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Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Fairburn, GA

Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Fairburn, GA

The Atlanta metro area is no stranger to accidents, and the city of Fairburn is no exception. If someone else’s actions harmed you or a loved one, you could be entitled to compensation under Georgia personal injury law.

Personal injuries happen for various reasons, from traffic accidents and dog bites to defective products and unsafe property conditions. Getting legal advice after an injury can help you understand your rights as you consider your next steps. Reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney in Fairburn for legal assistance.

Types of Personal Injuries

A personal injury is any physical or emotional trauma a person suffers due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct. Common types of personal injuries include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Herniated discs
  • Broken bones
  • Soft-tissue injuries (e.g., ligament, tendon, and muscle trauma)
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Internal bleeding
  • Vital organ damage
  • Road rash
  • Burns
  • Amputation
  • Emotional injuries, like post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Wrongful death

By filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, personal injury attorneys can help Georgians seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Sometimes, personal injury victims must file a lawsuit to secure the money they deserve.

Major Causes of Personal Injuries

Some of the most frequent causes of personal injury cases in Fairburn include:

Motor vehicle accidents

Traffic crashes are among the most common causes of personal injuries in Fairburn and across the United States, harming around 5.2 million people annually. Some of the top causes of motor vehicle accidents include:

  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
  • Tailgating/following too closely
  • Reckless driving
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Street racing
  • Swerving through traffic
  • Not using turn signals
  • Failure to check blind spots before turning
  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Backing up without checking for others
  • Running red lights
  • Driving through stop signs
  • Distracted driving, especially texting while driving
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Fatigued driving

Workplace accidents

While workplace accidents can occur in any industry or profession, some jobs expose workers to a higher risk of work-related injuries, such as:

  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Warehouse work
  • Agricultural laborers
  • Utility workers
  • First responders
  • Medical workers
  • Landscapers
  • Commercial trucking
  • Delivery driving

Common examples of workplace accidents include:

  • Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents
  • Falls from heights
  • Entanglement accidents
  • Caught-between accidents
  • Being struck by a falling object
  • Trench/building collapses
  • Fires or explosions
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Defective tool or equipment accidents
  • Toxic exposure
  • Workplace violence
  • Animal attacks
  • Workers injured in on-the-job accidents may have several avenues for recovering compensation. First, the Georgia workers’ compensation system offers workers financial benefits for job-related injuries, such as medical benefits, partial reimbursement of lost wages, and permanent disability payments.

In addition, some injured employees may also have valid personal injury claims. Georgia workers generally cannot sue their employers for a work injury. However, when a third party bears responsibility for the injury, the employee could seek compensation from that party through a personal injury case. When possible, a personal injury claim opens the door for more compensation than a workers’ comp claim provides, such as money for the full extent of the victim’s lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Third-party cases are complex, so it’s wise to consult a Fairburn personal injury lawyer to learn your legal options.

Slip-and-fall accidents

Slip and falls occur when a person slips or trips on another party’s property due to a dangerous condition. These accidents often happen in or around:

  • Grocery stores
  • Bars and restaurants
  • Hardware stores and garden centers
  • Department stores
  • Shopping malls
  • Theaters
  • Hotels
  • Office buildings
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Swimming pools
  • Common areas of apartment buildings
  • Parking lots and garages
  • Public sidewalks

Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents in Fairburn include:

  • Recently mopped or waxed floors
  • Water, ice, or snow
  • Mud or plant debris
  • Water leaks
  • Spilled foods or liquids
  • Torn or loose rugs or carpeting
  • Broken floorboards or tile
  • Uneven floors
  • Abrupt transitions between flooring surfaces
  • Broken or missing steps or handrails
  • Malfunctioning elevators or escalators

A property owner may bear liability for a slip-and-fall accident if they negligently maintained the premises and failed to fix the hazardous condition or warn people of its presence.

Medical malpractice

Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare provider renders treatment that fails to meet the accepted standard of care and consequently harms their patient. Medical professionals generally describe the standard of care as the treatment actions or decisions that other healthcare professionals of similar training and experience would make in identical circumstances.

Medical providers may commit negligent mistakes due to poor communication, insufficient staffing, or inadequate examination and testing. Common examples of medical malpractice include:

  • Misdiagnosis
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Medication errors, such as prescribing contraindicated drugs, miscalculating dosages, or administering the wrong drugs
  • Surgical errors, including wrong site/or wrong patient surgery or leaving equipment inside a patient
  • Anesthesia errors
  • Failure to monitor a patient’s condition
  • Hospital-acquired infections
  • Failure to identify complications
  • Birth injuries
  • Premature discharge

Steps to Take After a Personal Injury

If you sustained a personal injury, take prompt action to protect yourself and your right to maximum compensation. Here’s what to do:

  • Seek medical attention for any injuries.
  • Report the accident to the appropriate authorities, such as law enforcement, your employer, or a property owner.
  • Take photos or videos of the accident scene and your injuries.
  • Follow your medical treatment plan thoroughly.
  • Obtain copies of your medical records, accident reports, bills, invoices, and related receipts.
  • Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements if you missed work due to your injuries.
  • Contact a personal injury attorney in Fairburn as soon as possible.
  • Contact Our Fairburn Personal Injury Lawyers

At Serious Injury Law Group, P.C., our Fairburn car accident lawyer understands how a sudden injury can turn your life upside down. You can start pursuing accountability and justice from those responsible for your losses today. Taking legal action may feel overwhelming, but our legal team will take the burden off your shoulders by handling every step of your case. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Fairburn personal injury lawyer.