Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers

Representation When You Have Been Injured

A serious injury can change your life in seconds. One moment you’re driving home on I-285 or walking through a parking lot, and the next, you’re in pain, racking up medical bills, and an insurance company is already working to pay you as little as possible. An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can take that fight off your shoulders, so you can focus on healing.

At Prieto, DelCampo, Lopez, & Marigliano LLC, our team includes former DeKalb County judges and attorneys who once defended insurance companies. We know how the other side builds a case, because we used to sit on that side of the courtroom.

If you were hurt because someone else was careless, contact our Atlanta office for a free consultation to talk through what happened.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A personal injury lawyer handles the legal and financial side of your recovery while you concentrate on getting better. That work starts with a close look at what happened and who was responsible.

Here is what our team can do for you after an injury:

• Investigate the Incident: We gather police reports, medical records, photos, video, and witness statements to build a clear picture of how you were hurt.
• Identify Who Is Liable: Sometimes more than one person or company shares the blame, and finding every responsible party can affect how much you recover.
• Handle the Insurance Companies: We deal with the adjusters, the paperwork, and the phone calls so you are not pressured into a quick, low settlement.
• Value Your Claim Fully: We account for current medical bills, future treatment, lost income, and the pain the injury has caused.
• Take Your Case to Trial When Needed: Insurers tend to offer more when they know a firm is willing and ready to go to trial.

You stay informed and in control the whole way. We can explain your options at each step, but the decisions about your case remain yours.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Atlanta

Personal injury covers situations where someone is hurt because another party failed to act with reasonable care. Our firm handles a wide range of these cases across metro Atlanta.

Common cases we take on include:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes on roads like I-285, GA-400, and the Downtown Connector cause many of the most serious injuries we see. Learn more about our work on motor vehicle accidents.
• Premises Liability: Property owners who ignore known hazards can be responsible when a slip-and-fall, a dog bite, or a lack of reasonable security causes injury. We handle these through our premises liability claims.
• Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death: Brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other catastrophic and fatal accidents call for a firm with the resources to see a hard case through.
• Medical Malpractice: When a doctor, nurse, or hospital provides care that falls below accepted standards, the harm can be severe and lasting.
• Nursing Home and Elder Abuse: Families trust long-term care facilities to protect older adults, and we can hold those facilities accountable when they cause harm.

These are only some of the matters we handle. To see the full scope of our personal injury practice, reach out and tell us what happened.

Common Injuries in Atlanta Accidents

The injuries in a serious accident range from painful but temporary to permanent and life-altering. Knowing what you are dealing with helps you understand the care you need and the value of your claim.

Some of the most serious injuries we see include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Even a mild concussion can affect memory, mood, and focus, and severe traumatic brain injuries can require lifelong care.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine can cause lasting nerve pain, limited movement, or paralysis. Our spinal cord injuries team understands what these cases demand.
• Broken Bones: Fractures from a crash or fall often need surgery, hardware, and months of physical therapy before you return to normal activity.
• Serious Burns: Burn injuries can cause permanent scarring and may require care at a specialized burn center.
• Internal Injuries: Organ damage is not always obvious at first, which is one reason prompt medical care matters.

Metro Atlanta often treats the most serious injuries at Grady Memorial Hospital’s Marcus Trauma Center, Atlanta’s only adult Level I trauma center. When an accident takes a life, we also help grieving families pursue wrongful death claims against those responsible.

When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Not every fender bender calls for an attorney. But when an injury is serious, or the situation isn’t straightforward, getting a lawyer early can make a real difference.

You should consider talking to a lawyer in any of these situations:

• Your injuries are serious or lasting. Cases involving surgery, long recoveries, or permanent effects carry higher stakes and more complex medical proof.
• Fault is disputed. If the other side blames you, or several parties point fingers at each other, the outcome can turn on how well the evidence is presented.
• An insurer is delaying or lowballing. When an adjuster drags out your claim or offers far less than your losses, that is a sign you need someone advocating for you.
• A government or company is involved. Claims against a city, a state agency, or a large business follow special rules and have shorter deadlines.

An early consultation costs you nothing and helps protect evidence before it disappears. If any of this sounds familiar, reach out to our team to talk it through.

What to Do After an Accident in Atlanta

What you do in the hours and days after an accident can protect both your health and any claim you later bring.

It is important to take these steps as soon as you are able:

• Get medical care right away. See a doctor even if you feel okay, because some injuries take time to appear, and a medical record ties your injuries to the accident.
• Report what happened. Call 911 after a crash or notify the property owner or manager after a fall, so there is an official record.
• Document the scene. Take photos and video of vehicles, hazards, your injuries, and the area before anything is cleaned up or repaired.
• Collect contact information. Get names, phone numbers, and insurance details from everyone involved, along with contact information for any witnesses.
• Keep your records. Save medical bills, repair estimates, and anything related to time missed from work.

