ATLANTA,GA
DULUTH, GA
ATLANTA,GA
DULUTH, GA
For many years, our trial lawyers have set records for winning jury verdicts, judgments, and settlements in personal injury cases.
Many of our victories have exceeded $10 million.
We recently won a $40 million verdict for a sex trafficking survivor, and $38 million verdict in a medical malpractice case on behalf of a family. For over 60 years, we have excelled in difficult, complicated cases that other lawyers are afraid to try.
Our successes include complex medical malpractice cases, tractor-trailer wrecks, premises liability, police chases, and sex trafficking cases, to name a few.
Our proud history of success leads clients to our firm. We work hard to earn their trust.
Jury verdict for a child sex trafficking survivor against a hotel — the largest such verdict in U.S. history.
jury verdict against Emory Healthcare, the largest medical malpractice award ever against Emory University.
Settlement in dram shop case.
jury verdict in a wrongful death action against a commercial dump truck operator and its drivers.
Verdict for catastrophic outpatient surgery, the largest medical malpractice award in Clarkesville, Georgia at the time.
At Finch McCranie LLP, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers have spent decades representing people seriously injured or killed by others’ negligence — recovering over $500 million for our clients. We earn these results through care, compassion, and tireless advocacy, always treating clients the way we would want to be treated.
Whether you’ve been injured in a car or trucking accident, medical malpractice case, premises liability matter, or you have been a victim of sex trafficking, our attorneys can help you understand your rights under Georgia law and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Below, the Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have compiled a list of the most common, frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding Atlanta, Georgia personal injury cases.
If you believe you have a personal injury claim, contact Finch McCranie today at 404‑341‑5314 to speak with an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney
If you are injured, the first step that you take depends on the type of case you have. For instance, if you are involved in a serious automobile or tractor-trailer collision, the very first thing you should do is call 911 to report the incident and request medical assistance. Typically, the police will gather information and complete a police report. If you are in this situation, you should get the contact information for the officers who have responded to the scene, and ask them how you can obtain the police report. The police report is typically the starting point for any Atlanta personal injury attorney’s investigation in a motor vehicle collision. If there is property damage involved, you should try to take pictures of the damage and give those to your attorney. After you have received the medical care and assistance you need, you should then contemplate your next steps, which should include consulting with an Atlanta personal injury attorney.
In other types of cases, such as a medical malpractice case, the critical evidence will be contained in the medical records. If you are still in a medical setting such as a hospital when you or your family suspect medical malpractice has occurred, you should make notes concerning your interactions with the health care providers. For example, many times victims will contact our office because a health care provider who treated the patient after the malpractice occurred will tell the patient and their family that the previous provider made an error or failed to provide appropriate care. In these circumstances, it is important for the patient (or typically a family member or close friend) to make notes and document everything the provider told the patient. This is because memories fade over time, and in many instances, after a lawsuit is filed, the subsequent provider will deny telling the patient that they were critical of the at-fault provider. Having a witness who made notes of the conversation at the time it occurred can be compelling evidence. It is almost always counter-productive for a patient or a patient’s family members to threaten legal action while a loved one is still under that provider’s care. The better practice is to document as much as possible, and then consult with a medical malpractice lawyer privately.
A personal injury attorney in Atlanta, Georgia typically charges one-third (1/3), or 33.33%, for a standard motor vehicle collision case. Other types of cases, such as tractor-trailer collisions, medical malpractice, and premises liability cases, typically require significantly more time and resources in order to get a favorable recovery for a client. For these cases, it is not uncommon for attorneys to charge a fee of 40%. The Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorneys at Finch McCranie LLP only receive a fee in the event we are able to recover a settlement or verdict on behalf of our clients. In other words, our client never pays us anything out of pocket. We only recover if you recover.
