I’m of the belief that part of my reason for being is to help other people. There are tons of ways I can do that, whether it be donating clothes or food to local shelters and assistance programs, giving money to my church and other causes, or volunteering my time for local charities. Professionally, though, the way I help people is through my training and experience as a lawyer to pilot my clients through the pitfalls and snares of their personal injury claims.
“Personal injury” is a legal term that defines cases where a person is harmed by another person or entity. Personal injury cases are generally based on claims of negligence. A defendant in a personal injury case is not often accused of malice, but rather carelessness or disregard of the safety of others.
By pursuing a personal injury claim, injury victims aim to hold the people who harmed them accountable for their actions and recover compensation for the resulting damages.
There are several kinds of personal injury claims, but most of them arise out of car crashes, motorcycle crashes, slip and falls, dog bites, dangerous or harmful consumer products, and defects on others’ property that causes an injury.
A successful personal injury claim may result in a settlement or an in-trial verdict. The end goal of most cases is to recover compensation to cover the damages that resulted from the injury. Whether the compensation is allotted through a lump sum or periodic payments, the intention is to refund victims for their current and future expenses.
Personal injury plaintiffs may be entitled to coverage for:
- Medical bills
- Transportation costs
- Lost wages
In some cases, injury victims are able to receive compensation for non-financial damages. Coverage for pain and suffering and punitive damages are two types of compensation a victim may be able to recover. The impact of pain and suffering is not quantifiable, so attorneys or juries must attempt to arrive at a figure they believe is just. Punitive damages, which are meant to be a penalty for the defendant’s actions, are rare. Additional compensation may be added to a settlement or verdict as a consequence in severe cases of negligence.
If you were injured because of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out to our firm to discuss your case.
Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation. You can call (502) 633-6002 to get in touch with our lawyers.