Injuries can happen any day and at any time. When a severe injury occurs as the result of someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, it may be time to take legal action. Read on to find out more about personal injuries and your rights if a personal injury happens to you.
What is a Personal Injury?
A personal injury is defined as a mental or physical injury caused by someone else’s negligence, intentional actions, or strict liability. Personal injuries can refer to any type of injury that occurred to a person and can include the following:
- Car Accidents
- Work-Related Accidents
- Wrongful Death
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Medical or Dental Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Sexual Abuse
- Dog Bites
- Injuries that Occur Due to a Product Defect or Malfunction
- Railroad Accidents
Common Causes of Personal Injuries
Negligence: Negligence is the most common cause of personal injury. It means that your accident was caused by a lack of care on another person’s behalf. For example, in the case of a car accident, a person may have run a red light or rear-ended you because they weren’t paying attention. In a work-related accident, an employer may have neglected to follow certain safety precautions with injuries occurring as a result.
Intentional Harm: This is a type of personal injury that occurs if someone intentionally set out to harm you. Some examples of intentional harm include battery, assault, and false imprisonment.
Strict Liability: When a product is introduced to the public, it is the company’s job to make sure the product is safe. If the company intentionally or unintentionally produced, distributed, or sold a product that resulted in a personal injury, they may be guilty of strict liability.
Compensation for a Personal Injury Accident
If you became injured in any type of accident that could be considered a personal injury accident, you might be entitled to compensation. Common types of compensation include:
- Medical Compensation: This will cover any medical expenses that were incurred due to immediate care of the injury as well as any ongoing care that is needed.
- Loss of Income: When you incur a personal injury, you will likely have to take some time off work to recover. In some cases, a personal injury can result in disability, so the person is unable to return to work at all or they must take another position because they are unable to perform the duties their career requires. The injured party is entitled to be compensated for any loss of income that occurs due to their injury.
- Emotional and Mental Damage: A personal injury can take an emotional and mental toll. The person suffering must deal with consequences such as physical pain, reduced social life, and other factors that negatively affect the quality of life. It can be hard to put a monetary amount on what a person is owed for emotional and mental suffering, but the right lawyer will see to it that you are compensated fairly.
Finding the Right Lawyer is Important
If you were the victim of a personal injury accident, it is important to team up with the right lawyer. He or she will help you gather evidence to build a strong case. They will determine the amount of compensation you are owed. They will use their legal expertise to make sure you get a fair settlement or fight for you in court to see to it that justice is served.
A personal injury can greatly affect your quality of life. If you have been injured in an accident, the right lawyer can take the legal stress off your shoulders so you can focus on what’s truly important– healing.
