One of the most serious injuries you can suffer in a car accident in Georgia is the loss of one or more limbs. Many car accidents in Georgia result in injuries that eventually heal. However, when you lose an arm or leg, you will never truly heal. The loss of a limb will change your life forever.
There are two ways in which amputation can occur as a result of an accident. Some people lose a limb right when the accident occurs. Others have the limb amputated in the hospital because it is too badly damaged or because doctors need to stop the spread of infection. If you were badly injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to know how you can claim compensation.
Proving Liability Following a Car Accident in Georgia
To make a claim for any type of injury, you need to prove that someone else was at fault. If someone breached their duty of care towards you and it resulted in injury, you can claim compensation for damages. It doesn’t matter whether they intended to harm you or not.
To file a claim, you need to prove that:
- The other person was negligent
- Their negligence led to the accident and the amputation of your limb(s)
- Your damages are a direct result of their negligence
You’ll need to present evidence to support every aspect of your claim.
Typical Damages Resulting from Amputation
The loss of a limb is considered a catastrophic injury since it has a permanent effect on the victim’s life. Often, victims of a car accident in Georgia need long-term or lifelong treatment and rehabilitation, all of which come at a cost. Trying to recover while managing the expenses associated with a new way of life is very difficult to handle. That’s why you need to do everything you can to ensure the at-fault party compensates you. Damages vary from victim to victim but generally, a lawyer for any car accident in Georgia can help you to recover compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehab, physical or occupational therapy expenses
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
Medical costs will make up a large portion of your claim, but those bills aren’t all you’ll have to deal with. If you lose a limb, you’ll have to learn how to function without the arm or leg and how to do everyday tasks again. Depending on the work you previously did, you may not be able to return to your job. You may have to go into a new line of work or even concede that you can no longer work again.
You’re also likely to suffer from mental health challenges because of the sudden changes in your life. Knowing that you’ve been harmed through no fault of your own can be a lot to handle. You deserve to be compensated for all of this even though there’s no obvious monetary value attached to emotional harm. You’ll need to work an experienced attorney who will take all your losses into account and build a strong case on your behalf.
Gathering Evidence to Support Your Claim After an Accident in Georgia
Given the severity of your injuries, you may not have been able to do much at the scene. However, you should make sure that you attend all your doctor’s appointments, follow the treatment plan, and keep all the relevant documentation. You’ll need to keep track of all the medical bills, receipts, and other paperwork relating to your injuries.
It’s also a good idea to keep a diary in which you record how your injuries are affecting you physically and emotionally after your car accident in Georgia. This will help to ensure you get the care you need and the compensation you deserve. Your attorney will assist you in gathering and presenting any other evidence that would help your case.
You can be certain that the other driver’s insurer will try to deny liability or pay you a much smaller settlement than is fair. However, your lawyer will be prepared for their tactics and they’ll know how to respond. Victims who are unrepresented often don’t get fair compensation since they don’t have the knowledge or emotional energy to fight with an insurance company. There’s no need to try to settle the matter alone when an attorney can help you during this very difficult time. You deserve fair compensation for your car accident in Georgia, after all.
Contact Joe Durham P.C. for Help with Your Claim
Our Georgia car accident attorneys know how distressing it can be for crash victims to lose a limb. That’s why we work so hard to get them the compensation they need. Call us to schedule a consultation and learn about how we can help you. Your first case review is free.