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Smyrna Personal Injury Lawyers

Are You in Need of a Personal Injury Attorney in Smyrna, Georgia?

You could be facing mounting bills after an accident in Smyrna, but you don't have to accept the first offer you get from the insurance company. Butler Prather LLP will file a claim that reflects the true cost of your injuries.

Why Choose Us Over Other Smyrna Personal Injury Lawyers?

Butler Prather LLP gets justice for accident victims in Smyrna. In fact, we've been helping people get the money they need to start putting their lives back together for over 30 years.

Butler Prather LLP | Smyrna Personal Injury Law Firm

We've successfully represented clients in more than 30 states across the country.
We've won ten 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 at (706) 322-1990 for more information about how our law firm can help with your personal injury case.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

To file a successful personal injury claim, you'll need to prove that another person's negligent or wrongful actions caused your injuries. You'll also have to establish that you're suffering damages as a direct result of the accident. This could include medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses caused by the accident.

During your free consultation with Butler Prather LLP, one of our Smyrna personal injury lawyers attorneys will tell you if you have a viable case.

What Types of Compensation Can You Recover for a Personal Injury Case?

Damages in Smyrna personal injury cases is monetary compensation awarded to an accident victim. These damages serve to restore the injured party to their pre-incident condition as much as possible. Economic damages cover financial losses, and non-economic damages address physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Medical bills are a significant component of economic damages in personal injury claims. These expenses cover a wide array of services, from emergency room visits and surgeries to ongoing treatments and rehabilitation.

In addition to treatment costs, medical devices like wheelchairs, prosthetics, or other assistive technologies can also be part of a personal injury claim. Catastrophic injuries that cause physical disabilities may necessitate home modifications to accommodate new physical limitations. These alterations could include installing wheelchair ramps, modifying bathrooms, or adjusting kitchen layouts to improve accessibility.

Lost wages reflect the income an accident victim misses due to their inability to work after being injured. These damages can also cover diminished earning capacity if you're unable to continue working.

Pain and suffering represent a key component of non-economic damages in personal injury cases, encompassing the physical and emotional distress caused by an injury. This can include chronic pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, and the overall loss of enjoyment in daily activities.

Damages for reduced quality of life may be available if your injuries affect your ability to engage in routine activities, hobbies, and relationships, fundamentally altering your day-to-day experience. For instance, an accident victim who was previously active may face limitations that prevent them from enjoying sports or social activities, leading to isolation or depression.

Common Types of Injuries in Personal Injury Claims

Butler Prather LLP assists personal injury clients who have suffered various types of injuries, including:

Paralysis
Internal injuries
Back injuries
Broken bones
Amputation
Severe burns
Nerve damage
Crush injuries
Soft tissue injuries
Whiplash
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

How One of Our Smyrna Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Butler Prather LLP will take care of the legal issues and guide you through the personal injury process. We'll see to it that the necessary paperwork is filed correctly, and we also handle communications with insurance companies and opposing lawyers.

Our personal injury attorneys will evaluate the true value of your claim and seek maximum compensation from anyone whose negligence contributed to your injuries. In many cases, more than one party may share liability. For example, you may have been injured by a speeding trucker, but the trucking company may have failed to find out if their employee had a safe driving record before the driver was hired.

Liable parties in Smyrna personal injury claims or lawsuits may include:

Negligent drivers
DUI drivers
Landlords
Business owners
Property owners
Employees and supervisors
Trucking and delivery companies
Manufacturers of defective vehicles and other unsafe products

Don't Wait | The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits in Georgia

The statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit on when you can file a personal injury lawsuit. In Georgia, this period is typically two years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you could lose your right to seek compensation altogether.

Contact Butler Prather LLP at (706) 322-1990 to avoid missing important filing deadlines.

Our Personal Injury Case Process

Butler Prather LLP provides the following services for personal injury victims:

Scheduling Your Free Consultation

This meeting gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your case and the personal injury process. You can get to know us better and decide Butler Prather LLP is the right law firm for you. A free consultation sets the foundation for a successful client-attorney relationship.

Collecting Evidence

Butler Prather LLP will collect evidence, such as dashcam footage that captures real-time details of the incident and surveillance videos that may be available from nearby businesses or public areas.

Accident scene photos offer important evidence, including hazardous conditions that led to an injury or vehicle damage and skid marks that provide an indication of how fast vehicles were traveling when a collision occurred.

Medical records provide a detailed account of your injuries, including diagnoses, procedures, and ongoing care needs, forming a basis for compensation claims. Professional testimony can help explain how an accident occurred or provide information about the severity of your injuries.

Police reports provide an official account of the event, such as accident details, witness statements, citations issued, and the officer's initial assessment of fault.

Incident reports may be filed by businesses or property owners, outlining the circumstances of an injury. These can be useful in premises liability cases.

Notifying Liable Parties

As soon as our investigation is complete, Butler Prather LLP will send demand letters to all liable parties. This is a formal document outlining your claim and the compensation you seek.

Negotiating Settlement Offers

Insurance companies will often begin the negotiation process by making a lowball offer that doesn't come close to covering the actual cost of your injuries. Butler Prather LLP will counter with a well-argued claim based on solid evidence. We'll continue to negotiate as long as the other side is acting in good faith, but we won't hesitate to take your case to trial if they refuse to accept liability for their client's behavior or if they aren't willing to make a reasonable personal injury settlement offer.

