Albany Personal Injury Lawyers
Are You in Need of a Personal Injury Attorney in Albany, Georgia?
If you're struggling to pay your bills after suffering a personal injury, remember: You don't have to accept the first offer you get from the insurance company. In fact, you may be eligible for compensation even if the insurance company denies your claim. Call Butler Prather LLP to learn more today.
Why Choose Us Over Other Albany Personal Injury Lawyers?
Butler Prather LLP has been representing personal injury victims in Albany for over 30 years, and we won't let anything stand in our way when we're pursuing justice for an accident victim.
Butler Prather LLP | Personal Injury Law Firm
- We've successfully represented clients in more than 30 states across the country.
- We've won nine verdicts over $100 million.
- We've won more than 60 verdicts and settlements over $10 million.
- We've won more than 175 verdicts and settlements over $1 million.
- Our partners are recognized by Super Lawyers based on peer reviews and independent research.
Call Butler Prather LLP to schedule a FREE consultation: (706) 322-1990
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Everyone has a duty of care to avoid actions that may cause reasonably foreseeable harm to others. If the person responsible for your injuries breached their duty of care by running a red light—for example, crossing over into your lane without signaling, failing to provide a warning sign about a wet floor, or committing any other type of negligent behavior—you have the right to seek compensation to cover the cost of your medical bill and other expenses.
When you sit down for your free consultation with Butler Prather LLP, we'll explore your options for moving forward with your case.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?
Economic damages cover expenses that result from an accident. Calculating these damages requires detailed documentation and evidence of costs, underscoring the importance of thorough record-keeping in building a strong personal injury case in Albany. Some examples of this type of damages include:
- Medical expenses are a major component of economic damages in an Albany personal injury claim. This encompasses all healthcare-related expenses incurred due to the injury, including immediate costs such as ambulance rides and emergency room visits, as well as ongoing expenses like surgeries, hospital stays, and rehabilitative therapies.
- Medical devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, electric scooters, and adjustable beds also fall under the category of economic damages. Home modifications, like wheelchair ramps or widening doorways, may also be considered if they are necessary for the patient's mobility.
- Economic damages extend beyond medical costs to cover financial losses such as lost wages. If the injury affects your ability to work, you may be compensated for both past and future income loss.
Noneconomic damages address the intangible effects of an injury, which are often more challenging to quantify, but they are equally important. Filing a claim for noneconomic damages require a nuanced approach. Various methods, such as the multiplier method, are used to quantify these intangible losses. This involves multiplying the total economic damages by a specific number that reflects the injury's severity. Some examples of this include:
- These damages may cover pain and suffering, reflecting the physical discomfort and emotional anguish experienced due to the injury.
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), also falls under the category of noneconomic damages. Proving these damages involves evaluating the impact of the accident on the individual's mental health and well-being.
- When assessing noneconomic damages, it's important to consider the reduction in the accident victim's quality of life. This includes limitations on daily activities, hobbies, and personal enjoyment, as well as the strain on personal relationships. Input from medical professionals and personal testimonies can help to illustrate the full extent of these damages.
Calculating total damages in an Albany personal injury case involves combining both economic and noneconomic damages to arrive at a comprehensive compensation figure. Economic damages are straightforward, relying on actual financial losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. These damages can be determined through documentation like invoices, pay stubs, and receipts.
How an Albany Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
At Butler Prather LLP, our first step is to gather and organize evidence. This process involves collecting official documents, such as police reports and medical records. We'll also review the incident report if the accident occurred at a business such as a supermarket or apartment complex. We also obtain visual evidence from available sources, such as dash cams, surveillance cameras, and photographs of the accident scene, to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Interviewing witnesses is another important part of the investigation. These firsthand accounts of the event that caused your injuries can be used to bolster your claim. Butler Prather LLP will often call upon professional witnesses to provide specialized insights that can clarify technical aspects of the case. Our meticulous approach to gathering evidence equips us with the necessary tools to negotiate effectively with insurance companies or present a compelling case in court.
The next step is filing a claim against the negligent party and negotiating with their insurance carrier. Insurance companies often aim to minimize settlement amounts, making lowball offers that don't come close to covering your damages. The experienced litigators at Butler Prather LLP are fully aware of these tactics, and we know how to counter them effectively.
If the insurance company refuses to offer an adequate settlement, we're always prepared to take your case to trial. Throughout the legal process, our attorneys remain in contact with our clients to keep you informed of the progress we're making.
Don't Wait | The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in Georgia
The statute of limitations sets a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In Georgia, this period is typically two years from the date of the accident. Missing this cutoff point can result in losing your right to seek compensation. Butler Prather LLP will make sure that all of your court documents are filed on time.
Understanding Negligence in an Albany Personal Injury Case
Regarding negligence, there are different factors to consider based on the type of accident and injury sustained. For example, motor vehicle accidents frequently occur due to negligence, where a driver's failure to uphold the duty of care results in harm to others. However, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs can also contribute to motor vehicle accidents because it severely diminishes essential driving skills such as coordination, depth perception, reflexes, and judgment.