Try not to give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurance company before you talk to a lawyer. What seems like a harmless remark during conversation can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Georgia Personal Injury Laws You Should Know

A few Georgia laws shape almost every personal injury claim. Understanding them helps you see why acting early and getting good advice matters.

The Deadline to File Your Claim

In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of an injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, under OCGA Section 9-3-33. Claims for property damage, such as a wrecked car, generally have a four-year statute of limitations.

Claims against a government entity are different and often require formal notice within a much shorter window, sometimes as little as six months. Missing a deadline can end your case before it starts, no matter how strong it is.

How Shared Fault Works

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule under OCGA Section 51-12-33. You can still recover if you were partly at fault, as long as you were less than 50% responsible, and your share of fault then reduces your recovery.

If you are found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Because a small shift in the fault percentage can change your recovery, how the evidence is presented matters a great deal.

Georgia’s 2025 Tort Reform

In April 2025, Georgia passed a major tort reform law through Senate Bills 68 and 69. It affects current cases in real ways.

A few of the changes injured people should know about:

• Seat Belt Evidence: For newer cases, the other side can now point to whether you were wearing a seat belt when arguing about fault and the extent of your injuries.
• Medical Bills: Juries can now consider both the amount billed for your care and the amount actually paid, which can lower the medical damages you recover.
• Pain and Suffering Arguments: New limits restrict how lawyers can suggest specific dollar figures for non-economic damages at trial.
• Negligent Security: The standard for holding a property owner responsible when a crime injures a visitor is now tougher to meet.

These changes generally favor the defense, which is another reason to hire a firm that understands the new rules and knows how the other side will use them.

How Our Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

Choosing a lawyer comes down to trust and know-how. Our firm’s background shapes how we handle every case.

Two of our partners are former DeKalb County judges, and others began their careers defending insurance companies and corporations. That means we understand how the other side evaluates a claim, where they look for weaknesses, and what it takes to push back. We put that insight to work for injured people across metro Atlanta.

We also believe your bank account shouldn’t dictate the quality of your representation. Large insurers have teams of lawyers and deep resources, and we work to level that playing field for every client, with the personal attention a serious injury deserves.

You stay in charge of the big decisions, including whether to accept a settlement or take your case to trial. Because we work on a contingency-fee basis, you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you, and there is no upfront cost to get started. A free case review is the first step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia?

In most cases, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia, under OCGA Section 9-3-33. Some claims have shorter deadlines, such as those against a government entity, which may require formal notice within six months to one year. Talking to a lawyer early helps you avoid missing a deadline that could end your case.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Our firm works on a contingency-fee basis, so there is no cost to get started and no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. Your first consultation is free. This lets you get quality legal help without worrying about upfront bills while you are recovering.

What if I Was Partly at Fault for My Accident?

You can still recover in Georgia as long as you were less than 50% at fault, under the state’s modified comparative negligence rule (OCGA Section 51-12-33). Your share of fault reduces your recovery. If you are found 50% or more responsible, you cannot recover, which is why how fault is proven matters so much.

How Did Georgia’s 2025 Tort Reform Change Injury Cases?

Senate Bills 68 and 69, signed in April 2025, made several changes that generally favor defendants. Juries can now weigh both billed and paid medical amounts, seat belt use can be raised in newer cases, and the standard for negligent security claims is higher. An experienced firm can help you understand how these rules apply to your specific case.

How Is the Value of a Personal Injury Case Determined?

The value depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, your medical bills, future treatment, lost income, and the impact on your daily life. Cases with permanent or life-altering injuries generally carry higher value. No lawyer can promise a specific amount, but a careful review of your losses helps set a realistic picture.

Will My Case Settle, or Will It Go to Trial?

Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but some do go before a jury when the insurance company refuses to be fair. You decide whether to accept a settlement or move forward to trial. Our firm prepares every case as if it could go to court, which often leads to stronger settlement offers.

What Questions Should I Ask at My First Meeting With a Lawyer?

Ask about the firm’s experience with cases like yours, who will handle your case day to day, how fees work, and what the process looks like. It also helps to ask for an honest assessment of your claim’s strengths and challenges. Bring any documents you have, such as the accident report, photos, and medical records.

How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?

It depends on the complexity of your case and the severity of your injuries. Straightforward claims can resolve in a few months, while serious cases that require litigation may take a year or more. We work to move your case efficiently without settling for less than it is worth.

Contact Our Atlanta Personal Injury Team Today

A serious injury is stressful enough without fighting an insurance company on your own. If you or someone you love was hurt in metro Atlanta, the team at Prieto, DelCampo, Lopez, & Marigliano LLC is ready to listen and explain your options.

Our background as former judges and former defense attorneys gives us a clear view of what your claim is up against, and we put that experience to work for you. You pay nothing up front, and no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We are here to help you move forward.