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Address: 531 Roselane St NW, Suite 200A, Marietta, GA, 30060, US
Telephone: (770) 422-8840

4 Reasons Why You Need a Lawyer Now

A lawyer in a blue suit stands in front of a staircase. — A good lawyer can help you avoid a bad lawsuit.

It’s not always obvious when a situation calls for the expertise of a lawyer. You could find yourself involved in something that seems so straightforward that it doesn’t occur you to enlist outside help. However, when it comes to things like your physical well-being and personal property, it’s often best to err on the side of caution and consult with an attorney.

Lawyers can help in ways you might not have considered

Most people think of a lawyer, standing in a courtroom, arguing a case, and while that happens, there’s a lot an experienced attorney can do for you outside of the courthouse. The knowledge they have that directly relates to your specific situation can be invaluable in establishing the validity of your case, the compensation you deserve, and the strategy to reach the best possible outcome. They can also:

Help you collect evidence to make your case
Coach you through a conversation with an insurance company to protect your best interests
Conduct an independent evaluation of your case to help establish fault
Guide you through the legal process to ensure you take all the proper steps for proceedings
Serve as your advocate

Having a dedicated attorney on your side when facing situations like personal injury, car accidents, DUI offenses, and even traffic tickets can positively impact the outcome of your case and help you reach the best outcome possible.

Personal Injury

Suffering a personal injury can result in physical, emotional, or mental issues that can lead to costly medical expenses. Some injuries can take a prolonged amount of time to heal, causing you to lose income from missing work in addition to paying extra bills. If your personal injury was caused by the negligence of another, you’re entitled to receive compensation. Some examples of personal injury cases include injuries sustained in a car or motorcycle accident, dog bites, medical malpractice, slips or falls, product liability, and wrongful death.

There are three main requirements to establish a personal injury case.

Did you suffer more than just property damage in the situation?
Was the injury caused because of the negligence of another person or entity?
Are there recoverable damages?

In some situations, negligence can be difficult to establish, but a personal injury attorney can help you navigate the process of compiling your case.

Car Accident

Whenever a car accident involves physical injury, fatality, or significant property damage, a lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve to cover your losses. The key is to contact an attorney early so they can help you through the process from the start. When insurance companies are asking you to provide a statement and medical costs and car repairs begin taking place is an important time to have the knowledge of an experienced attorney behind you, protecting your interests and helping you assess the full damage of the accident so you can be properly compensated.

DUI Defense

After you’ve been charged with a DUI, it’s imperative you engage a lawyer who can act quickly on your behalf. This can help save your license, if it’s at risk of suspension, as well as jumpstart the process of collecting evidence to use in your defense. Even if you’ve been charged, there’s no guarantee you’ll be convicted as guilty, so there’s still time to fight with the help of a DUI defense lawyer.

Georgia DUI laws are intricate, with established parameters for fines, license revocation, jail time, fees, and probation costs. With a clear understanding of all these details, a DUI lawyer knows when to challenge the validity of a DUI charge, working toward the ultimate goal of ensuring your rights are protected and the best possible outcome is obtained.

Traffic Tickets

Getting a ticket for speeding or something non-accident related doesn’t mean you simply have to pay. Working with an attorney in situations like these can provide you with a better understanding of the possible solutions to your case and the best course of action to take. You don’t have to navigate the system alone, lose when a violation could result in more than just a fine.

The added protection of an attorney can help prevent you from dealing with increased insurance rates, jail time, or a license suspension. Even if you feel as if the ticket is very cut-and-dry, lean on the expertise of an attorney to ensure you’re handling things in a way to reach the best conclusion for you.

Partner with the right law firm to get results

Scrabble tiles in a line spelling "laywer." — It's easier to win if you line things up in your favor.

Whichever situation you find yourself involved in, the first thing to do is not panic. The second thing? Contact a lawyer specializing in cases like yours.

At The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm, each of these practice areas is addressed by an accomplished attorney who will treat your case with care and respect. Through personal attention and a wealth of knowledge, our law team works to get you the best results possible for your case.

9 Reasons You Need A Personal Injury Law Firm

If you’ve never been in a serious accident it can be easy to say you don’t need a personal injury lawyer, but when the smoke clears and you wake up in a hospital bed with serious injuries, the last thing on your mind should be getting all of the paperwork in order for your personal injury claim. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that after an accident, no one is on your side. That’s not exactly a comforting thought when you’re overwhelmed with hospital bills and the burden of recovery. There are plenty of reasons to hire a personal injury attorney to handle your Marietta car accident and here is a list of nine:

1. Experience: A personal injury lawyer has gone through the process before. They have likely been part of cases that were similar to yours and can use that experience to influence the decision making process in your case. There will be many decisions for you to make, and the more experienced your lawyer is, the easier it will be for you to make educated decisions in your case.

