Practice Description
At Andersen, Tate & Carr, we believe that when a person is hurt by someone’s negligence or error in Lawrenceville, the at-fault party should be held legally responsible for their behaviors. You and your family should not have to suffer financially due to the actions of another. We are here to make sure you get the justice you deserve.
Whether your injuries were the result of medical malpractice, a vehicle collision or a slip and fall, we believe that you deserve to be compensated for your financial losses. Medical bills are expensive and chances are you hadn’t made plans for them. These new financial obligations can quickly turn your life upside down.
The team at ATC Law Firm knows that you and your family are experiencing turmoil. We understand that you are worried and overwhelmed. You are being forced to deal with physical and emotional pain, not to mention financial difficulties. When you are put in this position in Lawrenceville, we are here for you.
We also represent families of people who have been killed in accidents. A wrongful death lawsuit can help ensure that a family doesn’t have to struggle to pay for funeral and burial costs.
Give us a call today at (770)-237-9860 for a free consultation with a Lawrenceville personal injury attorney.
How Can a Lawrenceville Personal Injury Attorney Help?
You have the legal right to file a personal injury lawsuit on your own behalf, but we don’t believe this is always the best idea. An attorney from our team has the experience and knowledge you need on your side to ensure the best outcome in your case. We have built relationships within the local justice community and will use those relationships to your benefit. When you need a personal injury attorney in Lawrenceville, we are who you have been looking for.
We can assist you if your injuries have been caused by someone’s error, negligence or reckless behavior. The person who is responsible for your physical, emotional and financial distress should be held accountable.
You may feel as though you are alone right now. It’s important to know that our team is here for you. We will fight tirelessly to win the damages you are entitled to. Take some time and let us explain your legal rights and options to you so you can make an informed decision about your lawsuit.
The Elements of Personal Injury Cases
When you have been injured by someone else’s actions or negligence, it’s important to speak with a Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. During your free, no-obligation consultation, your attorney will evaluate all of the details of your case, including if your case meets the criteria required to prove negligence.
In order to successfully seek compensation, your lawyer must be able to prove the defendant intentionally injured you, or (much more commonly) acted with negligence. In legal terms, a person acts negligently when they act in a way that a reasonable person wouldn’t in their situation, and therefore causes injury. There are four elements that must be proven to show the defendant acted negligently:
1. Duty of Care
Though everyone has a general duty of care to not cause harm to another person, there are situations in which a specific duty of care is established. For instance, a driver has a specific duty of care toward others on the road, including drivers and pedestrians. Medical professionals who are in charge of providing treatment for a patient have a duty of care toward that specific patient. Manufacturers have a duty of care toward anyone who buys and uses their products.
2. Breach of Duty of Care
When a person doesn’t follow their duty of care, they are said to have breached it. However, not every injury caused by someone else’s actions are considered negligent. Only if they acted in a way that a “reasonably prudent” person wouldn’t have in a similar situation. For instance, if a doctor provides treatment that another reasonable doctor would have, and the patient gets worse, that doctor may not have breached their duty of care. Or, if a consumer uses a product in a way it’s not intended to be used, and they are harmed because of it, the manufacturer may not be liable.
3. Injuries Caused by the Breach of Duty of Care
In order to prove negligence, your Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer must show that you were actually hurt by the defendant’s actions. While this is generally a simple element to prove, it can be tricky at times. For instance, if a car swerves to dodge a bike suddenly entering the road, and that car hits you, it may be tricky figuring out if the driver or bicyclist is at fault. Or, if a medicine causes a side effect that’s never been documented before, it could be difficult to prove the manufacturer acted negligently.
4. Real Damages Caused By the Injuries
Finally, you must be able to prove you have suffered real financial damages because of the injury. This element is almost always the easiest to prove. Medical bills, property damage invoices, out-of-pocket expenses receipts and other documentation can easily prove you have suffered real financial damages.
Important Information About Insurance Companies
After you have been injured by another person in Lawrenceville, there’s a great chance you’ll be sent a settlement offer by an insurance company, either yours or the one that covers the person who injured you. There’s also a great chance that the settlement offer will be much lower than what you deserve — or even need to cover your bills and other losses.
Some insurance companies will include language in the letter that heavily implies your best option is to accept the offer. If you accept their offer, you forfeit your right to seek greater compensation. Insurance companies know this, which is why they push you to accept their initial offer. After all, they are businesses, and profit is their number one priority.
The good news is, you do have options. The moment you receive a settlement offer from the insurance company, it’s important to present it to your Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will evaluate the offer, and help you decide if you want to sue for greater compensation. In some instances, the offer will be close enough to what you’re rightfully owed that filing a lawsuit simply isn’t worth it.
More often than not, however, the settlement offer will be a lot lower than what you deserve. In these instances, your lawyer will try to send a counteroffer and negotiate for greater compensation. If that doesn’t work, a lawsuit will be filed, and your attorney will take the matter to open court. However, at any point during the legal proceedings, the insurance company may offer a new settlement that meets or exceeds your lawyer’s expectations. If you are satisfied with the number offered, the proceedings can end and you receive the compensation you deserve.
Types of Cases ATC Law Firm Handles in Lawrenceville
The team at ATC Law Firm knows that you and your family are experiencing turmoil. We understand that you are worried and overwhelmed. You are being forced to deal with physical and emotional pain, not to mention financial difficulties. When you are put in this position in Lawrenceville, we are here for you.
