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We don’t just care about personal injury law.

We care about protecting our community.

Don’t you hate having to wait for your insurance settlement?

It can be terrible when the insurance company constantly make low ball offers. It doesn’t have to be that way. We know how to fix this problem. We have helped hundreds of people achieve justice. We can do the same for you.

Personal Injury Attorney Atlanta, GA

We don’t just care about personal injury law.

We care about protecting our community.

Don’t you hate having to wait for your insurance settlement?

It can be terrible when the insurance company constantly makes low ball offers. It doesn’t have to be that way. We know how to fix this problem. We have helped hundreds of people achieve justice. We can do the same for you.

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Contact Us

Gunnels Injury Law handles many aspects of personal injury law. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a negligent person, contact us today.

Gunnels Injury Law

1600 Parkwood Circle SE, Suite 330
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

Phone: (770) 285-1959

Fax: (770) 452-3669

Personal Injury Attorney Atlanta, GA

When someone else’s carelessness turns your life upside down, you shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone while also trying to heal. Gunnels Injury Law represents injured people throughout Atlanta and the surrounding Georgia counties across a wide range of personal injury matters, from car and truck accidents to medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, and wrongful death. Christopher D. Gunnels spent years on the other side of the table, representing insurance companies, before deciding to put that experience to work for injured people instead. He knows how insurance adjusters evaluate claims, what tactics they use to minimize payouts, and how to build a case that forces a fair resolution, whether that happens at the negotiating table or in front of a jury.

Below you’ll find a detailed overview of every practice area we handle, along with links to dedicated pages covering the specifics of each type of claim. Whatever brought you to this page, we encourage you to read through the section that applies to your situation, and then reach out for a free consultation. There’s no cost and no obligation, and it’s often the fastest way to understand where you stand.

Why Injured Clients Choose Gunnels Injury Law

Not every personal injury case is the same, and not every attorney approaches them the same way. We built our practice around a few core commitments that we apply to every case we take on, regardless of size:

  • We work exclusively on personal injury matters. We don’t split our attention across criminal defense, family law, or other unrelated practice areas. Every case that comes through our door gets the benefit of an attorney who handles this type of claim daily.
  • We know the insurance industry from the inside. Christopher Gunnels spent years defending insurance companies before switching sides. That means we know how adjusters value claims, what evidence moves the needle, and where the pressure points are in a negotiation.
  • We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies keep track of which attorneys are willing to take a case in front of a jury and which ones will settle for whatever is offered. We make sure we’re always in the first category, because it consistently leads to better settlement offers.
  • You never pay anything upfront. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
  • We treat your case like it matters, because it does. You’re not a file number to us. We understand that an injury doesn’t just affect your body; it affects your ability to work, your relationships, and your peace of mind.

Practice Areas We Handle

Personal Injury

Personal injury law is the umbrella under which all of the specific claim types below fall. At its core, it covers any situation where another person, business, or entity’s negligence causes you physical, emotional, or financial harm. Georgia law generally gives injured people two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit, though certain types of claims, like those involving medical malpractice or a government entity, carry different rules and shorter notice requirements. Because the details of your claim, from liability to the extent of your damages, determine everything about how your case should be handled, it’s worth having an experienced attorney evaluate your situation even if you’re not sure it qualifies as a “big” case. If you’re not sure which category below best describes your situation, our Atlanta personal injury attorney page offers a deeper look at how these claims work generally, or you can simply call our office and we’ll help you sort it out.

Car Accidents

Car accidents remain one of the most common ways people in the Atlanta area suffer serious injuries, and they range from minor fender-benders to high-speed collisions on interstates like I-75, I-85, and I-285 that leave victims with life-altering injuries. Because car accident claims are so common, insurance companies have well-established playbooks for minimizing what they pay out, including pressuring injured people into early recorded statements, disputing the connection between an accident and certain injuries, and offering quick lowball settlements before the full extent of an injury is known. Georgia’s modified comparative negligence system also means fault can be contested and apportioned between parties, which can significantly affect what you’re able to recover. Our Atlanta car accident lawyer page goes into detail on how we build these cases and what to expect at each stage of a claim.

Truck Accidents

Wrecks involving commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large vehicles bring an entirely different set of rules into play compared to a standard car accident. Commercial drivers and the companies that employ them are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations covering hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and driver qualifications, and violations of these rules are often central to proving negligence. These cases also frequently involve multiple potentially liable parties, including the driver, the trucking company, and sometimes a third-party maintenance provider or parts manufacturer, along with significantly higher insurance policy limits than a typical auto claim. Because the evidence in these cases, like electronic logging data and black box recorders, can be altered or lost quickly, it’s important to get an attorney involved as soon as possible after the crash. Visit our Atlanta truck accident lawyer page to learn more about how these claims are investigated and valued.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists face a two-fold disadvantage after a crash: they’re statistically more likely to suffer severe injuries due to the lack of any protective enclosure, and they often face unfair bias from insurance adjusters and even jurors who assume riders are inherently reckless. Georgia law affords motorcyclists the same rights and protections on the road as any other driver, and a rider’s choice to ride a motorcycle, on its own, is never evidence of fault. That said, because these cases often turn heavily on overcoming preconceived notions about motorcyclists, having an attorney experienced specifically in motorcycle claims can make a real difference in the outcome. Our Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer page explains how we approach these cases and push back against unfair assumptions.

Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists are legally entitled to share the road with motor vehicles in Georgia, and drivers have a corresponding duty to watch for them, particularly at intersections, in bike lanes, and when passing. Unfortunately, drivers frequently fail to look for cyclists before turning or changing lanes, and the resulting collisions can cause serious injury given the complete lack of protection a bicycle offers its rider. These cases often hinge on reconstructing exactly what happened in the moments before impact, which can require traffic camera footage, witness accounts, and sometimes accident reconstruction experts. See our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyer page for more on how we investigate and pursue these claims.

Pedestrian Accidents

Being struck by a vehicle while on foot often results in some of the most catastrophic injuries we see in our practice, since a pedestrian has absolutely no protective barrier between themselves and thousands of pounds of moving metal. Georgia law imposes specific duties on drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and to exercise general caution around pedestrians in areas where they can reasonably be expected, such as school zones and residential streets. At the same time, pedestrians have their own responsibilities, like using crosswalks when available, and insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the injured pedestrian to reduce their payout. Our Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer page walks through how fault is typically evaluated in these cases and what compensation may be available.

Boat Accidents

Boating accidents on Georgia’s lakes and waterways involve a distinct combination of state boating safety regulations and, in some circumstances, federal maritime law, particularly on navigable interstate waterways. These cases often present unique evidentiary challenges, since there’s rarely a police report generated the way there would be after a car accident, and witnesses, weather conditions, and vessel damage can be harder to document and preserve quickly. Whether the accident involved another vessel, a rented boat, or a negligent operator, it’s important to have an attorney who understands both personal injury law and the specific rules that apply on the water. Learn more on our Atlanta boat accident lawyer page.

Drunk Driving Accidents

When a drunk driver causes your accident, you may have additional avenues for compensation beyond a standard car accident claim. In addition to pursuing the driver directly, Georgia’s dram shop laws in some circumstances allow injured victims to bring a claim against a bar, restaurant, or other establishment that knowingly served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated patron or a minor who went on to cause a crash. These cases also frequently benefit from evidence generated in a related criminal proceeding, such as police reports, field sobriety test results, and breathalyzer or blood alcohol readings, all of which can strengthen a civil claim for damages. Visit our Atlanta drunk driving accident attorney page to learn more about how these cases are built.

Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can permanently alter a person’s memory, mood, cognitive ability, and overall quality of life, sometimes without any visible external sign of injury at all. Symptoms often don’t fully surface until hours or days after an accident, which makes prompt and thorough medical evaluation critical, both for the injured person’s health and for properly documenting the injury for a legal claim. Because the effects of a brain injury can extend for years or an entire lifetime, these cases typically require input from medical experts and life-care planners to fully account for the long-term cost of treatment, therapy, and support the person will need going forward. Our Atlanta brain injury lawyer page covers what to expect from this type of claim.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners and businesses in Georgia have a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors, and when they fail to address known hazards, like wet floors, poor lighting, uneven walking surfaces, or cluttered walkways, serious injuries can result. Successfully pursuing one of these claims requires showing that the property owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or provide adequate warning. These cases tend to be more evidence-intensive than a typical car accident claim, often relying on surveillance footage, incident reports, and maintenance records that can be difficult to obtain once too much time has passed. See our Atlanta slip and fall lawyer page for details on how we build and prove these cases.

Medical Malpractice

When a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure causes further injury, the patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. These cases cover a wide range of circumstances, including surgical errors, medication mistakes, failure to diagnose a serious condition, anesthesia errors, and birth injuries, among others. Georgia imposes specific procedural requirements on medical malpractice cases that don’t apply to other personal injury claims, including a mandatory expert affidavit that must be filed alongside the complaint certifying that a qualified medical professional believes the claim has merit. Because of these added requirements and the highly technical nature of medical evidence, it’s especially important to have an attorney experienced specifically in medical malpractice litigation. Our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer page explains this process in more detail.

Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable people in our community, often dependent entirely on facility staff for basic needs like nutrition, hygiene, mobility assistance, and medical care. When facilities are understaffed or staff are negligent, the results can range from malnutrition and dehydration to pressure sores, unexplained injuries from falls, and worse. Georgia’s Division of Aging Services investigates reports of abuse or neglect in long-term care facilities, and filing a report with that agency can work alongside, though is separate from, a civil claim seeking compensation for your loved one. These cases often require careful documentation over time, since signs of neglect can be subtle at first and facilities may resist acknowledging problems internally. Learn more on our Atlanta nursing home abuse attorney page.

