Atlanta Stabbing Victim Attorney for Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death

Stabbing Victim Injury Attorney in Atlanta

A Trusted Attorney for Victims of Stabbings & Violent Assault Cases in Atlanta

Violent crime takes place in many forms, including simple assault and battery, gun violence and stabbings. To be the victim of a stabbing is to suffer some of the most devastating and severe injuries an individual can deal with. These injuries not only leave physical scars, but also mental and emotional scars. As you recover, it’s natural to wonder, who is responsible for helping you recover and how you will hold them responsible?

What is a Stabbing Injury Case in Georgia?

A stab wound is an injury caused by the penetration of any sharp object  into the skin, soft tissues, and/or organs where the injury is deeper than it is wide.

Stabbing injuries are among the most painful and dangerous injuries to experience, and they can be difficult to treat. Depending on the location and the depth of a stab injury, it could even be fatal.

Proving Negligence & Causation In a Violent Stabbing Injury Case in Georgia

In many cases, where the attack occurred matters as much if not more than who wielded the knife. This is because third-party liability claims for acts of violence are often premises liability claims. Essentially, the owner or controller of the premises is legally responsible for what happened. The duty of a landowner or occupier to an invitee is spelled out in O.C.G.A. 51-3-1.

Filing a Premises Liability Claim in Georgia

The basics of Georgia premises liability law are that when the owner/occupier of land (the people who control it) induce or lead others onto it for any lawful purpose, he or she can be liable for injuries that result by the landowner’s failure to exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe.

What does this have to do with Atlanta stabbing victims? Simply put, acts of violence may be foreseeable. That doesn’t mean the landowner has prior knowledge of a specific threat. However, if there is a history of similar acts on the property and the landowner fails to address the threat or warn people of it, they can be held liable for violence that ensues – even if they didn’t welcome, initiate, or even know about it.

While acts of violence are not always preventable, there are a number of types of security that can significantly reduce – or even prevent – the occurrence of a stabbing. Some types of adequate security that may deter intruders or attackers may include:

  • Video surveillance.
  • Locked doors.
  • Security gates.
  • Motion sensor lighting.
  • Property guards.
  • Metal detectors.
  • Bouncers (at nightclubs, etc.).
  • Adequate lights.
  • Bars/locks on windows.

When these types of security are not in place, particularly in areas of Atlanta and other parts of Georgia where crime rates are high, stabbings may be more likely.

Negligent Security Lawsuits For Stabbing Cases

You can certainly examine the viability of a civil lawsuit against the person who stabbed you. However, if lack of property security contributed to the incident, you may also file a lawsuit for damages against the owner/landlord of your apartment for negligent security. In most instances, it’s more likely the latter case will be successful.

Negligent security, or the failure to provide a reasonable amount of security, contributes to violent crime in Atlanta. Taking action not only ensures you are fully compensated for your losses, but serves to compel property owners to take establishing strong security on their premises more seriously – making your community safer in the long run and for other citizens.

If you have been stabbed in your apartment and you believe that your landlord could have done more to prevent the attack, please contact our Atlanta negligent security attorneys today. We will review your case for free and provide you with valuable legal advice

Damages and Compensation Available to Recover for Stabbing Victims in Georgia

Serious injuries can and do occur in stabbings. You may need extensive medical care, or even long-term care after an assault. Fortunately, you may be able to recover some of those losses, including:

  • Medical expenses, including emergency care and ongoing treatments
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced or loss of earning capacity
  • Long term disability
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Reduced quality of life

If you or a loved one has been badly injured due to a stabbing and would like to discuss what possible damages you could recover, contact Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, for a case evaluation.

Where Stabbings & Violent Crimes Take Place

  • Hotels/Motels Case Icon
    Hotels/Motels

    Victims of stabbings caused by inadequate hotel security deserve financial compensation equivalent to the full value of their losses. In order to get fair compensation for stabbing injuries caused by violent crime, victims should obtain legal representation.

    Read More

  • Premises Liability Case Icon
    Premises Liability

    Landowners are required to protect against violent crimes on their premises. Loved ones or victims of stabbing injuries caused by a failure in keeping a property safe may be liable for damages from a property owner.

    Read More

  • Apartment Complexes Case Icon
    Apartment Complexes

    If you’ve been injured or are the victim of a stabbing, the apartment complex where it occurred may be legally responsible. It is imperative to seek legal counsel to receive fair compensation for your losses.

    Read More

  • Parking Lots/Garages Case Icon
    Parking Lots/Garages

    Victims of violent crimes involving stabbing at parking lots or garages should consult with a personal injury lawyer to pursue compensation from the owner due to negligence in providing adequate security.