Meanwhile, common types of negligence referred to in car accident claims include speeding, tailgating, and unsafe lane changes, all of which increase the risk of collisions. Failure to obey traffic signals, such as running red lights or ignoring stop signs, also poses significant hazards for everyone who uses the road. On a similar note, distracted driving, often due to mobile phone use, impairs reaction times and decision-making.
Negligent drivers who fail to look out for motorcycles and drivers who violate traffic are a major cause of motorcycle accidents. Motorcycles don't provide the same level of protection as cars and other motor vehicles that have safety features like seat belts and reinforced cabins, and this makes motorcycle riders much more vulnerable to catastrophic injuries when an accident occurs.
On the other hand, determining negligence after a truck accident case can be complicated. Identifying all liable parties is crucial, as it ensures that victims can pursue the full extent of compensation available for their injuries. The truck driver is usually liable, but their employer may also bear liability. For example, if the accident was caused by fatigued driving, the driver may be negligent for violating federal hours of service (HOS) regulations that require truck drivers to take regular breaks. The trucking company may also bear responsibility if negligent hiring practices or inadequate training contributed to the accident.
Identifying hazardous conditions is central to building a compelling slip-and-fall injury case. Property owners are required to maintain safe premises by addressing wet floors, loose or broken handrails, uneven walking surfaces, and other hazards. Inadequate lighting, which obscures potential dangers, also contributes to slip-and-fall accidents.
Some of Our Personal Injury Case Results
Semi-Truck Accident - $3,285,000
Angela Burns v. JB Trucking, Inc. and Grange Indemnity Insurance Company, State Court of Rockdale County, Georgia. Mrs. Burns, a U.S. Army veteran, was seriously injured when her car was T-boned by a large box truck running a red light. The striking driver was fatigued and unqualified to be driving the commercial motor vehicle. The interstate motor carrier that employed the striking driver was aware of his lack of qualifications and poor driving history, and that he had been driving for the motor carrier immediately after working through the night at another job.
Mrs. Burns suffered memory loss and other injuries as a result of the collision. The firm defeated a summary judgment motion by Defendants attempting to limit the extent of their insurance coverage to an amount well below the statutory minimum. The trial lasted less than two days, and the verdict consisted of $1,750,000 in compensatory damages, $1,500,000 in punitive damages (ultimately reduced to $250,000 by the judge per the statutory cap), and $35,000 in expenses of litigation.
Product Liability - $600,000.00
Anderson v. Pack West Machinery, Inc., Superior Court of Henry County, Georgia. Loss of eye from caustic soda burn caused by defective packaging equipment; failure to guard or to warn.
What People Have to Say About Us
"Always Three Steps Ahead" - Zack Hendon (5-Star Google Review)
I associated with Brandon Peak and his team at Butler Prather LLP to help me bring justice to two boys whose father was killed in a terrible accident. This was a complex premises liability case involving a multinational corporation. Butler Prather LLP was always three steps ahead of these defendants. When they say they are "exceptional trial lawyers," this is not just a slogan, but it is a way of life.
"Highly Professional Organization" - Roy Burns (5-Star Google Review)
My wife was involved in a terrible wreck, hit by a large truck that ran a RED LIGHT! One of my brothers told me about this law firm, Butler Prather LLP! After praying to God to help my wife recover from this wreck, the second best thing was calling [Butler Prather LLP]. This firm operates as a highly professional organization, competent and extremely loyal to its clients. When you are assigned an attorney to work your case, you also meet a team of professionals. And they all come to work for you; my wife and I called it "Total Coverage," from start to finish, your team is hard at work [...] to win your case for you! A very satisfied client!
"Impressive Record of Verdicts" - Center for Auto Safety (5-Star Google Review)
Butler Prather LLP has stood at the forefront of the fight for auto safety for decades. No law firm has fought harder or more effectively for its clients. Through its impressive record of verdicts and its equally impressive advocacy behind the scenes, there is nobody better than Butler Prather LLP.
Let Butler Prather LLP Help You Today!
Contact our Georgia law firm at (706) 322-1990 for highly responsive and trustworthy legal guidance on your personal injury or wrongful death case in Albany.
Other Locations We Serve in Georgia
Schedule Your FREE Case Review | Call (706) 322-1990
Personal Injury FAQs
What documents should I bring to my free consultation with Butler Prather LLP?
You'll want to bring along a copy of your medical records, the police or incident report, and any communication you've had with the insurance company.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury attorney in Georgia?
It's free. Butler Prather LLP won't charge you anything unless we win you a settlement.
What should I do after an accident occurs?
Call 911 for emergency assistance, and make sure to visit your doctor right away. You can use your cell phone to collect pictures of the accident scene if you feel up to it. Call Butler Prather LLP at (706) 322-1990 right away, and don't sign any agreements with the insurance company or make statements about the accident unless your lawyer is present.
What factors influence the size of a personal injury settlement in Georgia?
Generally, accident victims who suffer catastrophic injuries requiring extensive medical treatment receive higher settlements. Having an experienced Albany personal injury lawyer like Butler Prather LLP by your side can also make a big difference.
What if the offender is a large business or corporation?
Butler Prather LLP won't be intimidated by anybody, and we've won landmark cases against major automakers and other powerful interests.