In order to win your injury case in Georgia you must show that there was a duty owed to you by another person or entity, that the duty was breached, and that the breach of the duty caused your injury. If you end up in a court of law in your injury case, then the burden of proof is on the injured party (i.e. the Plaintiff) to show by a preponderance of the evidence that it was more likely than not that the actions of the Defendant caused the Injury to the Plaintiff.
Of course, Injury cases are much more complicated than this as each case has its own facts and circumstances and there are multiple variations that will effect the outcome of any one particular case. There are, however, some Important Rules to Follow if you want to Win Your Injury Case in Georgia.
First, one of the most common mistakes that people make is that they don’t seek proper and immediate medical treatment. It is imperative that when you are injured that you do not delay medical treatment and that you seek the proper treatment. There may be legitimate reasons that a person does not seek medical treatment such as lack of knowledge of where to get proper treatment, lack of insurance or other resources to seek treatment, the assumption that you aren’t hurt very badly or that you will get better, not worse, without medical treatment.
Regardless of the reasons for not seeking medical treatment, not seeking medical treatment immediately following an accident or injury will diminish the value of your case. Therefore, it is imperative that you seek medical treatment by a qualified physician immediately following an accident or injury, and follow up with any and all treatments that are recommended by the doctor.
When you do seek medical treatment, there are some important things to remember such as:
1.) Being honest with the doctor;
2.) Explaining all your pain and do not minimize what you are feeling or if you are hurting;
3.) Ask for clarification if you don’t understand something or are unclear about follow up treatments,;
4.) Advise the doctor of any and all medications that you are currently taking, and any medical conditions from which you suffer;
5.) Get a doctor’s note to release you from work if needed and take time to heal if that is advised as you don’t want to irritate your condition;
6.) Schedule any and all follow up tests that are recommended and follow through with all treatment plans as advised by your doctor; and
7.) If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask and make sure that you are clear about what your injuries are, and what you need to do to get well.
Not only will these steps help your legal case, these steps will give you the best chance of recovering from your injuries and, ultimately, that is what you need is the best chance to get well again.
Second, do not sabotage your case by taking an immediate settlement from any insurance company. The insurance companies are out to protect their interests and make money. One way insurance companies make money is to pay as little as possible on insurance claims. The insurance adjuster may seem friendly and helpful but don’t be fooled. The insurance company will try to get out of your case by paying you as little as possible and as soon as possible before you are even well again.
At Julie A. Rice, Attorney at Law, & Affiliates, we are experts at representing people who are injured so please feel free to Contact Us following your injury or accident for your free legal consultation. We are here to assist you and insure that you receive the most amount of compensation that you deserve under Georgia Law.