Georgia attorney determined to get you financial relief

If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can analyze the circumstances and accurately assess what type of financial recovery is possible. My Augusta firm, Jeffrey S. Bowman, provides sound counsel to accident victims and then vigorously pursues compensation from the people or organizations at fault. Whether your injury was the result of a car crash, a fall on a supermarket floor, a mishap at a work site or a medical provider’s mistake, I will explain your options and strive to deliver a successful outcome regardless of any obstacles or adversity.

How do you file a personal injury claim?

Seeking compensation for an injury usually begins with filing a personal injury claim against an insurance company. Depending on the incident that caused the injury, you may seek compensation from your own auto insurance or health insurance carrier for your immediate medical bills and other expenses. However, this coverage often is not sufficient to pay for the long-term costs of serious and debilitating injuries. If another person is responsible for causing you harm, you can contact a qualified attorney to take appropriate legal action and help you get the full amount you deserve. This includes pursuing claims against the at-fault party’s insurer and, if necessary, taking them to court.

What types of injuries can be compensated by taking legal action?

Drawing on three decades of legal experience, my firm advocates for Georgia residents in a full range of personal injury matters, including cases arising from:

• Motor vehicle accidents – I advocate for parties who have been injured in vehicle rollovers, rear-end collisions and other types of car accidents. If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, I examine the circumstances to assess if the driver broke transportation safety rules. My firm also advises people who have been seriously hurt in motorcycle accidents.
• Slip and falls – My firm represents parties injured in slip and fall accidents and other mishaps resulting from property owners’ failure to keep their premises safe and secure.
• Construction and industrial accidents – Building sites and industrial workplaces are inherently dangerous places. Whether a construction accident stems from unsafe conditions, poorly made materials, a dropped object or any other cause, my firm investigates the details to pinpoint who is at fault. I also represent victims of industrial accidents that can result from negligent design, manufacture or operation of machinery.
• Workers’ compensation – Most employers are required to provide insurance coverage so that employees who are hurt in an accident or who contract an occupational disease can pay their medical bills and other expenses. I know how to fight for full, prompt payment of workers’ compensation claims and will represent you during appeal if your initial claim is denied.
• Medical malpractice – Doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers have a professional responsibility to their patients. When harmful errors take place, I bring medical malpractice actions against those who have violated accepted standards of care.

Whatever type of personal injury claim you may have, you can rely on me to provide exceptional advice and advocacy during insurance negotiations. If litigation is called for, my firm fights to win a favorable result through a verdict or settlement.

What kinds of damages can be recovered in a personal injury case?

Georgia law allows for recovery of economic damages and non-economic damages resulting from an injury-causing event. Economic damages are the financial costs of an injury, such as medical care, rehabilitative therapy and loss of earnings. Non-economic damages are compensation for the injury’s effects on quality of life, including pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of consortium. By reviewing the facts and consulting with medical experts, I work to secure compensation that meets your present and future needs.

What is modified comparative negligence and how does it work in Georgia?

Georgia law places limits on who may recover damages and in what amounts. You are not entitled to damages unless you are less than 50 percent responsible for the accident or for the injury claimed. In addition, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault, or comparative negligence. So if your damages total $100,000 but you are found to be 30 percent at fault, you can recover only $70,000.

What is the statute of limitations on a personal injury claim?

Under Georgia law, victims have two years from the date of the incident causing the injury to file a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. Moreover, acting promptly makes it easier to locate evidence and witnesses to support your argument.