Dog Bites

Dog attacks can leave lasting physical scars and lasting emotional trauma, particularly for children. Georgia law generally requires showing that a dog owner knew, or reasonably should have known, that their dog had dangerous or vicious tendencies, along with some degree of carelessness in controlling the animal, before the owner can be held liable for an attack. This standard, sometimes referred to informally as a “first bite” consideration, means these cases often turn on evidence of a dog’s prior history, such as previous complaints, veterinary records, or neighbor testimony. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance frequently provides the source of compensation in these cases, making it important to identify and pursue all available coverage. Visit our Atlanta dog bite lawyer page for more information on how these claims work.

Negligent Security

Businesses and property owners in high-crime areas have an obligation to take reasonable security precautions to protect the people on their property, and when they fail to do so, victims of resulting crimes may have a claim for negligent security. These cases commonly arise at apartment complexes, hotels, shopping centers, gas stations, bars, and parking garages, particularly where the property owner was aware of a history of criminal activity on or near the premises and failed to respond with adequate lighting, security personnel, locks, or surveillance. Proving what a property owner knew, and when, is often the central challenge in these cases, which is why prompt investigation, including gathering prior police reports and incident logs, is so important. Our Atlanta negligent security lawyer page explains what these cases require in more detail.

Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one because of another person’s or entity’s negligence is one of the most painful experiences a family can go through, and Georgia law provides specific legal avenues for surviving family members to pursue compensation. Georgia generally gives the surviving spouse the first right to bring a wrongful death claim, followed by surviving children if there is no spouse, and then the deceased’s parents if there are no surviving children or spouse; the administrator of the deceased’s estate may also be able to bring a related claim in some circumstances. Damages in these cases can include the full value of the life lost, along with funeral and burial costs, medical expenses related to the fatal injury, and the loss of companionship suffered by surviving family. See our Atlanta wrongful death attorney page to learn more about who can file and what compensation may be available.

Our Process

Every case is different, but most personal injury claims move through a similar general process:

  1. Free consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, answer your initial questions, and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a viable claim.
  2. Investigation and evidence preservation. We move quickly to gather police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any other evidence relevant to your claim before it disappears.
  3. Medical treatment and documentation. We want you focused on your recovery. We’ll stay in touch with your treatment providers as needed to make sure your case accurately reflects the full extent of your injuries.
  4. Demand and negotiation. Once we understand the full value of your damages, we present a demand to the insurance company and negotiate on your behalf.
  5. Litigation, if necessary. If the insurance company won’t offer a fair resolution, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case through litigation and, if needed, trial.

Areas We Serve

We represent injured clients throughout Atlanta and the surrounding Georgia counties, including Fulton County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, Clayton County, Cherokee County, Forsyth County, Fayette County, Coweta County, Carroll County, and Douglas County. Wherever your accident occurred, we’re prepared to travel to meet you, visit you in the hospital, or handle your consultation by phone or video if that’s easier for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing out of pocket, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. This lets anyone access quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation at the time of their injury.

Bring anything you have related to your accident: police or incident reports, photos, medical records or bills, insurance correspondence, and contact information for any witnesses. If you don’t have everything yet, don’t worry — we can help track down what’s missing once we’re representing you.

Be cautious. A fast, early offer is often a sign the insurance company wants to resolve your claim before you know the full extent of your injuries or damages. Once you accept a settlement, you typically can’t go back and ask for more later, even if it turns out your injuries were worse than initially thought.

Yes. A police report is one piece of evidence, but it isn’t the final word on liability. We regularly build cases using additional evidence like traffic camera footage, vehicle damage patterns, and witness statements to establish fault even when the initial report is inconclusive.

Depending on the circumstances, liability may extend to the trucking company that employed the driver, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance provider, or even a parts manufacturer if a mechanical defect contributed to the crash. Identifying every liable party is often key to recovering full compensation.

Commercial truck drivers are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations covering hours of service, vehicle inspections, and driver qualifications, among other things. Violations of these regulations can be strong evidence of negligence in your case.

Georgia requires motorcyclists to carry the same minimum liability coverage as other drivers, but because motorcycle injuries tend to be more severe, we strongly recommend carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as well, in case the at-fault driver’s policy isn’t enough to cover your damages.

Insurance companies sometimes try to argue that certain gear choices contributed to the severity of your injuries. Whether this holds up depends heavily on the specific facts, which is one reason it’s important to have an attorney who can push back on unfair assumptions about motorcyclists.

