If you have ever suffered an injury in an accident, you might already be familiar with the process of seeking compensation. But Georgia made changes in 2025 that you might not be aware of.
Changes in injury claim valuation
Before the reforms, jurors often considered the total listed on a medical bill, even when an insurer had negotiated a lower rate. Under the new law, both sides may present the billed price and the sum required to satisfy it under the health plan, but recovery is limited to the reasonable value of medically necessary care.
That comparison gives jurors more context when deciding what the care was worth, particularly if the bill greatly exceeds the amount a provider would accept. Either side can also challenge the need for past or future treatment and the price assigned to it.
Fault allocation under revised rules
Either party in a personal injury or wrongful death case may demand bifurcation in writing before the court enters the pretrial order. The jury then decides liability and assigns fault before hearing evidence about damages. As a result, you may need to establish what happened before the jury learns the full extent of your injuries.
If less than $150,000 is in dispute, the court can deny a split trial after the opposing party objects. Your case would then proceed as a single trial, where the jury hears the fault evidence and the damages evidence together.
Jurors can lower your award based on your share of responsibility, and you cannot recover anything if they find you 50% or more at fault. In a motor vehicle case, the panel can also consider whether failing to wear a seat belt made the injuries worse and reduce compensation as a result.
Preparation strategies to consider
Building a claim under the new rules starts with records showing what happened and how the injury affected you. Medical bills and insurance statements can document treatment costs, while photographs and witness accounts can help establish fault.
A court may consider when the injury occurred and when the lawsuit began to identify the governing rules. The provisions for medical expenses and negligent security generally cover injuries that happened on or after April 21, 2025, while the seat belt provision applies to motor vehicle cases filed on or after that date.