If you've been injured in a car crash, slip and fall, or an accident on someone else's property in Canton, Gainesville, or anywhere in North Georgia, you might be asking yourself:
Do I have a personal injury claim?
At Hasty Pope, we help answer that question every day.
Here's what we look for to determine if your case has a solid legal foundation:
1. Negligence Is the Starting Point
For a personal injury claim to be valid, we need to prove that someone else was negligent. In legal terms, negligence means someone failed to act responsibly or violated a duty of care—and that failure directly caused your injury.
2. Car Accident Cases: Traffic Violations Matter
If you've been hurt in a car accident, we examine the details to see if the other driver broke any traffic laws. Common signs of negligence include:
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Following too closely (rear-end collisions)
- Speeding or reckless driving
These violations help clearly establish who was at fault, which is critical to building your claim.
3. Big Truck Accidents: Going Beyond the Basics
When commercial trucks or tractor-trailers are involved, we take things a step further. In addition to local traffic laws, we investigate whether the trucking company or driver violated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. These rules govern things like:
- Hours of service (how long a driver can be on the road)
- Truck maintenance and inspections
- Driver qualifications and training
Violations of FMCSA regulations are strong indicators of negligence and can significantly strengthen your case.
4. Premises Liability: Proving Dangerous Conditions
Were you injured in a slip and fall or another type of accident on someone else’s property? For these cases, we look at whether:
- There was a hazardous condition on the property (wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting)
- The property owner knew about the danger (or should have known)
- You didn’t know about the danger and were acting reasonably
These three elements are essential for proving negligence in a premises liability case.
5. Why These Details Matter
Insurance companies aren’t in the business of paying out claims easily. That’s why building a strong foundation with clear evidence of negligence is the key to recovering damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Talk to an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Canton or Gainesville
If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies as a valid claim, don’t try to figure it out alone. At Hasty Pope, we’ve spent nearly 30 years helping people across Georgia get the answers and support they need after life-altering accidents.
Whether you've been hit by a distracted driver, injured on a job site, or hurt in a fall at a local business, our team is here to walk you through the process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Reach out to our personal injury lawyers in Canton or Gainesville today for a free consultation. You only get one chance to recover—make it count.