2. Attention to Detail: A personal injury firm is less likely to overlook details in any contracts or settlements because they understand fully what every part of the contract means. They will be able to catch any parts of a contract that aren’t in your favor and negotiate for better terms.

3. Complicated: The legal process is long and complicated. An attorney will know the ins and outs and will know what to expect and how best to prepare. There are plenty of deadlines to keep track of and a ton of paperwork. An experienced personal injury attorney will know the entire process and be able to plan for all of the steps.

4. Impartial: Your personal injury attorney will not be as emotionally invested as you are in your case. Emotions tend to cloud a person’s judgement and can lead to mistakes. Having a personal injury attorney allows you to trust an impartial party who will not be making decisions based on anger or any other emotion.

5. Alternatives: Not all personal injury cases require a long drawn out battle with insurance companies. Your lawyer will understand all of the alternatives available to you and will be able to advise you on when these alternatives are best.

6. Insider Insights: Insurance companies on the other side of the table will have lawyers, so hiring your own lawyer will ensure you understand what is going on and what tactics they might use to try to deny you your rights. Your attorney will also know when they are offering you the highest settlement you are likely to get, which will help you respond accordingly.

7. Insurance Companies: A personal injury attorney has worked with insurance companies before. They will understand what needs to happen in order to protect your rights.

8. Reputation: Hiring a well known personal injury attorney that is known for winning cases could prompt an insurance company to settle much earlier and for much more money than they typically would.

9. Time: When you’ve been injured, you need time to recover without worrying about all the documents and deadlines that will be coming up. It is important that you have help with all of the paperwork so that you can recover as best as you can.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Cobb County car accident, call Atlanta personal injury lawyers at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm at (770) 422-8840.

Personal Injury: Dog Bites

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about dogs might be bright, happy eyes, a wet nose or a wagging tail. Most dogs we encounter daily are harmless loving animals, but dogs are still animals, and attacks happen. A dog bite can be a traumatic experience that can result in an emergency room visit or worse. In Atlanta, laws about dog bites are very difficult to navigate on your own and it is always best to discuss your specific situation with a local lawyer.

If you are considering a personal injury case because of a dog attack, you should know what to expect. You will need to prove that the dog bite resulted in an injury, so if you’ve been bitten it is important to seek medical attention. This allows you to make sure your injuries won’t worsen or that you haven’t been exposed to any diseases. It also helps you document your injuries for use in your dog bite lawsuit.

In Georgia, dogs are considered to be harmless unless you have prior knowledge of aggressive behavior, so in order to win a personal injury case against a dog owner, you need to prove a few things. For instance, the owner of the dog isn’t liable if you have provoked the dog in any way. Witnesses can be used to prove that you didn’t provoke the dog, but it can be a bit strange talking to people you don’t know and can be incredibly difficult if the witness knows the dog owner. In these types of situations, an attorney can make things easier for you. It can be helpful to give your lawyer the contact information of any witnesses. An experienced lawyer will know the right questions to ask and how to contact a witness professionally. Basically, it is easier to get people to speak with a professional than it is for you to just call them up and ask them about what they saw.

Another way a dog owner could be found liable is if their dog is considered to be vicious. according to Georgia code § 51-2-7, a dog owner can be found liable if they are found to be careless in their handling of their dog, especially if the dog isn’t on a leash or at heel. To prove that a dog owner has previous knowledge of aggressive behavior in his or her dog, you can use evidence like:

Guard Dog: If the animal is kept for protection and trained to be a guard dog, or trained to attack unknown people, this can prove the owner of the dog should have known the dog had the ability to attack.

Type of Dog: Some breeds are more likely to become aggressive. In some cases, dog breed can be part of your defense.

Previous Attacks or Snapping: If the dog has attacked before or is known to snap at people, this is a sign that the dog owner is aware that his or her dog has the ability to attack.

Warning Signs on the Property or a Muzzle: If the owner feels the need to muzzle his or her dog, it may prove he or she is aware that it is likely to bite. With this in mind, if the owner believes it necessary to post warnings about his or her dog, it can also be a sign that he or she is aware the animal could bite.

Dog bites can lead to very serious injuries so it is important you know how to get compensation for your injuries so you can heal without the worry of medical bills. If you have been the victim of an animal attack, call The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm now! 770-422-8840.