you would be wrong.
There are too many variables involved. If you were the victim of an accident caused by a rideshare vehicle, don’t go after them yourself. It takes experience, knowledge, and skills to prove the ridesharing company’s liability.
Truck Accidents
These have devastating consequences as well and are often the result of driver fatigue. Other causes are truck overloads, poor vehicle maintenance, and excess speed. While most truck drivers will escape accidents unharmed, this is rarely the case with their victims.
If you have suffered an injury at the hands of a semi-truck driver, you need a truck accident lawyer with experience in FMCSA rules and regulations. You’ll find them at Joe Durham Jr. P.C., ready to evaluate your case for free. Use the contact form or call our office to schedule your case evaluation.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riding a motorcycle can make you feel free and forget about all worries. However, on Dougherty County roads, it can be quite dangerous. Drivers often fail to yield right of way to motorcyclists, with speed and distracted drivers only make things worse.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers understand the pleasure of riding your bike into the sunset. They actually want to help more people to enjoy it. Until then, our motorcycle accident lawyers contribute by helping their clients get the compensation they deserve. We also love teaching those responsible for their injuries a lesson.
Medical Malpractice
When you suffer unforeseen injuries at the hands of a medical professional, you deserve to be compensated for their actions.
Sometimes, the very professionals supposed to protect our health endanger it. Whether they are doctors, nurses, assistants, or hospital managers, their actions should not remain unpunished. At Joe Durham Jr. P.C., we make sure they do not.
If you incurred injuries due to a healthcare professional’s actions, be they intentional or accidental, get in touch with our office today. Our medical malpractice lawyer will help you prove your pain and suffering and get you fair compensation for your losses.
Types of Losses We Recover
Depending on how your injuries occurred, we are able to help you recover any or all of the following losses:
- Property damages
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Lost income capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Speaking of this last type of damage, if your injuries lead to divorce, you should consider contacting a….
Divorce Attorney in Albany, GA
No matter why two spouses may decide to get divorced, they will have two options when it comes to legal procedures:
- Filing for a no-fault divorce. Instead of blaming one another for the failure of their marriage, the spouses invoke an “irretrievable marriage breakdown”.
- Filing for an at-fault divorce. This means the claimant will have to provide and prove the grounds for the divorce.
Common divorce grounds include:
- Adultery
- Cruelty
- Domestic violence
- Alcohol or drugs abuse
- Desertion
- Impotency
- Insanity
- Crime conviction, etc.
Sometimes, the claimant does not succeed to prove the divorce grounds or their spouse puts up a solid defense. In such cases, the marriage is still dissolved, but the divorce becomes a no-fault one. Although no-fault divorces are faster and easier, they involve a waiting period of up to 30 days. The deadline starts flowing on the date when the non-filing spouse receives the divorce papers.
Before finalizing a divorce, Georgia courts will want to make sure there are no chances for reconciliation. For that purpose, they will give the spouses a chance to cool down and reconsider. They may even recommend mediation.
In at-fault divorces, the divorce decree and the evidence that led to it may influence related decisions like:
Child custody
Parents guilty of violence, crime, or addictions will rarely get custody of their children. The court will consider the child’s best interests. Under normal circumstances, this results in shared custody. However, in some cases, the court may relieve the at-fault parent of their rights or prohibiting visitation.
Child custody disputes are often painful, damaging events for everyone involved. Joe Durham Jr., P.C. seeks to find fair and effective resolution for their clients.
Alimony
In some cases, the court will rule for one spouse to help the other support themselves. Payments could continue until the beneficiary can support themselves or they remarry. Sometimes, the spouse claiming alimony proves that their spouse is at fault for the divorce or their precarious financial situation. In such cases, the court may award higher alimony payments.
Assets distribution
When distributing marital assets, the court may favor the filing spouse. This is especially true when the behavior of the at-fault spouse negatively influenced the family’s financial situation.
The best way to prepare for divorce and assess its impact on your future is to consult an Albany divorce lawyer. You will find a competent and dedicated one at Joe Durham Jr. PC. The great news is that getting their opinion will not cost you anything. The first consultation is always free and very easy to schedule.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation!
Does your case resemble any of the cases discussed above? Do you need help finding your way through the complex and sometimes confusing Georgia laws? We are here for you.
At Joe Durham Jr. P.C., you will find more than knowledgeable and experienced Albany personal injury and divorce lawyers! You will find people who understand what you are going through. We will listen to you, answer your questions, and advise you on the steps to take. Contact our office today to speak to an expert Albany personal injury attorney who can provide you with the best representation.
As mentioned above, the first consultation is free, so you can test our services anytime, no strings attached. All you have to do is call (229) 351-5320 or fill in the contact form and provide your case details. Your divorce and personal injury lawyers in Albany, GA, will show you the way to a favorable verdict.