Personal injury is the wrongful injury of one person caused by the fault of another. Fatal injuries may justify a wrongful death lawsuit. Claims may also be filed for those who have been injured and are recovering. A Clayton County personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Shane Smith can aggressively advocate for personal injury victims.
We represent victims of many types of negligent behavior, including:
- Auto accidents: According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) there are approximately 6 million auto accidents in the United States and over 40,000 people are killed in auto accidents each year. Many more are seriously injured in these accidents.
- Truck accidents: There are over 5,000 fatalities and more than 150,000 injuries each year as a result of truck accidents according to IIHS data. Tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers are involved in fatal crashes at twice the rate of passenger vehicles. More than 80 percent of the fatalities from truck accidents are drivers or passengers in vehicles struck by trucks.
- Pedestrian accidents: According to the United States Department of Transportation data an average of over 60,000 pedestrians are injured in the United States each year. Most accidents involving pedestrians are due to the negligence of an automobile or bicyclist.
- Premises liability: Georgia law requires commercial and private property owners to maintain safe properties for people who are legally on the premises. Premises liability claims may hold these property owners or managers liable when someone is injured due to hazardous, unsafe or dangerous conditions.
- Wrongful death: Georgia law has defined wrongful death as a loss of life caused by the negligence of another person. Damages include medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages (and future wages), the victim's pain and suffering between the time of the accident and his time of death and punitive damages against the offender.
- DUI victims: Over 28 percent of fatal accidents in Georgia in 2008 were alcohol-related according to the National Highway Safety Administration. In a continuing effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by impaired and distracted drivers, government agencies have increased awareness programs instead of passing laws or increasing penalties that target drunk and drugged driving.
- Traumatic brain injuries: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.4 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year in the United States. The Brain Injury Association of Georgia lists TBI as the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults.
An experienced Clayton County personal injury attorney will pursue a case to get fair compensation for the victim. Call the Law Office of Shane Smith at (980) 246-2656 to schedule a free legal consultation.