What can be considered as a personal injury?
Any physical or mental injury caused to a person as a result of someone’s negligence or harmful act is considered a personal injury. When another person is legally at fault for an incident leading to a personal injury, the injured one can have a valid legal claim. It aims at allowing the injured person to recover compensation for injury and damages. The damages can be in the form of loss of wages or medical expenses, as well as compensation for emotional distress or pain.
General types of harmful incidents that end up as a personal injury lawsuit are:
- A car accident caused by the driver’s negligence
- Slip and fall caused by the property owner’s negligence
- An animal attack caused by the owner’s negligence
- Medical malpractice caused by medical negligence
- A defective product caused by the manufacturer’s negligence
A personal injury attorney will help you get proper compensation for the injury or damages you suffered. The typical types of compensation a personal injury attorney will probably include in a settlement demand letter are medical bills, property damage, loss of income, some out-of-pocket expenses, emotional suffering and pain.
Timeline and cost of suing for personal injury
The time period needed for filing a personal injury claim usually depends on when and where the incident occurred. In most states, a person has a two-year window from the day of the incident to file a personal injury claim. In some cases, the period may range from a year to ten years. Soon after the injury, it is wise to hire a personal injury attorney to guide you through the process and get proper compensation. Personal injury attorneys generally work on “Contingency Fee Basis” which means that you do not have to pay upfront costs. The attorney gets paid if he/she manages to win a settlement. Therefore, he/she takes some percentage of the compensation. The other good point is that the personal injury attorneys can get their clients’ medical bills delayed until they reach a settlement, so you will not have to worry about paying the bills either.
What do I need to sue for personal injury?
To sue for a personal injury you need to be able to prove that the person against whom you are suing was negligent. You must also prove that you were injured or suffered damages as a result of the injury. The possible evidence needed to successfully prove your case may include testimonies from a doctor or a medical expert about the cause of the injury, a police report, eyewitness statements, documentation of time missed at work and so on. Determining what type of evidence you need to make an injury claim and getting solid evidence can be really tough work. That is why it is best to consult an experienced personal injury attorney who will help you to determine whether you have sufficient evidence to sue for a personal injury and if you do have a case, help you to prove it. The professional personal injury attorneys at the Margarian Law Firm have all the resources and experience to represent you in a way you get full compensation for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering following a personal injury.
