Personal injury is a legal term for an injury that has been inflicted on the physical or psychological health of a person, as opposed to damage or harm to property. Personal injuries fall under a form of civil law known as tort law, which exists to address civil wrongdoings. In a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges their injury has been caused by the negligence of another and seeks compensation for those injuries.
Because personal injury can occur under a vast range of different situations, some personal injury lawyers specialize in only one area of personal injury law, including but not limited to workplace injuries, automobile accident injuries or defective products.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to the negligent or reckless actions of another person, you may wish to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine if you are eligible for compensation.
Facts about the Personal Injury Lawyer
What is the difference between a personal injury lawyer and a general attorney?
General attorneys practice different types of law at the same time. Though most law firms accept many different types of cases, some general attorneys prefer to specialize in a particular field of law such as family law, real estate law, tax or bankruptcy law and so on.
In comparison, a personal injury lawyer specializes in legal cases pertaining solely to personal injuries. In many instances an injury lawyer will have a more complete knowledge of the laws surrounding car accident and personal injury torts than a general attorney will. Injury attorneys typically represent clients who are seeking compensation for one or more of the following common causes of personal injury:
Among the most common types of personal injuries are:
- Traffic accidents
- Tripping, slipping or falling accidents
- Assault claims
- Work accidents
- Accidents caused by defective products
- Medical or dental malpractice
- Animal and dog attacks
- Accidents that took place on holiday
Personal injury attorneys also handle medical or dental accidents, which at times can lead to malpractice law suits. Due to improved diagnostic testing, employee awareness and union advocates, injury attorneys are seeing an increase in injury claims that are related to industrial illnesses, such as exposure to asbestos and the onset of mesothelioma, respiratory diseases such as emphysema, chronic asthma or bronchitis, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic obstructive airways disease. Additional work-related injuries lawyers are helping victims achieve compensation for also include repetitive strain injuries, stress, skin irritations or burns and occupational deafness.
Facts about Personal Injury Compensation
When the negligence of another party can be proven, the injured may be entitled to monetary compensation. For many attorneys personal injury clients come to them once their medical or emotional recovery, and likewise their personal injury case, has become extremely complex, such as when dealing with an uncooperative insurance company or in medical malpractice cases.
An injury attorney may advise their clients that the amount of compensation for personal injuries primarily depends on the severity of the injury. Serious injuries such as broken bones, amputated limbs and brain damage cause intense physical and emotional pain and suffering. Severe injuries such as these typically receive the highest injury settlements.
Under the guidance of experienced lawyers personal injury clients may learn they are entitled to addition compensation separate from the injuries themselves. A person injured due to the negligent acts of another may also be compensated for how the injuries have impacted his or her life. If the injured can no longer participate in activities and employment that once defined parts of their life, they may be awarded for what’s known as ‘loss of amenity’ and ‘loss of congenial employment.’
Payments for personal injury settlements are typically structured. As such you or the injured party will receive your compensation in fixed amounts on a set schedule. The structured nature of personal injury compensation is intended to financially protect the victim and their family by providing tax benefits and suitable structure for financial planning for the future needs personal injury victims.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the actions of a reckless or negligent party, an injury lawyer can determine if you are eligible for compensation and help you confront big insurance companies to get the injury settlement you deserve.
Facts about Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
You might require the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer if any of the following applies to your case:
- There are complex legal rules surrounding personal injury claims;
- The severity of your injuries causes your compensation to vary significantly from the norm;
- The insurance company refuses to settle a matter in good faith.
How to Find the Right Injury Lawyer for your Case
The easiest way to find a personal injury lawyer in your area is to ask friends, family and other lawyers for referrals. Be sure to interview the candidates so you are confident that you have the right expert representing your personal injuries and negotiating for your personal injury compensation. Some of the key assets you must be on the lookout for in personal injury attorneys will be education, area of specialization, experience and fees.