Boating Accidents
Georgia is blessed with a long coastline and numerous lakes including Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair. Most boaters are safe and careful, but accidents do happen and some boaters make the deadly decision to boat and drink. Sadly, alcohol is involved in more than 70% of boating incidents on Lake Lanier.
An accident which is caused by reckless or careless boaters can have devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences and can even be deadly. Under Georgia law, if you have been injured or a loved one has been killed as a result of someone else’s negligent or reckless boating, you are entitled to seek money damages. In this situation, it is critical to have an experienced attorney making certain that all notice deadlines are met and that the insurance companies fulfill all of their obligations and responsibilities to you.
If you have been injured in a boating accident, you may be entitled to money damages. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.
Burn Injuries
According to the American Burn Association, approximately 450,000 people receive treatment for serious burn injuries in the United States every year. Many of these injuries are treated at specialized burn treatment centers. Each year, burn injuries and fires are responsible for over 3,400 deaths across the nation and more than 40,000 people are hospitalized for the severity of their burns.
A severe burn injury can leave someone with permanent scarring, emotional trauma, depression as well as overwhelming medical expenses and lost wages. If you have been burned because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages.
At Mason & Associates, P.C., we have handled a number of severe burn injury cases and we can help you, too. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. We’d be happy to discuss your case and it is 100% FREE.
Car Accidents
An accident which is caused by another car, truck or vehicle can have devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences. Motorcycle accidents can be particularly damaging and are often fatal. For serious injuries, there can be large medical bills and significant time missed from work. But even while you’re out of work and trying to recover, your mortgage or rental payment, car, insurance, utility bills and other payments are all still due.
Under Georgia law, if you have been injured or a loved one has been killed as a result of someone else’s negligent or careless driving, you are entitled to seek money damages. But recovering these damages can be difficult if the negligent driver doesn’t have insurance (or enough insurance). What most accident victims don’t know is that the negligent person may not have enough (or even any) insurance to pay for the victim’s injuries and damages. This means that an accident victim may never actually recover money damages from the negligent (or “at-fault”) driver (unless the negligent driver has sufficient assets or unless it is a company vehicle belonging to a solvent corporation). However, if the injured victim has uninsured or underinsured auto insurance (also called “UM” coverage) and gives timely notice to their own insurance company, then the injured victim may still be able to recover money damages for the harm caused by the careless driver (regardless of whether the negligent driver has insurance or enough insurance). In this situation, it is critical to have an experienced attorney making certain that all notice deadlines are met and that the insurance companies fulfill all of their obligations and responsibilities to you.
If you have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to money damages. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.
Catastrophic Injury
Catastrophic injuries are a legal designation that describes any injury that lowers a person’s mobility or cognitive abilities. Spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputation, paralysis, third-degree burns, and other life-altering injuries are considered catastrophic. They are particularly difficult to deal with because they fundamentally shift your ability to take care of yourself.
Catastrophic injuries alter your life permanently and often result in millions in medical expenses and future care. Most people cannot afford to accommodate their own injuries and maintain the same quality of life. Our firm fights for the recovery you need for the rest of your life, helping you get the care and resources you need.
We have handled a number of catastrophic injury cases and we can help you, too. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. We’d be happy to discuss your case and it is 100% FREE.
Defective Products / Products Liability
Defective products can result in very serious injuries and even death. This is true even where the customer has followed the directions and used the product exactly as the manufacturer intended. Defective products may include an exploding coffee pot or one whose cord has an electrical short and causes a fire, a dangerous toy that hurts a child, a defective accelerator, brakes, or seatbelt in a car, a sparking toaster, a skin cleanser or skin care product that seriously burns the skin, a malfunctioning water heater (which releases deadly carbon monoxide gas), a construction, HVAC, or other product that contains cancer-causing materials, a medicine or drug that causes unintended and unexpected harm to the patient, etc. These are just a few examples of what is considered a product liability claim. If a company or manufacturer has intentionally, recklessly, or negligently designed, manufactured or distributed a product that bears an unreasonable risk of harm to the customer who buys or uses it, that company or manufacturer may be held responsible.
