Personal injury is a broad term used to describe the damage done to a person’s body, mental health, or reputation by another party. The law then narrows down the type of personal injuries and the potential damages incurred. If you suffered an injury, either because of someone’s negligence or malicious intent, you have the right to seek recovery for your losses. The first step is determining what caused your injury and who is responsible for the damages.
Personal injury attorneys see cases ranging from motorcycle accidents to claims of slander. This is because injuries to the body, emotional state, and reputation can have significant financial repercussions. Therefore, victims of personal injuries can use the civil court to hold the at-fault party accountable.
The most common personal injury lawsuits involve some form of an auto accident, including multi-vehicle, single vehicle, pedestrian, motorcycle, and truck accidents. The most dangerous and deadly are often truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. Whether the accident is minor or severe, victims can file a claim or lawsuit as long there are damages. Other common examples of personal injury cases include:
Not all personal injuries involve negligence. Victims of intentional personal injuries, such as assault and battery, can file a civil lawsuit seeking damages. However, there is typically a criminal case to punish the defendant as well.
Damage to a person’s reputation is also a form of personal injury. For example, suppose someone made a defamatory public statement about you. In that case, you have the right to seek compensation for any losses associated with the damage that statement caused to your reputation. There are two types of defamation:
The damages from a defamation case can refer to actual financial losses, such as damage to the plaintiff’s business or career. However, defaming someone can also cause emotional and psychological harm, another personal injury and potential form of damages.
One crucial law to remember in reference to personal injury lawsuits is the statute of limitations. Every type of case has a timeframe in which you can file your claim, and if you fail to file during that time, the court will likely not review your case. For example, the statute of limitations for an auto accident case is three years in most states, but you typically only have two years to file a wrongful death suit.
A critical legal concept in a personal injury case is liability. In cases involving negligence, the plaintiff carries the burden of proof, meaning they must prove the defendant caused the accident by failing to uphold their duty of care to the plaintiff and that the accident resulted in the plaintiff’s injuries. Some cases may result in a determination of shared liability. When both parties share responsibility, the court typically follows the comparative negligence rule to determine how much the plaintiff can receive in compensation.
According to the comparative negligence rule, the plaintiff can receive a portion of the final value of their losses. The court determines an exact percentage of fault to assign to the plaintiff, and that percentage is then removed from compensation. Additionally, there are two types of comparative negligence:
Only 13 states adhere to the pure comparative negligence rule. A handful of states apply contributory negligence laws to some personal injury cases, such as car accidents. Contributory negligence laws restrict the ability to recover damages only to those with zero fault for the accident.
The damages from a personal injury case vary depending on the case type and the injury’s severity. The compensatory damages cover the economic and non-economic loss. Examples include:
There is no average settlement amount from a personal injury case because the amount and value of damages vary significantly. Additionally, you may receive punitive damages in cases where the defendant’s actions were deemed inexcusable.
Personal injury lawsuits can become complex. As the plaintiff, you are burdened with the task of presenting sufficient evidence for each of the damages you claim. Much of your case rides on your ability to seek and find proof of your injuries. A personal injury attorney not only has experience building cases like yours, but they also have resources you likely do not have. Additionally, they typically work on a contingency fee basis. You have nothing to lose by contacting a personal injury attorney. They get paid only if they accept your case and win.
Overall, personal injury victims recover fairer compensation for their losses when they hire legal representation. At Phillips Law Group, our team of personal injury attorneys is available to review your claim, determine who is at fault, and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. We understand how insurance companies work and have experience communicating with them for our clients. We will explore and exhaust every option to pursue recovery of all damages within your rights. Contact Phillips Law Group today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We are able and ready to get started on your case right away.