If you are considering hiring an Atlanta personal injury lawyer, you should inquire about the lawyer’s track record and experience. Many cases that appear to be fairly simple, straightforward injury claims may actually be much more complex. For example, you want to be sure that the personal injury attorney that you retain has extensive experience in identifying potential sources of recovery. It is critical that your attorney investigate whether the person who caused the harm was “on the job” at the time of the incident. If so, there may be a large insurance policy provided by the employer to cover its employee, which could be an available source of recovery. Also, clients should always purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This protects you in the event the at-fault person who injures you does not have any insurance. Essentially, your insurance company has the option of stepping into the shoes of the at-fault driver and defending the case in their name. If you have purchased uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, this will protect you in the event that you are injured by someone who does not have any insurance.
As outlined above, you need to be sure that the Atlanta personal injury attorney you hire has extensive experience and a long track record of successful verdicts and settlements. In addition to those qualities, you need to talk with the attorney and make your own decision as to whether you trust the attorney and whether your personalities are compatible. Personal injury victims often feel vulnerable, or even scared, and therefore it is imperative that the client have the utmost trust in the lawyer they retain to represent them. There is no “one size fits all” approach here. The injured person should use their best judgment and decide, on a personal level, whether they are comfortable with this person being their lawyer.
This is a question the personal injury lawyers at Finch McCranie receive regularly from clients. It is a complicated question that is highly fact specific. The bottom line is it depends on the unique facts of each case. For example, even if you believe the other party is completely at fault, a good defense lawyer may be able to raise doubts as to whether you had some responsibility in causing the harm. It is important to retain your own attorney as quickly as possible so the attorney may investigate the incident while the evidence is still available, and while eyewitness memories are fresh. How much you can expect to recover is also highly dependent on the insurance coverage that is in play.
For example, in a case where a person is catastrophically injured in a motor vehicle collision, if the defendant driver only has the minimum limits, i.e., $25,000.00 per occurrence, and the potential client does not have any uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and if the at-fault driver was not on the job at the time the wreck occurred, it is likely that the recovery would be limited to the $25,000.00 limits, despite the fact that the injuries and the client’s suffering are worth far more. As noted above, this is why it is critical that the personal injury attorney you decide to hire has experience in identifying potential sources of recovery, i.e., available insurance proceeds.
Evaluating Your Case:
The first thing we do when
evaluating a case is to
determine whether the party
who caused the harm can be
held legally liable.
Insurance Companies:
Another important step in
investigating a potential case
is to identify any insurance
policies that may provide
coverage for the incident.
Damages and
Compensation:
We also conduct a thorough
evaluation of our clients’
damages. This enables us to
maximize the recovery in
our cases.
Evaluating Your Case:
The first thing we do when
evaluating a case is to
determine whether the party
who caused the harm can be
held legally liable.
Insurance Companies:
Another important step in
investigating a potential case
is to identify any insurance
policies that may provide
coverage for the incident.
Damages and
Compensation:
We also conduct a thorough
evaluation of our clients’
damages. This enables us to
maximize the recovery in
our cases.
Economic Damages
This includes your lost wages, medical bills, loss of future earning capacity, property damage, and funeral and/or burial expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
This includes your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.
Punitive Damages
This is designed to punish the wrongdoer. They are available when the responsible party intentionally caused the harm or acted with a reckless disregard for the consequences of their actions. Punitive damages recoveries are rare,
though our firm has successfully obtained punitive damages for many clients over the years.
Once we have conducted our investigation regarding liability, available sources of recovery, and evaluated our clients’ damages, we may send what is called a pre-suit settlement demand letter demanding compensation from the party who caused the harm.
In some instances, this can lead to negotiations which allow us to resolve the matter in its early stages. If we are unable to resolve the case at this stage because the responsible party refuses to offer fair compensation, we then proceed with filing a lawsuit naming the responsible parties as defendants.
There is no single personal injury lawyer in Duluth, who is best for every case. The right lawyer for a serious injury should have experience...
A Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Atlanta may be able to help when nursing home neglect involves improper medical care that injures a resident. However, not...
If an insurance company contacts you after a wrongful death in Duluth, GA, the representative may ask about the incident, request a recorded statement, seek...
We understand the uncertainty that comes with legal issues. Our attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way — from the first consultation to courtroom resolution (if that becomes necessary). We offer confidential, no-obligation case evaluations.
📞 Call us today at (404) 341-5356 or email finchmccranie@finchmccranie.com to schedule your consultation.
