From the first photograph taken at the accident scene to the final decision on whether to go to trial, every step matters in a personal injury case. To shed light on what truly helps clients in South Georgia, we sat down with veteran trial lawyer Roger J. Dodd of Dodd & Burnham. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Dodd offers clear, practical insights into early evidence gathering, Georgia’s comparative negligence rules, how insurers approach settlement negotiations, and the categories of damages injured people may be entitled to recover.
What should someone injured in Valdosta do in the first 24 hours after an accident?
For someone hurt in a car accident, trucking crash, slip-and-fall, or any serious incident in Valdosta or South Georgia, what are the most important steps they should take in the first 24 hours to protect their health and their personal injury claim?
When injured, it requires first things first. In this circumstance, that means making sure to take care of medical needs first. Now is not the time to be the toughest person in the room. Now is the time, to make sure of your medical circumstance. If you would make sure your parent was medically checked out or your child was medically examined, then give yourself that same grace.
We all have our phones with us constantly. If medically able to do so, take the phone out and take pictures as to what happened. Don’t forget to photo yourself for injuries, swelling, marks and any evidence or potential evidence.
The next call is to us, a lawyer. Time to start gathering and keeping safe evidence. We will talk you through that.
One last thing, and it is what not to do. Do not talk to the insurance company without us being present.
How do you know if you have a personal injury case in Georgia?
A lot of people aren’t sure whether their situation qualifies for a claim. What signs should someone look for that indicate they may have a valid personal injury case under Georgia law?
First rule of thumb, if there is a doubt you have a claim, assume you do. Bring us your facts and let us decide. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Do not assume against yourself.
Why do insurance companies offer low settlements after accidents?
When someone is injured in Valdosta, the insurance company often tries to settle quickly. Why do insurers make low offers, and how can an attorney protect an injured person from being taken advantage of?
A good, fair lawyer who represents you is the insurance company’s biggest nightmare. An insurance company will try to settle early and low, too fast so not to allow you to involve your lawyer. Remember insurance companies do not care a nanosecond about you. They only care about money. They want to keep all the money, which means they want to pay you as little as possible.
Can you still recover money if you were partly at fault in a Georgia accident?
Georgia’s comparative negligence rule confuses many people. If someone in Valdosta believes they were partly responsible for an accident, can they still recover compensation—and how does the 50% rule really work?
Georgia’s comparative negligence law may seem confusing at first. That is because everyone makes it too complicated. Remember the answer to question 2 above? “IF there is a doubt you have a claim, assume you do.” Let us determine if you have a claim. In Georgia, you still have a claim even if you may think you are in part responsible. You can be as much as 50% at fault and still be legally entitled to be compensated. Let us help you decide how much your compensation should be.
What is the average timeline for a personal injury case in Valdosta?
How long does a typical personal injury case take in Valdosta or South Georgia, and what are the biggest factors that decide whether a case resolves in a few months or requires going to trial?
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, does not have trial delays. Neither does most of our other South Georgia counties. Once the lawsuit is filed you can expect to have a trial, on average, within 14-16 months. That may seem a long time, but there is much to do. The more damages you may have the greater likelihood a trial is needed. The best and fastest way to finish a claim through settlement or by trial is to immediately prepare your claim for trial. That forces the insurance companies to prepare and to pay the fastest.
What types of compensation can injured people in Georgia receive?
When someone is hurt in an accident, what kinds of compensation can they pursue under Georgia law—such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or punitive damages—and how do you explain these categories to clients?
There are generally 3 large categories of damages to which you are entitled to be compensated. Think of them this way. Damages to be paid to put you back the way you were before the injuries. So if you had lost wages and spent money on medical bills, you should be paid back those amounts just to be put back to where you were before. If you expect to have future lost wages and future medical bills, we will prove those amounts too and you will be compensated.
In addition, we will prove what amount of pain and suffering you had and may have in the future. Many times this amount is by far bigger than all other damages. That is the pain, suffering and not being able to be who you are because of the injuries. And, if you have permanent injuries, we will prove those too, and you will be paid for that too.
Finally, there are some cases where the conduct of the persons at fault needs punished. Where we prove that, punitive damages may also be award to you. Bottomline, we will prove damages in every category that we can to compensate you as fully as possible.
As personal injury laws continue to evolve in Georgia, clear and practical guidance remains essential for anyone navigating the aftermath of an accident. Mr. Dodd’s insights offer a grounded understanding of what injured individuals can expect—from the first hours after an incident to the resolution of a claim. His experience highlights the importance of timely action, informed decision-making, and the value of skilled legal representation when the stakes are high.