Generally, yes. Georgia law treats bicycles as vehicles for most traffic law purposes, meaning cyclists have a right to use the road and drivers have a duty to share it safely. Violations of a cyclist’s right of way can be strong evidence of driver negligence.

This is a common defense tactic, but it doesn’t automatically excuse a driver from liability. Drivers have an obligation to keep a proper lookout for cyclists, and evidence like traffic camera footage or accident reconstruction can often disprove this kind of claim.

Pedestrians have no protective barrier at all, which tends to result in more severe injuries. Georgia law also places specific duties on drivers to watch for and yield to pedestrians, particularly in crosswalks and school zones, which can strengthen a pedestrian’s claim.

Possibly. Georgia’s comparative negligence rules mean you can still recover compensation even if you share some fault, as long as you’re found less than 50 percent responsible, though your recovery would be reduced by your percentage of fault. It’s worth having an attorney evaluate the specific circumstances rather than assuming you have no claim.

Boating accidents in Georgia waters can involve both state boating safety laws and, in some cases, federal maritime law, particularly if the accident occurred on navigable waterways. These overlapping rules can affect where and how a claim is pursued.

Evidence at the scene of a boating accident, like vessel damage, weather conditions, and witness accounts from other boaters, can disappear quickly. It’s important to document everything you can immediately and involve an attorney early so evidence isn’t lost before a claim can be properly investigated.

In some situations, yes. Georgia’s dram shop laws allow injured victims to pursue a claim against an establishment that knowingly served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated patron or a minor who then caused an accident, in addition to a claim against the driver.

A DUI conviction is strong evidence but isn’t an automatic win in a separate civil case, since the two proceedings have different legal standards. That said, the police report and evidence used in the criminal case, like breathalyzer results, often become valuable evidence supporting your personal injury claim.

Symptoms like memory problems, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and sensitivity to light or noise can take hours or even days to fully surface after an accident. This is one reason it’s important to get a full medical evaluation even if you feel generally okay immediately after a crash or fall.

Serious brain injury cases often require input from medical and life-care planning experts to estimate the cost of future treatment, therapy, and support the person will need over their lifetime. This is a critical piece of properly valuing a brain injury claim, since damages awarded upfront need to cover care for years or decades to come.

Common hazards include wet or recently mopped floors without warning signs, uneven walking surfaces, poor lighting, loose flooring or carpeting, and cluttered walkways. Whether a specific condition supports a claim depends on whether the property owner knew or should have known about it and failed to fix or warn of it.

Yes. While video footage is often very helpful, it isn’t required to bring a successful claim. Incident reports, witness statements, photographs of the hazard, and expert testimony about safety standards can all help establish what happened and who was responsible.

Georgia requires plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases to file an expert affidavit along with the complaint, certifying that a qualified medical expert believes the claim has merit. This and other procedural requirements make it especially important to have an attorney experienced in medical malpractice specifically, not just general personal injury.

Georgia previously had caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, though the legal landscape around these caps has shifted over time due to court rulings. Because this area of law can change, it’s important to talk to an attorney about how current law applies to your specific situation.

Georgia’s Division of Aging Services, part of the Department of Human Services, investigates reports of abuse or neglect in long-term care facilities. Filing a report with this agency is separate from, but can support, a civil claim for compensation on behalf of your loved one.

In some situations, yes, particularly if multiple family members were affected or if the claim is being brought on behalf of the resident’s estate. The right structure for the claim depends on the specific relationships and circumstances involved, which is something an attorney can help sort out early on.

Not automatically. Georgia generally requires showing that the owner knew or should have known their dog had dangerous tendencies, often referred to as the “first bite” consideration, along with some form of carelessness in controlling the animal.

You can still potentially bring a claim, though your status on the property (invited guest versus trespasser, for example) can affect the legal analysis. An attorney can help evaluate how Georgia premises liability principles apply to your specific situation.

Apartment complexes, hotels, shopping centers, gas stations, bars, and parking garages are common settings for negligent security claims, particularly in areas with a known history of criminal activity. If a property owner was aware of prior incidents and failed to take reasonable precautions, that history can support your claim.

Evidence can include prior police reports for the same location, incident logs kept by the business, testimony from employees or neighboring businesses, and local crime statistics for the area. Gathering this evidence early is important, since it can become harder to access the longer you wait.

Georgia law generally gives the surviving spouse the first right to file, followed by surviving children if there’s no spouse, and then the deceased person’s parents if there are no surviving spouse or children. In some cases, the administrator of the deceased’s estate may also be able to bring a claim.

Yes. A wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family for the full value of the life lost, while a separate survival action allows the deceased’s estate to recover for expenses like medical bills and the deceased’s own pain and suffering before passing. These can often be pursued together.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one has been injured because of someone else’s negligence, don’t wait to get answers. Call our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our Atlanta personal injury attorney. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and help you understand the strongest path forward for your case.