Such products are often either (i) negligently designed, or (ii) negligently manufactured, or both. If they are negligently designed, this means that they were not designed properly to begin with and create an unreasonable risk of harm to the customer who buys or uses the product. A negligently manufactured product can be designed properly; however, something goes wrong in the manufacturing process and the final product does not match the initial design. These mistakes render the product defective and therefore not suitable for sale.
In some cases, it is appropriate to design, manufacture and release a potentially “dangerous product.” However, you must include adequate warning labels regarding the use of the product (such as are often seen with lawnmowers, fireworks, chainsaws, etc.). In these cases and if a potentially dangerous product does not have appropriate warning labels, then the manufacturer may also be responsible for the injuries caused by the product. This is considered a “failure to warn.”
There are many critical steps that must be followed if someone is injured by a defective product, including preserving the product itself. For example, an injured customer should not return the product to the manufacturer “for testing.” Loss or destruction of critical evidence pertaining to the defective product may prevent you from holding the manufacturer responsible. In these situations, it is important that you have an experienced attorney working for you so that you can recover all of the money damages you deserve.
If you’ve been injured by a defective product, please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.
Motorcycle Accidents
An accident which is caused by another car, truck or vehicle can have devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences. Motorcycle accidents can be particularly damaging and are often fatal. For serious injuries, there can be large medical bills and significant time missed from work. But even while you’re out of work and trying to recover, your mortgage or rental payment, car, insurance, utility bills and other payments are all still due.
Under Georgia law, if you have been injured or a loved one has been killed as a result of someone else’s negligent or careless driving, you are entitled to seek money damages. But recovering these damages can be difficult if the negligent driver doesn’t have insurance (or enough insurance). What most accident victims don’t know is that the negligent person may not have enough (or even any) insurance to pay for the victim’s injuries and damages. This means that an accident victim may never actually recover money damages from the negligent (or “at-fault”) driver (unless the negligent driver has sufficient assets or unless it is a company vehicle belonging to a solvent corporation). However, if the injured victim has uninsured or underinsured auto insurance (also called “UM” coverage) and gives timely notice to their own insurance company, then the injured victim may still be able to recover money damages for the harm caused by the careless driver (regardless of whether the negligent driver has insurance or enough insurance). In this situation, it is critical to have an experienced attorney making certain that all notice deadlines are met and that the insurance companies fulfill all of their obligations and responsibilities to you.
If you have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to money damages. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.
Pedestrian Accidents
According to statistics, over 100,000 pedestrians are injured on America’s roads every year. These injuries often occur in cross-walks, on sidewalks, and on paths or trails located along roadways. Almost half of pedestrian accident fatalities occur during a one hour window—the hour right after school lets out. More often than not, pedestrian accidents are caused by the actions of a careless driver.
Our lawyers understand how to navigate the legal complexities which often arise in these cases. Important factors include: whether the driver was speeding, maintaining a proper lookout, distracted by drugs or alcohol, texting, or otherwise negligent. In addition, hazardous road or pavement conditions (ex: an improperly maintained or constructed sidewalk, etc.) also cause many pedestrian accidents. In these cases, the owner of the building or sidewalk, a city, county or State itself can be held responsible for the injuries you have suffered.
As an injured pedestrian that was hit by an automobile or truck, you may have additional avenues to ensure that you are able to recover money damages for your injuries. Recovering money for your injuries and damages may be difficult if the negligent driver doesn’t have any or enough insurance. However, if the injured victim has uninsured or underinsured auto insurance (also called “UM” coverage) and gives timely notice to their own insurance company, then the injured victim may still be able to recover money damages for the harm caused by the careless driver (regardless of whether the negligent driver has insurance or enough insurance). In this situation, it is critical to have an experienced attorney making certain that all notice deadlines are met and that the insurance companies fulfill all of their obligations and responsibilities to you.