Preparing for Trial

Butler Prather LLP will gather evidence, prepare witnesses, and develop a compelling narrative. We'll also develop courtroom strategies outlining key arguments and anticipating counterarguments as we seek compensation for your injuries in front of a judge or jury.

Understanding Negligence in a Personal Injury Case

Negligence refers to the failure to exercise reasonable care, leading to harm or injury to another person. In a personal injury case, proving negligence is essential for securing compensation.

Butler Prather LLP assists clients in securing compensation for many types of personal injury claims. Some of the cases we handle most often include:

Motor vehicle accidents often result from a variety of preventable behaviors. Speeding remains a leading cause, as it reduces reaction time and increases the severity of collisions. Distracted driving, particularly due to mobile phone use, is another major factor that diverts attention from the road. Tailgating can lead to rear-end accidents, especially in heavy traffic. Unpredictable lane changes create an unexpected hazard for other drivers. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) significantly impairs key driving skills, including judgment, depth perception, and reaction time. This poses severe risks to everyone on the road. When drivers fail to obey traffic signals, such as running red lights, it can result in collisions.
Premises liability refers to the responsibility of property owners to maintain a safe environment for visitors, residents, and employees. When this duty is neglected, accidents like slip-and-falls can occur. These incidents happen due to hazards like wet floors, loose handrails, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting.
Product liability. Manufacturers must make sure that their products are safe when used as directed. They're also required to provide adequate warning labels to prevent injuries. Vehicle defects can significantly compromise safety, leading to accidents and injuries. Butler Prather LLP is one of the most prominent automobile defect law firms in the nation, and we've won landmark verdicts against major automakers.
Truck accidents. Collisions involving semi-trucks are often severe due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved. A frequent factor in these accidents is driver fatigue resulting from long hours on the road, which can impair reaction times and decision-making. Violations of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, which dictate how long a driver can operate without rest, are frequently cited in such cases. Negligent hiring practices, such as employing drivers without adequate training or a poor driving record, also contribute to accidents.
Motorcycle accidents. Unlike cars, motorcycles offer little protection, making riders more susceptible to severe injuries. A major cause of these accidents is the failure of drivers to look out for motorcycles. This often results in collisions at intersections or during a lane change.

Some of Our Case Results

Commercial Vehicle / Personal Injury

Kayla Kummala and Madison Fortier v. Downey Trees, Inc. and Jeremy Ryan Stephens. On July 14, 2015, Ms. Kummala was the driver, and Ms. Fortier was the backseat passenger of a car stopped at a red light in Forsyth County. A Downey Trees employee, driving a Downey Trees truck, failed to stop at the red light and hit the back of Ms. Kummala's car, going 67 miles per hour. Ms. Kummala suffered a serious brain injury and spent four days in the intensive care unit. Ms. Fortier was also knocked unconscious and suffered severe physical injuries, including the partial amputation of her thumb and multiple facial fractures. Ms. Fortier underwent three surgeries and spent two weeks in Grady Hospital. The striking driver had an extensive bad driving record and was hired in violation of Downey Trees' company policies. The case settled just prior to trial, with Ms. Kummala and Ms. Fortier recovering the remaining policy limits of Downey Trees' primary and umbrella insurance policies.

Car Accident

In the case of Sistrunk v. Peachtree Pest Control and Freddie May in the State Court of DeKalb County, Georgia, a 52-year-old electrician sustained injuries from a road accident, including a broken ankle and left wrist that necessitated plates and screws, incurring $40,000 in medical expenses. The employer contested the case based on the scope of employment, but the jury found both the employee and employer liable. The verdict awarded the electrician $900,000 for pain and suffering and $25,000 for loss of consortium, despite the last settlement offer being $100,000.

What Our Clients Have to Say About Us

"A Highly Professional Organization, Competent and Extremely Loyal" - 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 [staff] of professionals. And they all come to work for you; my wife and I called it "Total Coverage," from start to finish, your [lawyer] is hard at work to win your case for you! A very satisfied client!

"Thorough, Available, and Compassionate" - Kathy Thrasher (5-Star Google Review)

Mr. Jim Butler and his colleagues worked diligently on my behalf. Their ability to navigate our situation gave me and my family peace of mind that our case was in competent hands. Everyone was thorough, available, and compassionate as they guided and assisted me through this difficult time.

Other Locations We Serve in Georgia

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 Smyrna personal injury case.

Personal Injury FAQs

What should I do after an accident occurs?

See your doctor right away and make sure to report all your symptoms. Then contact Butler Prather LLP at (706) 322-1990. We'll handle all your legal matters, including negotiations with the insurance company.

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury attorney in Georgia?

It's absolutely free to sign on with Butler Prather LLP, and you won't owe us any money unless we win you a settlement.

What documents should I bring to my free consultation with Butler Prather LLP?

Please bring copies of your medical records, the police report or incident report, and letters, emails, or any other communications with insurance companies.

What factors influence the size of a personal injury settlement in Georgia?

Generally, accidents that cause catastrophic injuries result in higher settlement amounts, but it's important to find an experienced personal injury law firm like Butler Prather LLP that knows how to deal with insurance companies.

What if the offender is a large business or corporation?

Butler Prather LLP won't be intimidated by anybody, and we have the resources to see your case through to the end.

I was in a complex premises liability case involving a multinational corporations. Mr. Butler & his associates were 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.”
- Zack Hendon