A recent Georgia Court of Appeals ruling made it clear that persons with potential personal injury claims against a county in the State of Georgia must present their claims in writing to the county in the manner prescribed by law within 12 months of the injury date. The statute of limitations or time limit for personal injury lawsuits in Georgia, barring exceptional circumstances, is 2 years after the injury. In the case recently decided, the injured party filed their personal injury case against the county more than 22 months after an automobile collision with a county police vehicle. The Court of Appeals ruled that the claims of the injured person expired when the time for providing the county written notice of the personal injury claim, which was 12 months, passed without the injured person giving the county proper written notice of their claim. It is true that the 2 year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury action applied to the case against the county, but the prerequisite for filing a personal injury lawsuit against a county is providing prior written notice of the claim in the manner prescribed by Georgia statute. The lesson to be learned for Georgia personal injury victims whose cases involve governmental agencies who caused the injury is to seek the counsel of an attorney at your earliest convenience. Special rules apply to cases against governmental entities. Please contact Rumsey & Ramsey at (770) 394-9400 to discuss your case with an attorney.
Tag Archives: Injury Attorney Atlanta
Is there any insurance that may cover injuries to a pedestrian hit by a car that leaves the scene of the accident?
Yes. The pedestrian’s automobile policy may provide coverage under the uninsured motorist provisions of the policy. Please read the policy and comply with the terms of the policy concerning reporting the incident to your insurance company. Short reporting time periods may be applicable. Please contact Rumsey & Ramsey at (770) 394-9400 to discuss your case with an attorney.
In Georgia, can a person sue a Georgia county or city for personal injuries as the result of improper medical care while in their jail?
Yes. Failure to provide proper medical care to a prisoner while he/she is in the custody of a Georgia city, a Georgia county, or the State of Georgia, can result in a personal injury lawsuit for damages against the responsible governmental entity that has custody of the prisoner. In such cases, the city, county, and state do not have immunity protecting them from a lawsuit. Please contact Rumsey & Ramsey at (770) 394-9400 to discuss the facts of your case with an attorney.
$2,640,000 slip and fall personal injury verdict for Georgia woman injured at Kroger upheld by Georgia Court of Appeals.
The Georgia Court of Appeals recently affirmed the judgment on a jury’s verdict in favor of a woman who sustained injuries at a Kroger in Fayetteville, Georgia while she was shopping. The $2,640,000 personal injury verdict was awarded to a woman who was severely injured when she slipped and fell on a clear liquid substance in front of a floral display case as she was walking to the shoppers check out area. The woman testified that she did not see the liquid before she fell. Kroger did not prove at trial that it followed its inspection procedures that were in place to detect such a hazard as the liquid on the floor. The outcome of this case illustrates the importance of consulting a personal injury attorney when you or a friend or family member are injured in a slip and fall accident. It is not always the case that a person who slips and falls is legally responsible for his or her injuries that were sustained in the fall. In Georgia, there are several legal factors and fact considerations that can determine if a landowner or business may be held responsible for persons injured on their premises. Please contact Rumsey & Ramsey at (770) 394-9400 to discuss your slip and fall case with an attorney.
$1,360,000 Judgment awarded to Georgia Tech student injured while riding on sideboard of Georgia Tech Ramblin Reck Model A.
The Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a judgment awarding $1,360,000 to a Georgia Tech student injured while he was riding on the sideboard of the Georgia Tech mascot car known as the Ramblin Reck. The student was injured when the inside handle he was holding as he was riding on the outside running board of the car separated from the car and caused him to lose his balance and fall from the running board unto the ground. The student was found severely injured on the ground with the inside handle still in his hand. The handle had allegedly been anchored to the vehicle with wood screws one half to three quarters of an inch long that were not sufficient for the use of the vehicle. The amount of the judgment that the student was awarded that was attributable to the defendants fault in the case was $1,360,000. The original judgment of $2,000,00 was reduced by the percentage of fault that the jury attributed to the student, which was 32%. This case illustrates the need to go over the facts of yours or a family member’s case with a lawyer when an incident results in severe injuries that should not have occurred and that may have been partially yours or your family members fault. Please contact Rumsey & Ramsey at (770) 394-9400 to discuss your case with a lawyer.