Average Personal Injury Settlement in Georgia [2024 Updated]

Accidents happen all the time. Sometimes, they happen out of nowhere. Other times, they are caused by negligence. People whose mistakes can sometimes cause irreparable harm to others. That’s where personal injury suits come into play. Personal injury suits happen when negligent people cause harm to others, intentional or otherwise. If you have been involved in an accident, reach out to a personal injury attorney in Marietta, Georgia.

How to Build a Personal Injury Case

Following whatever accident you were involved in, you may have suffered a number of injuries. Regardless of whether these injuries were manageable or catastrophic, you may still wish to pursue a personal injury case against the parties responsible for the accident. That’s where an experienced attorney comes in. You need to start building your case as soon as possible, as Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations regarding legal action in personal injury cases. Here are some steps you can take to start building your case:

1. Seek medical attention: The very first thing you should do when you have been involved in an accident is to get yourself looked at by a medical professional. Even if you don’t think you are injured, getting a professional’s opinion can prevent an unseen injury from getting worse. Additionally, you will need to document your medical expenses for the future.
2. Get legal help: Once you have established the severity of your injuries, you should reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can guide you through the rest of the process and provide sound legal advice along the way. Navigating it alone can get overwhelming really fast. It is better to have someone on your side who understands personal injury law and can work through it quickly.
3. Gather evidence: Now, you should start gathering the necessary evidence you will need to prove your claim. This includes taking photos of the accident and surrounding area, gathering witness statements, getting a copy of the police report, and anything else that supports your claim. You should also keep copies of any expenses you have accrued due to the accident, like vehicle repair receipts, medical bills, and anything you can think of.
4. Contact insurance: You will need to inform your insurance company of the accident, though your attorney can contact them on your behalf. Your own insurance may cover a portion of the damage you are seeking from the at-fault driver’s insurance in the claim.
5. File a claim: Have your injury lawyer file an insurance claim on your behalf. They will present a full account of your damages, economic and noneconomic, to the insurance company, as well as all the evidence you have gathered thus far.
6. Demand compensation: Work together with your attorney to draft a demand letter that you will send to the at-fault driver’s insurance company specifying the exact amount you are seeking in damages and why. They likely will not accept your offer, as insurance companies want to pay as little as possible in personal injury cases. Never accept an offer without consulting your attorney first.
7. Negotiate: Now, your lawyer and the insurance company’s lawyers can negotiate a settlement amongst themselves. An overwhelming amount of personal injury claims are settled out of court. However, if the insurance company continues to refuse your offer and does not offer a reasonable settlement amount of its own, it will likely go to trial.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Average Personal Injury Settlement in Georgia?

A: Every personal injury case is different, so agreeing on an average settlement is somewhat difficult. Every settlement takes into account the severity of your injuries, the property damage, the insurance investigation, pain and suffering, and many other factors specific to your case. The average settlement amount ranges between $3,000 and $75,000, depending on relevant factors. If your injuries are quite severe, that number can jump to around $200,000 potentially.

Q: What Is the Usual Result of a Settlement?

A: Every single personal injury settlement is different. The severity of the injury, the emotional distress, and the property damage are all taken into account. Of the cases that win in court, a judge is likely to grant more compensation than a jury. When facing a potential public lawsuit, insurance companies are more than likely willing to settle quietly out of court by providing you with an appropriate amount of compensation. Don’t worry about what could be. Focus on what is.

Q: Do You Have to Pay Taxes on a Personal Injury Settlement in Georgia?

A: In Georgia, most of the time, you do not have to pay taxes on personal injury settlements. In very rare exceptions, if you do owe taxes on a settlement, you will not owe it on the entire settlement, just a small part of it. Your lawyer can help you discover if you do owe any taxes on your settlement money, which is not considered a gain by the IRS. It is considered compensation for a loss.

Q: How Is the Settlement Amount Calculated?

A: Personal injury settlements in Georgia are calculated in a few different ways. One such way is the multiplier formula, which insurance companies can use to try and calculate what they feel you are owed. They take your economic damages and multiply them to value your non-economic damages, resulting in a number they feel reflects fair compensation. You may disagree. In total, your degree of fault, the severity of your injuries, and any economic or non-economic damages you have are all considered in the final settlement total.

Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

At Barnes Law Group, we know what kind of help you need. We can guide you through the process of a personal injury suit and ensure you are not taken advantage of by insurance companies seeking to discredit you. We can help you achieve some semblance of peace of mind as you deal with a potentially stressful situation. Contact us as soon as you can to schedule a consultation. We are ready to help you.