We represent victims who have been injured as the result of:
- Car Accidents: Whether you’re on East Crogan or zipping on 316, a car accident can lead to devastating injuries and property damage. That could leave you unable to work due to injuries, and unable to get around without a vehicle. Don’t let the insurance company bully you into a low settlement. Let us deal with them on your behalf.
- Trucking Accidents: Though semi trucks are needed to deliver goods throughout Gwinnett County, a collision with one of these behemoths vehicles can lead to terrible — and often fatal — injuries. If you’re involved in a trucking accident, it’s important to hire a team of attorneys who handles these wrecks on a regular basis, since these cases can be complicated.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians are all over the roads, especially in downtown Lawrenceville. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the injuries are often severe. Even a vehicle that’s driving at low speeds can cause fatal injuries against a pedestrian. Unfortunately, fault isn’t always clear in these accidents, which is why you need an experienced lawyer on your side.
- Nursing Home Abuse: Nursing home abuse isn’t just physical. Our older loved ones can also be abused mentally, emotionally and financially. It can be difficult to prove nursing home abuse, since conditions like dementia can cause older people to forget what happened. Our lawyers know the signs to look for and know how to prove abuse happened.
- Medical Malpractice: When a doctor or other medical professional makes a mistake that leads to injury or death, it’s said to be malpractice. Medical malpractice can include surgical mistakes, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, wrong treatment being administered, and more. An experienced attorney can fight the doctor’s insurance company to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
- Slip and Fall: Slip and fall accidents are a type of premises liability case. You can fall in a store, at someone’s house, or on some other type of property owned by someone else. In these cases, a variety of people may be held liable. It’s important that you hire a lawyer who knows how to evaluate your case properly to identify who is responsible for your injuries and take legal action against them.
- Serious Injuries: Serious or catastrophic injuries include brain and spinal cord injuries, physical disfigurement, loss of limb, or other injuries that severely impact your quality of life. Such injuries can rob you of your ability to work, your enjoyment in life, and more. The right lawyer can ensure you get the full compensation you deserve by bringing a lawsuit against the party who caused your injuries.
- Negligent Security: Businesses have a responsibility to provide adequate lighting, cameras, guards and other measures to deter crime from happening on their property. When they don’t and a person is injured due to a criminal act, they may be able to hold the property owner accountable. Our lawyers know what details must be proven in order to get compensation in these kinds of cases.
- Premises Liability: Anyone who owns or manages property has a duty to protect visitors to their property, both legal and (to a lesser degree) illegal. If proper measures aren’t taken, and a visitor is injured, the property owner or manager can be held accountable. However, it takes an experienced lawyer to prove the actions or negligence of the property owner caused the injuries.
- Wrongful Death: Sometimes accidents that involve negligence can result in a death. Nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one unexpectedly, but a wrongful death attorney can help you to relieve the financial burden through.
Lawrencville Personal Injury Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases
Is there anything I can do to help my lawyer during my case?
Yes! The best thing you can do for your lawyer during your case is to tell them everything that happened, even if you remember it later on. You should also provide all the evidence you can, from receipts to invoices to medical bills and doctors’ notes.
On the other hand, you can avoid doing certain things during your case. Don’t post on social media or otherwise discuss your case with anyone. You should also avoid doing anything that contradicts your statement of injuries, such as going for a jog when your leg is supposed to be broken.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In all Georgia personal injury cases, you have two years to file your claim. The clock starts running the moment your injury happens. This includes claims against the State of Georgia or the federal government. However, if your claim is against Lawrenceville or Gwinnett County (or any city or county), you have just 6 months to file a claim.
How much will a lawyer cost me?
When you hire a Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer from Andersen, Tate & Carr, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to paying us. You won’t owe us a dime we win the case on your behalf. If we don’t win your case, you won’t pay anything out of pocket for our services.
Do I have a personal injury case?
In order to decide if you have a personal injury case, consider how you got injured. If the injury was not caused by malicious intent, you have to prove that the defendant acted negligently. This means there was a duty of care established; the defendant breached that duty of care; you suffered an injury because of this breach of duty of care; and you suffered real financial loss because of the incident.
If you’re unsure your injury meets these requirements, our Lawrenceville personal injury lawyers offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you determine if you have a case.
How soon should I call a personal injury lawyer?
As soon as you’ve been injured, you should call a lawyer. If you don’t do it immediately, do it once you have received a settlement offer from the insurance company. The sooner you call a lawyer, the sooner they can get to work on your case. Remember, you have only two years from the time of the injury to take legal action.
In addition, the insurance company will try to bully you into taking a low settlement offer. The moment you accept it, you forfeit your right to seek greater compensation. An experienced Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer can fight against the insurance company to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Speak with a Lawrenceville Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in an accident in Georgia, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Time is of the essence. Call our office at (770) 822-0900 to schedule your case evaluation. If it is more convenient for you, you can reach out to us online using our contact form.
Mikhail Britt, Shumate Mechanical.
Our company was owed a substantial amount of money from a property owner who chose not to fully pay the subcontractors that built his project. I believe our company was one of the few that were paid anything near what they were owed, and I attribute that success entirely to Don.
Ross K.
The first lawyer I met with said my case was worth $3,000 – $6,000. I met with Tyler next, and he eventually recovered $100,000 for my case. Tyler did an outstanding job.
Melinda C.
Tyler represented me after I was injured in a car wreck. Although there wasn’t much damage to my vehicle, my shoulder was hurt and required surgery. I was happy that Tyler recovered a six-figure sum for me.