IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY
STATE OF GEORGIA
[PLAINTIFF’S FULL LEGAL NAME],
Plaintiff,
v. Civil Action File No. __
[DEFENDANT DRIVER’S FULL LEGAL NAME], and
[DEFENDANT OWNER/EMPLOYER’S FULL LEGAL NAME] (if applicable),
Defendants.
COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY – AUTO ACCIDENT
[// GUIDANCE: Insert the clerk-assigned civil action number once issued. Verify venue in the county where at least one Defendant resides (O.C.G.A. § 9-10-93) or where the collision occurred if venue lies there under joint-tort-feasor rules.]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Parties
- Jurisdiction and Venue
- Factual Allegations
- Causes of Action
4.1 Count I – Negligence
4.2 Count II – Negligence Per Se
4.3 Count III – Punitive Damages
4.4 Count IV – Vicarious / Owner Liability (if applicable) - Comparative Negligence Statement
- Damages
- Prayer for Relief
- Jury Demand
- Verification
- Service List & Acknowledgment
1. Parties
1.1 Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF NAME] (“Plaintiff”) is a resident of [County, State], is sui juris, and at all pertinent times was lawfully operating a motor vehicle on Georgia public roadways.
1.2 Defendant [DRIVER NAME] (“Driver”) is a resident of [County, State], is sui juris, and may be served at [physical address], or wherever found.
1.3 Defendant [OWNER/EMPLOYER NAME] (“Owner/Employer”) is a [corporation / LLC / individual] organized under the laws of [State], with its principal place of business at [address], and may be served via its registered agent, [agent name & address].
[// GUIDANCE: Omit Section 1.3 if Driver owns the vehicle personally. Add additional Defendants (e.g., UM carrier) as appropriate.]
2. Jurisdiction and Venue
2.1 This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over tort claims pursuant to the Georgia Constitution and O.C.G.A. § 15-6-8.
2.2 Personal jurisdiction exists because Defendants are residents of Georgia, transact business in Georgia, and/or committed a tortious act within Georgia.
2.3 Venue is proper in this County under O.C.G.A. §§ 9-10-91, 9-10-93, and 40-1-117 because at least one Defendant resides here and/or the collision giving rise to this action occurred here.
3. Factual Allegations
3.1 On [date] at approximately [time], Plaintiff was operating a [year/make/model] eastbound on [roadway/highway] near [mile marker/intersection] in [County], Georgia.
3.2 Driver was operating a [year/make/model] owned by [Owner/Employer] in the same vicinity.
3.3 Driver negligently, carelessly, and unlawfully:
(a) Failed to keep a proper lookout;
(b) Followed too closely (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-49);
(c) Traveled at a speed greater than was reasonable and prudent under conditions (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-180); and/or
(d) Violated other applicable traffic statutes and regulations.
3.4 As a direct and proximate result, Driver’s vehicle collided with Plaintiff’s vehicle, causing violent impact.
3.5 Plaintiff suffered serious bodily injuries, including but not limited to [list injuries], has incurred and will continue to incur medical expenses, lost wages, diminution of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages.
3.6 All conditions precedent to the filing of this action have been satisfied, waived, or excused.
4. Causes of Action
4.1 Count I – Negligence
4.1.1 Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1–3 by reference.
4.1.2 Under Georgia law, every person has a duty to exercise ordinary care not to injure others (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-2).
4.1.3 Driver breached that duty by the acts and omissions set forth above.
4.1.4 Driver’s negligence proximately caused Plaintiff’s injuries and damages.
4.2 Count II – Negligence Per Se
4.2.1 Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1–3 and 4.1 by reference.
4.2.2 Driver violated one or more traffic statutes cited in Paragraph 3.3.
4.2.3 Such statutory violations constitute negligence per se under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-6 and proximately caused Plaintiff’s injuries.
4.3 Count III – Punitive Damages
4.3.1 Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1–3, 4.1, and 4.2 by reference.
4.3.2 Driver’s actions demonstrated willful misconduct, wantonness, and an entire want of care indicative of conscious indifference to consequences, warranting punitive damages pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1.
4.3.3 Punitive damages should be awarded in an amount to be determined by the enlightened conscience of the jury, subject to the statutory cap of $250,000 (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1(f)), except as otherwise permitted by law.
4.4 Count IV – Vicarious / Owner Liability (if applicable)
4.4.1 Owner/Employer owned, entrusted, and/or maintained the subject vehicle and allowed Driver to operate it at the time of the collision.
4.4.2 At all relevant times, Driver was acting within the course and scope of employment and/or agency with Owner/Employer, making Owner/Employer vicariously liable under the doctrines of respondeat superior and negligent entrustment.
5. Comparative Negligence Statement
5.1 Plaintiff denies any negligence; however, pursuant to Georgia’s modified comparative negligence statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), Plaintiff’s recovery shall be reduced only by the percentage of fault (if any) attributed to Plaintiff, provided that Plaintiff’s fault is less than 50 percent.
[// GUIDANCE: Including this paragraph pre-emptively addresses Georgia’s apportionment rules and mitigates motions to amend.]
6. Damages
6.1 Past Medical Expenses: $[amount] (to be proven at trial).
6.2 Future Medical Expenses: $[amount].
6.3 Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity: $[amount].
6.4 Pain and Suffering (past and future): To be determined by the enlightened conscience of the jury.
6.5 Property Damage: $[amount] (repair/replacement, diminution).
6.6 Punitive Damages: As alleged in Count III.
6.7 Litigation Costs & Pre-Judgment Interest as allowed by law.
[// GUIDANCE: Replace bracketed amounts with actual figures or “to be proven at trial” if unknown.]
7. Prayer for Relief
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court:
A. Enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendants, jointly and severally;
B. Award general and special damages in an amount to be determined at trial;
C. Award punitive damages as authorized by O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1;
D. Award costs of litigation pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11 and any other applicable statute;
E. Award pre- and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;
F. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
8. Jury Demand
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable as a matter of right under the Constitution of the State of Georgia and O.C.G.A. § 9-11-38.
9. Verification
STATE OF ___ )
COUNTY OF __ )
Personally appeared before the undersigned officer duly authorized to administer oaths, [PLAINTIFF NAME], who, being duly sworn, deposes and states that the facts contained in the foregoing Complaint are true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge, information, and belief.
[PLAINTIFF NAME]
Sworn to and subscribed before me this ___ day of ____, 20__.
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: _
[// GUIDANCE: Verification is not strictly required in Georgia for negligence actions, but including it can bolster credibility and streamline discovery responses.]
10. Service List & Acknowledgment
To: [DEFENDANT DRIVER NAME]
[Address for service]
To: [DEFENDANT OWNER/EMPLOYER NAME]
[Registered agent & address]
This ___ day of ____, 20__.
Respectfully submitted,
[ATTORNEY NAME]
Georgia Bar No. __
[Firm Name]
[Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
[Phone] | [Fax]
[Email]
Counsel for Plaintiff
[// GUIDANCE:
1. Attach the “Civil Case Filing and Information Form” mandated by Uniform Superior Court Rule 3.
2. For service by certified mail, include a Rule 4 notice and acknowledgment.
3. Consider early preservation letters to medical providers and insurers.
4. Evaluate UM/UIM coverage and add insurer as defendant if necessary (O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11).]