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The Basics of Personal Injury
Personal injury law, which involves civil claims for damages covers situations in which a person’s body, mind, or emotions are hurt, usually due to someone else’s negligence or intentional acts. This can include wrongful death or situations where an injury proves fatal.
Property damage may also be involved when dealing with personal injury claims. For example, in an action involving a car accident, the injured party may be entitled to damages to their car as well as to their body.
In a personal injury lawsuit, the injured party (“Plaintiff”) typically claims that the responsible party (“Defendant”) caused the plaintiff’s injury and demands compensation, usually in the form of a monetary payment known as damages.
There are basically two types of damages a Plaintiff may pursue in a personal injury matter:
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Special Damages
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General Damages
Common Personal Injury Cases
Below are some examples of the most common personal injury cases:
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Car accidents, which also includes auto accidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and large trucks;
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Consumer product liability cases, which may involve defective products, harmful medications, and recalled products
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Injuries caused by animals, most typically dog bites
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Slip and fall injuries or injuries occurring when an individual is hurt on a third party’s property. This is often referred to as premises liability.
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Medical and Dental Malpractice
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Injuries to reputation caused by defamation or injuries to mental and emotional health caused by intentional infliction of emotional distress or caused by a physical injury.
When you or someone you know is injured, you will have a lot of uncertainty and will need to make many quick important decisions. You should always seek immediate medical attention for any injuries and should also seek the assistance of qualified, experienced legal representation.