“Sometimes the simple approach is best,” Graylin says when talking about a recent $92,918.00 jury verdict in Henry County for one of his client’s and her minor son. The hard fought verdict was significant not just for the amount, but because Graylin worked on the case for years sticking with it through a lengthy appeal process and retrial.

 

“You have to believe,” Graylin says with a wry smile.  “At trial, humanizing your client is critical.  Insurance company’s try to humanize things.  They will say, ‘this car wasn’t hurt.’  But cars get damaged, people get hurt.”

 

Graylin was able to procure that judgment while the jury only considered something around $10,000.00 in actual damages.  But the rest of the award was for pain and suffering.

 

Settling personal injury cases is always a goal, but Graylin has had great success trying cases before juries when other attorneys do not think the case is worth pursuing.  For example, Graylin was able to procure a $60,000.00 judgment from a jury verdict for one slip and fall where the Plaintiff was injured while break dancing in a nightclub.

 

“In closing argument, I took off my shoes and demonstrated what is common for people to do on dance floors,” Graylin laughs while reaching down and pointing at his foot.  “My client had cut his hand on some broken glass.  The jury understood me because I was able to speak to them about the facts and relate the law accordingly.”

 

Sometimes the defendant is a municipality.

 

“I once sued the City of Greenville for failing to properly maintain the city streets and make them safe for bicyclists,” says Graylin.  “We hired an expert to show that the City had failed to maintain the street for years.  The expert called it tree intrusion onto the street.”

 

In that case, a young boy around the age of 12 or 13, had hit the place in the street that was not properly maintained and broke his jaw.  In that personal injury case, the jury awarded the boy more than $40 thousand dollars.

 

“If the insurance company thinks that you won’t try the case, they may never offer to settle or pay,” Graylin suggests. “But there is a principle involved, and staying with the case that other attorneys might not even take has marked my career to date.”

 

Sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner the investigation starts.

 

The Georgia Statute relating to time for bringing personal injury actions in court is OCGA §9-3-33.  It provides that:

 

Actions for injuries to the person shall be brought within two years after the right of action accrues, except for injuries to the reputation, which shall be brought within one year after the right of action accrues, and except for actions for injuries to the person involving loss of consortium, which shall be brought within four years after the right of action accrues.

 

This means that delay in hiring an attorney and pursuing your claim can cost you.  In most personal injury matters, failure to file a lawsuit within two (2) years from the date of the injury, will mean that the action cannot be brought period, and you are prohibited from seeking the compensation your deserve.

 

“Obviously, my clients need to know about the applicable statute of limitations, but one thing I see is that waiting causes the evidence to go stale.”  Graylin says.  “Memories fade, photos get lost of deleted.  Critical parts of my client’s case can disappear.  This makes everything more difficult.”

 

And since getting your side of things properly presented is Graylin’s job, waiting until the last minute to hire him is not the best thing to do.

 

“An attorney’s business is an art of persuasion,” Graylin says about how to present a client’s position and make them understand. “Telling my client’s story is a way that makes sense while respecting the law is very rewarding to me.”

Let Graylin tell your story. Hire his firm to assist you with your personal injury needs.

 

The law firm of Graylin C. Ward handles all manner of personal injury matters including but not limited to auto accidents, slip & fall cases, worker’s compensation matters, medical injury cases, dog bite incidents, and cases involving motorcycle related injuries.

 

Please note that an attorney’s past performance does not guarantee future success.  No attorney can assure you of a particular result, but hiring an attorney to advise you of your rights and explore your options is the highly recommended procedure to follow.