    Read More

  • Gas Stations Case Icon
    Gas Stations

    If violent crime, such as a stabbing, occurs at a gas station with prior history, it can be considered negligence on the part of the property owner. If you have been stabbed at a gas station, an attorney can review the details and determine fair compensation.

    Read More

  • Malls and Shopping Centers Case Icon
    Malls and Shopping Centers

    If a mall has failed to provide adequate security against stabbings and violent crimes for their premises, victims may be entitled to compensation.

    Read More

  • Office Buildings Case Icon
    Office Buildings

    Property owners must protect an office site against foreseeable violent crime and stabbing attacks. A personal injury attorney will be able to determine if your stabbing injuries suffered at your work office building entitle you to compensation.

    Read More

  • College Campuses Case Icon
    College Campuses

    College campuses are required to keep students and visitors safe from violent crimes like stabbings. In the case of a stabbing inflicted on a college campus, there’s a high chance the school can be held liable.

    Read More

Where Stabbings & Violent Crimes Take Place

  • Hotels/Motels Case Icon
    Hotels/Motels

    Victims of stabbings caused by inadequate hotel security deserve financial compensation equivalent to the full value of their losses. In order to get fair compensation for stabbing injuries caused by violent crime, victims should obtain legal representation.

    Read More

  • Premises Liability Case Icon
    Premises Liability

    Landowners are required to protect against violent crimes on their premises. Loved ones or victims of stabbing injuries caused by a failure in keeping a property safe may be liable for damages from a property owner.

    Read More

  • Apartment Complexes Case Icon
    Apartment Complexes

    If you’ve been injured or are the victim of a stabbing, the apartment complex where it occurred may be legally responsible. It is imperative to seek legal counsel to receive fair compensation for your losses.

    Read More

  • Parking Lots/Garages Case Icon
    Parking Lots/Garages

    Victims of violent crimes involving stabbing at parking lots or garages should consult with a personal injury lawyer to pursue compensation from the owner due to negligence in providing adequate security.

    Read More

  • Gas Stations Case Icon
    Gas Stations

    If violent crime, such as a stabbing, occurs at a gas station with prior history, it can be considered negligence on the part of the property owner. If you have been stabbed at a gas station, an attorney can review the details and determine fair compensation.

    Read More

  • Malls and Shopping Centers Case Icon
    Malls and Shopping Centers

    If a mall has failed to provide adequate security against stabbings and violent crimes for their premises, victims may be entitled to compensation.

    Read More

  • Office Buildings Case Icon
    Office Buildings

    Property owners must protect an office site against foreseeable violent crime and stabbing attacks. A personal injury attorney will be able to determine if your stabbing injuries suffered at your work office building entitle you to compensation.

    Read More

  • College Campuses Case Icon
    College Campuses

    College campuses are required to keep students and visitors safe from violent crimes like stabbings. In the case of a stabbing inflicted on a college campus, there’s a high chance the school can be held liable.

    Read More

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Georgia Stab Wound Injury Legal FAQs

I’ve Been Stabbed: What Should I Do?

If you are stabbed in Georgia, you should follow these steps immediately:

Get Treatment from a Medical Professional

The most important thing to do if you’re stabbed is to obtain treatment from a medical professional.  You may need to contact 911 if the stab wound is severe and have an ambulance sent, or quickly make your way to the closest emergency room. Obviously, seeking treatment after a stab wound is crucial to your health and life, but seeking and receiving medical treatment can also be integral to establishing your legal claim.

Once treatment is concluded, be sure to attend all follow up appointments and follow a prescribed treatment plan. You also need to keep all documentation of healthcare, including doctors’ reports, medical bills, prescriptions, and the like.

Report the Stabbing to the Police

You need to report the stabbing to the police the moment you are physically able to do so, preferably in the minutes or hours following its occurrence. If you do not file a report with the police, two things may happen: First, the person who stabbed you may get away with the crime, continuing to pose a danger to others. Second, you may hinder your ability to pursue a civil claim. (That being said, it is possible to prevail in a civil injury claim even if the perpetrator is never convicted or even identified. This is because civil stabbing injury cases are often predicated on the duties of the property owner to secure the premises, rather than any specific involvement in the event in question.)

Record Details of the Stabbing Incident

It can be psychologically challenging to do so, but following a stabbing, write down as much information about the incident that you can remember. This includes:

  • The date, time, and location of the stabbing.
  • Parties involved.
  • Any witnesses to the stabbing.
  • What you were doing before the stabbing took place.
  • How the stabbing occurred.
  • Whether there was any security in place (i.e. security cameras, motion sensor lighting, etc.).
  • Any other details you can recall.