If you or a loved one has been hit by a driver or otherwise been involved in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to money damages. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury is a legal “catchphrase” that includes any injury to one’s body, mind or emotional well-being because of someone else’s carelessness or recklessness. Personal injury can include car accidents, workplace accidents, slip and falls (premises liability), physical violence (like an assault and battery), and defective products (products liability).
When people are hurt, they deserve more than an apology. They deserve the best quality medical care and a chance to move forward with their lives. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Instead, injuries turn into disabilities, major expenses turn into inescapable debt, and grieving families break under the pressure. We are here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
If you have been injured by someone else’ negligence, please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys today. We have built our Firm on handling personal injury cases and can help you, too. Please ask us to evaluate your case—it is 100% FREE.
Premises Liability
Injuries that occur on another person’s property are far too common. These may include slips, trips or falls, food poisoning, infections, inadequate security, lead poisoning, construction defects or construction hazards, swimming pools, ponds and lakes, elevators, escalators, fires, explosions, exposure to hazardous materials, farms and animal bites. Often, such injuries are caused by the negligence of another person. If you have been injured while on another person’s property, you may be able to file a claim against the property owner or manager if their negligence resulted in your accident.
Premises liability cases, often referred to as slip and fall accidents, can be very complex and often difficult to prove. A thorough understanding of the ever-changing and fact-specific laws regarding the various and numerous incidents that result in premises liability is essential to successful legal representation.
In Georgia, merely owning or occupying land does not make that person liable for injuries sustained on the property. There must be some form of negligence on the part of the owner (or occupier) of property before there can be any premises liability. In order to understand the duty owed by an owner (or occupier) of land, it is necessary to understand the difference between the owner of the property and the occupier of the property and their relative liability. Likewise, it is necessary to understand the three different types of people who may be on the property. This is true because the degree of responsibility owed by an owner or occupier varies according to the status of the person who is injured. These types of persons are categorized as either invitees, licensees, or trespassers.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be glad to discuss your case.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by a strong external force or trauma to the head. A violent head injury or trauma to the brain may be very serious and even life-threatening. The severity of the traumatic brain injury depends on a number of factors, including whether the injury penetrates the skull, the actual location of the trauma, and critically, the timing and quality of the medical attention received.
A traumatic injury to the brain (TBI) can cause permanent damage and even death. Many times they are dismissed as minor concussions. However, and if left untreated, they can lead to changes in behavior, changes in personality, depression, permanent processing and cognitive impairments, and physical disabilities such as weakness and paralysis. For these reasons, it is critical that you immediately receive the very best medical attention available.
Mason & Associates, P.C. is all too familiar with traumatic brain injuries and the devastating effects they can have on our lives and families. We’ve helped many clients who have suffered TBIs. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to someone else’s negligence, we can definitely help. We encourage you to call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we’d be happy to discuss your case.
Trucking/18-Wheeler Accidents
An accident which is caused by another car, truck or vehicle can have devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences. Motorcycle accidents can be particularly damaging and are often fatal. For serious injuries, there can be large medical bills and significant time missed from work. But even while you’re out of work and trying to recover, your mortgage or rental payment, car, insurance, utility bills and other payments are all still due.
Under Georgia law, if you have been injured or a loved one has been killed as a result of someone else’s negligent or careless driving, you are entitled to seek money damages. But recovering these damages can be difficult if the negligent driver doesn’t have insurance (or enough insurance). What most accident victims don’t know is that the negligent person may not have enough (or even any) insurance to pay for the victim’s injuries and damages. This means that an accident victim may never actually recover money damages from the negligent (or “at-fault”) driver (unless the negligent driver has sufficient assets or unless it is a company vehicle belonging to a solvent corporation). However, if the injured victim has uninsured or underinsured auto insurance (also called “UM” coverage) and gives timely notice to their own insurance company, then the injured victim may still be able to recover money damages for the harm caused by the careless driver (regardless of whether the negligent driver has insurance or enough insurance). In this situation, it is critical to have an experienced attorney making certain that all notice deadlines are met and that the insurance companies fulfill all of their obligations and responsibilities to you.
