Valdosta Personal Injury Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger

Were you in a car accident? Slipped and fell on someone else’s property? Suffered medical complications because of improper health care? If you’ve been hurt and someone else is to blame, you have the right to demand they compensate you accordingly. The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger want to help you demand every cent you deserve, and we’re ready to start work on your case without any upfront cost to you.

Our founding attorneys built our firm on the principles of commitment, service, and dedication to our clients. We know how much depends on the successful resolution of your case, and we want to honor the trust you’ve placed in us. That’s why we will never treat you like just another case number. Instead, we will get to know you and your concerns, so we can put them at the center of every decision we make regarding your lawsuit.

If you’ve been injured in Valdosta or Southern Georgia and someone else is to blame, you know where to turn for the help you need to pick up the pieces. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger today for a free consultation with a Valdosta personal injury attorney.

Common Personal Injury Cases in Valdosta, GA

At Paul Knopf Bigger, our attorneys and staff vigorously advocate for the rights and interests of clients who have suffered harm from:

Typical Injuries in Personal Injury Accidents

Our personal injury law firm assists clients through the recovery process for accident injuries such as:

Our firm also represents families in wrongful death actions, after losing loved ones in fatal accidents caused by other parties’ negligence or wrongful acts.

How to Tell if You Have a Personal Injury Claim

In the aftermath of a sudden injury, you may wonder if you are eligible to bring a compensation claim. But how do you know if you have a case? In the simplest terms, you probably do if you were hurt and would not have been but for someone else’s actions or inaction. Would you have been in that car accident if the other driver had signaled their turn? Would the dog have bitten you if its owner had kept it on a leash? If the answer in your particular case is no, then you likely have a claim.

But rather than make assumptions, you should discuss what happened with a Valdosta personal injury lawyer. Most attorneys — including those at Paul Knopf Bigger — offer free consultations and charge no upfront costs to begin working on your case. That way, you can find out if you have a viable case without worrying about expense or obligation.

What Must Be Proven in a Personal Injury Claim?

Winning a personal injury claim requires showing that another party caused your injuries due to their negligence, recklessness, or willful/intentional acts.

In a negligence claim, you must prove that the party at fault for your injuries owed you a duty of care and breached that duty through their actions or misconduct. You must also show that the other party’s conduct caused you to suffer injuries.

On the other hand, a recklessness claim requires you to prove that the party responsible for the accident and your injuries consciously disregarded the substantial risk that their conduct would lead to severe injuries. In the case of willful acts, you must show that they acted with the intent to cause harm.

Establishing another party’s fault for your injuries requires substantial evidence to support your claim. Depending on the circumstances, that might include any of the following:

Damages You Could Recover in a Valdosta, GA Personal Injury Case

The goal of your personal injury case is to recover compensation for the harm you would not have suffered but for the at-fault party’s behavior. Depending on the circumstances, that could include money for:

• Your medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, pain management, and physical/occupational therapy
• Costs of long-term care you need for ongoing or permanent disabilities, including home health services, personal assistance/housekeeping, and medical/mobility equipment
• Lost wages/income from missed work or reduced earning capacity due to injuries and medical restrictions
• Lost future earnings and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from your job or other work
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality and enjoyment of life because of disabilities or scarring/disfigurement that interferes with your daily life
• Loss of consortium if your spouse or child was injured
• Property damage

Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for the Accident?

Under Georgia law, you may still have the right to recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident that led to your injuries. Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence rule in injury cases, which means you can still recover compensation as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for your injuries. However, you are barred from compensation if you are found to be 50 percent or more to blame.

Furthermore, the comparative negligence rule can reduce your financial recovery in proportion to the share of blame you bear for the accident. So, for example, if a court finds you 20 percent at fault for an accident, the most you can recover is 80 percent of the value of your claim.

Because the comparative negligence rule may limit or eliminate your ability to recover compensation for accident injuries, it’s crucial to get the help of a Valdosta personal injury attorney. At Paul Knopf Bigger, we know how to push back against insurance companies’ attempts to place the blame on our clients, and we’re committed to recovering the maximum compensation possible.

How Long Does a Common Personal Injury Lawsuit Last?

A personal injury lawsuit can take as little as a few months or as long as a few years to resolve. Various factors will affect the timeline of your case, such as:

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Valdosta, GA?

The Georgia statute of limitations for personal injury claims gives you two years to file a lawsuit after getting hurt in an accident in Valdosta. You may, however, have a longer time to file a claim under limited circumstances.

But if you file your complaint after the limitations period expires on your personal injury claim, the court could dismiss your case, and you may lose your right to pursue financial recovery from those responsible for your injuries and losses.

Why You Need to Get Started Immediately on a Personal Injury Claim

Although the statute of limitations gives you two years to file your personal injury lawsuit, it’s important to talk to a personal injury lawyer in Valdosta from Paul Knopf Bigger immediately. The sooner you do so, the better your chances of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.

A quick start will allow your attorney to obtain all available evidence from the accident before scenes get cleaned up or repaired, records get lost or deleted, and witnesses’ memories of the incident fade. The more evidence your attorney has to work with, the stronger the case they can build on your behalf.

How a Valdosta Personal Injury Attorney Handles Your Case

The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger can help you recover from an accident by allowing you to focus on treating and rehabbing your injuries. While you concentrate on healing and getting back to everyday life, let our firm pursue your claim by:

• Recovering all available evidence from the accident
• Identifying the party or parties you can hold responsible for your injuries and losses
• Gathering your medical records and other documentation of your expenses to calculate the compensation you’re entitled to recover
• Filing your insurance and legal claims and dealing with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys on your behalf
• Pursuing full financial recovery for you through a negotiated settlement or by advocating your case in court, if necessary

Contact a Valdosta, GA, Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you were hurt in an accident in Valdosta, you need experienced legal representation to demand accountability and compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger today for a free, no-obligation consultation to speak with our personal injury attorneys in Valdosta about your legal options for seeking financial recovery.