In pursuing a claim for damages, these details can be essential. As you recover, you should also record details about the recovery process, such as the extent of impairment of your physical capabilities, your ability to work, any emotional trauma you are enduring, how it is impacting your personal and professional relationships, etc.

Contact an Experienced Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer

Finally, you should contact an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a viable claim. The property owner or manager of the area where it happened may be liable for failing to provide adequate security.

What Harm Is Caused In Stabbing Cases?

Being the victim of an act of violence is terrifying. A stab wound can cause serious physical and psychological harm, including:

  • Internal injuries.
  • Excessive bleeding.
  • Bone fractures.
  • Paralysis.
  • Brain injury.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Anxiety.
  • Depression.

This can prevent a person from being able to return to work. They may fear leaving their own home. They may be unable to care for themselves.  Additionally, stab wounds demand medical attention, which can be very expensive, particularly if the victim does not have healthcare or has a high deductible.

Stabbing injuries to the colon can be particularly devastating, if not fatal. Research has shown that stab wounds and low-velocity gunshot wounds represent 85 to 95 percent of colon injuries among civilians. The colon is injured in 30 percent of all abdominal gunshot wounds and 5 percent of all stab wounds. Such injuries can have high rates of morbidity (death), but can also be associated with the need for an emergency colostomy. It’s possible this procedure can be reversed later, but dealing with a colostomy (where you excrete waste into a bag from a hole in your stomach) for any period of time is not only physically arduous, it’s emotionally excruciating. This kind of physical trauma and mental distress can be claimed as damages in a civil case.

Should Victims of Stabbings Pursue a Civil or Criminal Case?

Criminal charges should always be brought against the perpetrator of an attack.

However, a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator may also be necessary. In Georgia, victims will only be able to recover compensation by taking civil action. It is important to remember that a civil case and a criminal case will be separate legal actions.

Unfortunately, in many criminal attack cases, even taking civil action against the perpetrator will still not be enough to cover the full extent of the victim’s damages. This is true even if the civil action is successful because many perpetrators are ‘judgment proof’. Essentially, this means that the perpetrator lacks the assets needed to cover the victim’s damages. Fortunately, if you are a victim facing a judgment-proof defendant, your lawyer may be able to secure compensation through other means.

Victims of stabbing injuries may have the right to seek full and fair compensation in civil litigation not just from their attacker, but from these third-party landowners/occupiers. Note that this is different from the restitution that a criminal court may order a defendant to pay. Restitution (if it’s even ordered) will not carefully consider the full extent of your damages in an effort to “make whole” the victim. That’s not the purpose of criminal courts; it’s to penalize the offender. It is the civil court that will take a more careful accounting of your losses and, if you are so entitled, issue a more

Recognize that a key element in the civil premises liability case is going to be foreseeability of the crime. That is something that requires meticulous investigation and skill in litigation to establish. Anyone who is physically assaulted in a Georgia stabbing should consult with an experienced injury attorney promptly.

Can I be Compensated by the State of Georgia for Suffering a Stab Wound?

Victims may be able to recover through the State of Georgia’s Crime Victims Compensation Program. This program establishes a fund that helps victims of crime get through the difficult aftermath of the incident.

Qualifying victims are provided with some financial compensation for damages related to their attack. While this is a very important program that does a lot to help victims, there are strict caps on available compensation.

For example, a maximum of $15,000 is available for medical and dental expenses. Further, $25,000 is the maximum claim available through this program. Unfortunately, in many assault and battery cases, victims sustain damage that is far beyond the cap. This is why it is crucial to speak to a lawyer who can help you find any party, whether the perpetrator, a property owner or another third party, who might bear some responsibility for your damages.

As a trial attorney with decades of experience and a litany of successes in Georgia stab wound civil cases, Stephen Apolinsky and our attorneys at Apolinsky & Associates, LLC will work to fight for full and fair compensation for your losses.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations For A Stabbing Injury Civil Lawsuit In Georgia?

Under GA Code § 9-3-33, the statute of limitations dictates that parties injured by stabbing crimes in Georgia have just two years to bring personal injury claims forward. After those two years, a court will dismiss your stabbing injury claim. It is important for victims of stabbing injuries to retain legal counsel experienced in dealing with personal injury cases. Oftentimes, insurance companies will engage in stalling techniques to run out the clock and avoid paying you anything, so it is always best to have a knowledgeable attorney on your case to combat these strategies.

Due to the number of complex factors that go into the statute of limitations in any individual case, victims should contact a personal injury lawyer experienced in stabbing injury cases to advocate for your just compensation.