If you have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to money damages. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.
Whistleblower or Qui Tam Litigation
Whistleblowers are people who have information about a company’s or government’s fraudulent, corrupt or other illegal activities and have the courage and integrity to stand up and call attention to it. Whistleblowers are often employees, former employees and others who have access to company documents and internal information. Mason & Associates, PC represents whistleblowers all across the United States.
Whistleblowers are rewarded for their efforts. According to the False Claims Act, if the government recovers money because of information a whistleblower provides, he or she will receive a portion of the funds. Typically, the whistleblower receives 20 to 30 percent of the amount recovered. In many states, similar laws reward those who blow the whistle on fraud against the state government.
Whistleblower lawsuits False Claims Act cases frequently involve fraud by government contractors in connection with a government contract (ex: defense contractors), or involve improper charges by healthcare companies to Medicare or Medicaid or similar state healthcare programs. When a False Claims Act or qui tam lawsuit is filed, it is initially filed under seal so the public cannot have immediate access to the allegations or to the identity of the whistleblower.
Retaliation The False Claims Act protects whistleblowers and makes it is illegal to retaliate against them. However, sometimes whistleblowers pay a price for doing the right thing. They may be fired, demoted or otherwise discriminated against at work for speaking out. When that happens, the attorneys of Mason & Associates, PC can help by filing a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Lincoln’s Law The history of the whistleblower lawsuit goes back to the Civil War era. Companies supplying goods to the Union Army cheated the government then, just as some do today. They charged the government for quality goods while suppling poorly made uniforms, broken equipment, etc. President Lincoln himself devised a plan for holding these wrongdoers responsible. The False Claims Act (sometimes called “Lincoln’s Law”) was enacted into law in 1863 and was intended to root out fraud against the government…and to encourage individuals who are aware of fraud against the government to bring information forward.
If you have evidence of fraud against the government or corruption at a private company, the attorneys of Mason & Associates, PC will investigate your claim, advise you on your options and protect your rights. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge. We would be happy to discuss your case.
Workplace Accidents
Workers’ compensation is a complicated and specialized area of the law. It was created and paid for by employers to provide injured workers with a means of support and ability to pay for their medical care. However, facing the workers’ compensation system alone can be a very frustrating and overwhelming process. The process is frequently handled by insurance adjusters and insurance companies who may or may not do the right thing. To make sure that your interests are protected and that you are getting all of the compensation (including lost wages, pain and suffering, etc) that you deserve, you should talk with an experienced attorney.
If you have suffered a work-related injury, Mason & Associates PC would be happy to help. Please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge.
Wrongful Death
The sudden and unexpected death of a loved one might well be one of the most tragic events in our life. The pain, grief, loss and devastation are very real. It’s even harder to face when we know that a mother, father, wife, husband, sister, brother, or child has died as a result of someone else’s negligence, recklessness or carelessness. In addition to the overwhelming emotional loss, in many cases there is also a substantial financial loss when a supporting parent, spouse or sibling is killed. In some situations, families lose not only their loved ones but their complete way of life (their home, schools and familiar surroundings). In other words, they sometimes lose the means to simply continue living and functioning as they did before their loved one was wrongfully taken away.
Although there is no way to replace a loved one, our system of justice recognizes and stands for the principle that someone who has caused significant harm to another person must be fully responsible for the harm that they have caused. Let us help you understand all of your legal rights in this very difficult time, and hold the negligent persons or corporations fully responsible for the very real harm that they have caused your family.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, please call 770-982-1800 or e-mail one of our attorneys right away. There is no charge and we would be happy to discuss your case.