If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Georgia, you’ve probably heard some version of this line:
“Most cases don’t actually go to trial.”
That’s true—but here’s what insurance companies don’t advertise: the value of your case often depends on whether your lawyer is truly ready to take it to a jury. When an insurance carrier knows a firm won’t try cases, lowball offers become the norm.
At Kevin Patrick Law, we prepare serious car accident cases from day one as if a jury will ultimately decide them. That approach does two things: it puts real pressure on the defense to pay fair value, and it puts us in position to win when a case does go to trial.
Here’s how jury trials work in Georgia car accident cases, what jurors actually care about, and how Kevin Patrick Law builds cases that hold up in the courtroom.
When a Georgia Car Accident Case Ends Up in Front of a Jury
Many car wreck cases resolve before trial—but not all of them should. A case is more likely to head toward a jury when:
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The insurance company denies fault or shifts blame onto you
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The adjuster claims your injuries are “minor” or “pre-existing”
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You’re told your treatment was “too much” or “unnecessary”
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The crash caused serious, long-term consequences and the offer doesn’t come close to covering them
In those situations, trial preparation isn’t aggressive—it’s necessary. At Kevin Patrick Law, we don’t prepare cases to sound good in emails. We prepare them to make sense to twelve regular Georgians sitting in a jury box.
What a Georgia Jury Actually Decides in a Car Wreck Case
At trial, jurors aren’t asked to solve complicated legal puzzles. They’re deciding a few very practical questions.
1. Who was at fault?
Did the other driver fail to use reasonable care? In car accident cases, that often means:
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Following too closely
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Speeding
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Distracted driving
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Unsafe lane changes
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Running a red light or stop sign
2. Did the crash cause your injuries?
Insurance companies love to argue that injuries came from “something else”—age, prior accidents, old conditions. Georgia law allows recovery for aggravation of pre-existing injuries, but the evidence has to be clear and credible.
3. How much harm did this actually cause?
This includes:
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Medical bills and future medical care
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Lost wages and reduced earning ability
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Pain and suffering
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Loss of enjoyment of life
4. Did you share any fault?
Georgia follows modified comparative negligence under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. If a jury finds you 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. If you’re less than 50% at fault, your damages are reduced by that percentage.
This is why defense lawyers almost always try to blame the injured person—even when liability seems obvious. At Kevin Patrick Law, we build cases with that reality in mind from the very beginning.
Filing Suit and Moving Toward Trial in Georgia
Most cases start as insurance claims. When the carrier refuses to be reasonable, the next step is filing a lawsuit. In Georgia, the general deadline for personal injury cases is two years from the date of the crash under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
Once a lawsuit is filed, the case typically goes through:
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Written discovery (documents and questions)
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Depositions (recorded testimony under oath)
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Motions and hearings
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Mediation or settlement talks
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Trial, if the case doesn’t resolve
Some cases are filed in State Court, others in Superior Court. Either way, the trial process is largely the same.
What Actually Happens During a Georgia Jury Trial
Jury Selection (Voir Dire)
This is where lawyers question potential jurors about their beliefs—lawsuits, pain and suffering, insurance, medical treatment, and personal responsibility.
At Kevin Patrick Law, we don’t pretend jurors come in as blank slates. We address real-world attitudes head-on and work to seat a jury that will listen to the evidence instead of punishing someone for being injured.
Opening Statements
This is the jury’s first look at the case. It’s not about arguing—it’s about explaining what the evidence will show.
We focus on telling a clear, honest story: how the crash happened, what changed afterward, and why the defense’s excuses don’t line up with the facts.
Presenting the Evidence
This is where cases are won or lost. Evidence often includes:
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Medical records and imaging
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Testimony from treating doctors
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Wage and employment records
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Photos, videos, dash cam footage, or body cam
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Testimony from the injured person and people who know them
Jurors don’t live in medical codes or legal jargon. They live in everyday life. We focus on showing how the injury changed daily routines, work, family life, and independence.
Cross-Examination
The defense will usually suggest:
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You waited too long to seek treatment
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You’re exaggerating symptoms
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Your pain comes from something else
Preparation matters here. When the records, timeline, and testimony line up, those attacks lose their power.
Closing Arguments
Closings tie everything together and explain why the evidence satisfies Georgia law. This is also where we talk plainly about damages—what the losses are and why the amount requested is fair.
Jury Deliberation and Verdict
The jury deliberates and returns a verdict on fault and damages. Sometimes responsibility is split. Sometimes it isn’t. Either way, the result reflects how convincing the evidence was.
What Georgia Jurors Care About Most
From years of trial experience, a few things consistently matter to jurors:
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Credibility – Does the story make sense from start to finish?
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Consistency – Do medical records and testimony line up?
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Personal responsibility – Did the defendant cause this?
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Fairness – Is the injured person asking for what they need, not a windfall?
That’s why Kevin Patrick Law focuses on clean, well-documented cases that are easy for jurors to understand.
Why Trial Readiness Changes Settlement Value
Insurance companies track which firms actually try cases. When they know a lawyer is prepared to put witnesses on the stand and explain damages to a jury, settlement discussions look very different.
Many cases resolve before verdict—but they resolve because trial preparation creates leverage.
Talk to Kevin Patrick Law About Your Georgia Car Accident Case
If you’re dealing with blame-shifting, delays, or a settlement offer that doesn’t reflect what you’ve been through, it may be time to talk with a firm that prepares every serious case with a jury in mind.
Kevin Patrick Law handles Georgia car accident cases with one goal: building cases strong enough to win in court—and powerful enough to force fair results before trial.
Call today to discuss:
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Whether your case should settle or be tried
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What evidence will matter most in your situation
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How Georgia’s comparative fault rules could affect your recovery
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different.