Injured at the Publix Atlanta Marathon? You May Be Eligible to Recover Compensation

Just about every Atlanta neighborhood boasts at least one Publix grocery store. The regional chain does a lot more than sell grocery items. Publix is also big on supporting the community. An example is the Publix Atlanta Marathon. Promoting fitness and community spirit, thousands of runners flock to Atlanta for the weekend-long event.

With so many people literally running around, and don’t forget the spectators, accidents are almost destined to happen. Understanding the essential steps in filing a Publix Atlanta Marathon injury claim can make it easier to recover compensation if you’re in an accident.

Key Steps After a Publix Atlanta Marathon Accident

Whether it’s a minor slip-and-fall or something a little more serious, you always want to do one thing. If you’re thinking about filing an accident claim after experiencing an injury, you must report the incident.

Don’t simply tell someone standing nearby. Although, they can probably dial 9-1-1 for you. With that being said, report the accident to the police. This starts a paper trail documenting the accident. Your accident report should also cover fault, which is crucial if your claim is against the negligent party.

Don’t forget about alerting marathon officials. This adds another layer of proof to your accident claim. You may even be naming the marathon organizers/officials as defendants in your personal injury claim.

Your Health Takes Priority

Accidents at the Publix Atlanta Marathon can range from a relatively minor sprained ankle to something a lot more serious like a catastrophic brain injury. Sometimes what initially seems pretty minor can turn into a more serious injury.

Check yourself out for any injuries. If you need a ride to the hospital let the marathon officials and emergency operator know. If you’re up and moving around, you should still plan on seeing a healthcare provider. You may have internal injuries or soft tissue damage.

You don’t want to ignore these conditions. Seeking immediate medical attention is also a necessary step if you’re claiming injuries. You’re going to need to provide copies of your medical records.

Document the Accident Scene

Okay, don’t get in the authorities’ way. This includes any of the marathon’s employees like event security. Everyone has a job to do, and you don’t want to make it harder. Without causing a disruption, take some pictures of any property damage. Yep, this can include things like clothing and any wearable or handheld devices. If you have any visible cuts and scrapes, go ahead and take a few shots.

If there’s accident debris lying around, get some photos. Don’t worry about looking for security cameras, you’re in downtown Atlanta and there are probably several filming your every move. Your Georgia personal injury attorney can subpoena the footage as evidence in your accident claim.

Get Your Evidence Ready to Go

Your evidence is going to be more than just your accident report. Every damage you list on the injury claim must be supported by evidence. Yep, you’re probably going to need a pretty big folder to hold everything you’re sending to the insurance company.

Your medical records are crucial, along with any bills and receipts for prescribed treatment. Do you have property damage? You’re going to need repair and/or replacement estimates. What about missed work? Some accidents at marathons can leave you out of work for a while. Your past pay stubs can help support this listed damage.

Now, we’re getting to your non-economic damages and these can be a tad complicated. Since your pain and suffering don’t exactly come with a price tag, you’re going to use either the multiplier or per diem methods. Both formulas are fine and can give you the estimated value of your non-economic damages.

Send a Demand Letter and Don’t Forget Your Evidence

All of your evidence is ready to go. You have things like your accident report, medical records, and property damage estimates, and you’ve even calculated your non-economic damages. When your evidence is ready for the insurance adjuster to review, it’s time to send a demand letter. This letter does more than let the insurance company know you’re seeking compensation.

The letter details your Atlanta Publix Marathon accident and identifies fault. You also list your damages and your claim’s total value. Typically, the insurance company has 30 days to review your accident claim. The insurer can also file for an extension if the claim is especially complex.

Once the claim review is over, you’ll find out if it’s approved, denied, or you’re heading to negotiations. If your accident claim is denied, you’re not completely out of options. Your Peach State personal injury attorney can file an appeal.

Georgia’s Insurance Laws Can Impact Marathon Accident Injury Claims

Since Georgia is an at-fault state, you should be able to leave your insurance provider out of the mix. At-fault insurance means you file your injury claim against the party responsible for causing your injuries. This can be Publix, marathon organizers, officials, security, another runner, or even a spectator.

Since figuring out who’s the at-fault party can give you a headache, it’s vital to get a copy of your marathon accident report. Your official report usually lets you know who’s responsible for causing your damages. 

The Peach State has another insurance rule that can impact your injury claim against the at-fault party. This rule is pretty common, it’s followed by several other than Georgia. The Peach State follows comparative negligence guidelines. This means multiple parties can share blame for causing the same accident.

If your actions right before the accident are negligent, you can be assessed some of the blame. You can file an accident claim if you’re assigned fault, as long as it’s not higher than 50%. If you’re assigned fault, your potential settlement amount will be reduced by your percentage of accident blame.

Hiring a Marathon Accident Attorney is an Essential Step

Filing an accident claim for an injury at the Publix Atlanta Marathon isn’t exactly easy. However, partnering with an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney can help simplify the legal process and get you the rightful outcome that you deserve.