Located in central Georgia, Monroe County is the 68th largest county by population out of 159 counties in Georgia. There are almost 27,000 people who claim Monroe County as their home, constituting just under 10,000 households. The largest incorporated cities in Monroe County are Forsyth, the county seat, and Culloden, the former of which is home to 4,000 people while the second is home to 250 people. According to Census Bureau, the median household income is $48,744. The top occupations are (1) sales; (2) administrative; (3) management; (4) education, training, and library; and (5) food and servicing. The poverty rate is 13.6 percent. The median age is 41.9 years.
Monroe County is home to many older, mid to upper middle-class American families. This older population is within the statistical brackets that experience more personal injuries due to the fault of another person or entity. It is this same age group that tends to have finances divided across multiple areas, including mortgages, auto loans, posterity expenses, credit card debt, and other costs necessary to live. In addition, 70 percent of persons in this age group in Georgia and throughout the U.S. have less than $1,000 in savings accounts.
Considering all of the above, if a person suffers a personal injury or accident-related fatality, especially if that person is the primary source of income, then it can pose serious problems, not only to the injured party(s) but to the entire family and extended community.
Causes of Personal Injuries in Monroe County, GA
Personal injuries or wrongful death incidents happen all throughout Georgia, and though Monroe County’s population is relatively small, personal injuries are still experienced on a regular basis. Personal injuries or wrongful death can be a result of accidents that manifest due to a person or entity’s negligent acts. They can also result from a person or entity’s willful, reckless, malicious, or wanton acts.
Common causes of personal injuries or wrongful death include slip and fall cases, work-related injuries, product defect claims, and medical malpractice. The most common cause of personal injuries and/or wrongful death in Monroe County, however, is vehicular accidents. In 2014, there were 1,230 crashes, which resulted in 210 personal injuries and 7 fatalities.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Monroe County, GA
If a personal injury occurs, and it is due to the negligent or intentional acts of another person or entity, you may have a right to file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party.
To be successful at a claim, or a subsequent lawsuit, four elements must be proven:
- Duty of Care;
- Breach of Duty;
- Causation; and
- Damages.
You must be able to show that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care and that the same party neglected in some way its duty of care, whether by accident or intent. After proving the duty and its breach, you must demonstrate that but for the breach on the part of the at-fault party, your person or property was injured or damaged. There must be a causal link between the at-fault party’s actions, or lack thereof, and the damages.
One exception to this rule in Georgia. If a defective product caused personal injury, then you may be able to argue either negligence or strict liability. Under strict liability terms, the same above-enumerated elements must be demonstrated, but there is no need to prove negligence.
Compensation for Personal Injuries in Monroe County, GA
If the worst happens, and either you or someone you love has been injured, or if there has been a wrongful death in the family, compensation for damages can be sought. There are three categories of damages that can be recovered: (1) economic; (2) non-economic; and (3) punitive.
Economic damages include expenses that have already been quantified or can be quantified, such as property damage repairs, medical bills, therapy and/or treatment, funeral expenses, past and future lost wages. Non-economic damages are harder to measure in rigid monetary terms but are calculated so that a value is given, and these include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, loss of consortium. Punitive damages are rarely granted unless the act was intentional, fraudulent or malicious, and these kinds of damages are meant to do exactly what its name suggests: punish the tortfeasor/wrong-doer.
Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you live in Monroe County and are a victim of a personal injury or a family member of a wrongful death, then you should consider retaining legal representation. An experienced and resourceful lawyer can recover damages on your behalf while you recover from your injuries or loss. In our firm, we provide representation on a contingency fee basis, which means the attorney is paid only if you win your case, and payment will come from the settlement or verdict. Contact Gautreaux Law at (478) 238-9758 for a free consultation today.