Shooting victims experience unimaginable trauma. It’s no surprise that many walk away with significant physical and emotional wounds. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a shooting in Atlanta, you could be eligible for compensation to provide financial security while you heal. Holding the liable party(s) accountable for your losses may also give you some closure after such a frightening ordeal. Talk to one of our Atlanta shooting injury attorneys today.
We Have Some of the Best Shooting Injury Lawyers in Atlanta
At Butler Kahn, we are committed to helping people who have been victims of a shooting in Atlanta get the justice they deserve. You should never have to pay for someone else’s negligence.
Our firm takes pride in fostering personal connections and building long-lasting relationships with clients. This customized approach allows us to craft a legal strategy tailored to each client’s individual needs and goals — and has helped us secure top-dollar verdicts and settlements for them over the years. Let us help you demand accountability for the harm you suffered. Contact us today for a free consultation with an Atlanta shooting victim lawyer.
Where Do Shootings Happen in Atlanta?
Unfortunately, no place is immune from the threat of a shooting. They occur in homes, businesses, and public spaces. Locations that present an exceptionally high risk of a shooting event include:
- Schools
- Restaurants
- Movie theaters
- Malls
- Night clubs
- Shopping centers
- Grocery stores
- Sporting events
- Spas
- Private residences
- Hotels
- Office buildings
- Workplaces
- Banks
A shooter will likely face criminal charges for their actions. But you could have a civil claim against a property owner if poor security or another failure made it easier for the gunman to commit the crime. A skilled Atlanta shooting victim attorney can investigate the case to determine who should be held liable.
What Should You Do if You are Involved in a Shooting in Atlanta?
If you find yourself the victim of an Atlanta shooting, call 911 immediately. You need immediate medical attention. Gunshot wounds can be severe and cause life-threatening internal injuries. If your wound is bleeding, put pressure on it and dress it with a towel or piece of clothing until paramedics arrive. Depending on the severity and location of your injury, you may require stitches, staples, surgery, or other medical intervention.
While you receive treatment, law enforcement officers can secure the scene and subdue or begin searching for the suspected shooter. In the case of an active shooter, seek cover and hide. Your priority should be to protect yourself from harm.
Once you are discharged from the hospital, follow your doctor’s instructions exactly as prescribed. Attend every follow-up appointment and all physical therapy sessions. Consider seeking mental health services. Gun violence can be psychologically devastating. To cope with the trauma, you may need the help only a qualified mental health care provider can offer.
Finally, contact a skilled Atlanta shooting victim lawyer who can evaluate your case and explain your legal rights and options.
Who Can be Held Liable for a Shooting Crime in Atlanta?
First, it is vital to understand the difference between criminal and civil charges and penalties. In a criminal case, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant is guilty of committing a crime. Someone found guilty of a shooting crime in a criminal court may face penalties including fines, restitution, jail or prison time, or the death penalty. While these penalties are meant to punish a guilty party for crimes they committed against individual people, they are levied for the good of society as a whole rather than to compensate the guilty party’s victims.
Civil matters are different. In a civil case, the burden of proof is lower. The plaintiff bringing the case must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which means that it is more likely than not that the plaintiff’s claims are true. Furthermore, the goal in a civil case is to financially compensate the plaintiff for the harm they suffered at the hands of the defendant. An Atlanta shooting victim attorney can help.
A shooting victim in Atlanta can sue the accused shooter in civil court, even if the perpetrator is not charged with a crime or is acquitted. If the victim is injured in a shooting on someone’s property, they may also be able to hold the property owner or occupier liable in civil court for failing to keep their property safe. Examples of third parties and entities that could be liable for your injuries from a shooting include:
- Hotel and motel owners
- Apartment complex owners or managers
- Office building owners or managers
- Public or private schools and universities
- Owners of shopping malls or movie theaters
- Owners of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants
- Parking lot owners or managers
- Organizers of public events
- Municipal, state, or federal governments, if a police officer shoots you
What Is the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program?
The Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program (Victims Comp) is a statewide program that provides eligible shooting victims and their families with up to $25,000 in compensation for the expenses and any lost income they incur due to the crime. There are eligibility requirements, so you should speak to a knowledgeable shooting injury lawyer in Atlanta about how eligibility could affect your legal case.
What Compensation is Available from a Shooting Victim Lawsuit?
The value of your claim will depend on multiple factors, including the severity of your injuries. Potential damages in a shooting case may include compensation for losses like:
- Medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s visits, prescription medications, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential, if your injuries result in a permanent disability
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
Is There a Deadline to Filing a Shooting Crime Lawsuit?
In Georgia, you have two years from the date of the shooting to file a lawsuit against a liable party. However, this statute of limitations will be tolled, or paused, if the person who shot you is tried in criminal court first.
Filing your injury claim before the two-year time limit expires is critical. If you miss the deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case. This means you lose your chance to pursue personal injury compensation forever. It’s always good to speak with an experienced shooting injury lawyer immediately to give them time to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Contact an Atlanta Shooting Victim Lawyer If You Have Been Injured in a Shooting
If you or someone you love sustained injuries in an Atlanta shooting, you deserve compensation for the harm you suffered. At Butler Kahn, we provide compassionate client service that delivers results. Call or contact us today to learn your legal rights in a free case review.
