Welcome to LegalAdvice.com expert page on the topic of Personal Injury Law. Personal Injury Law covers many different types of topics including car accidents, slip and fall injuries, defective products, dog bites and injuries, birth injuries, brain injuries, asbestos and mesothelioma claims and much more.
Personal injury law, also known as tort law, is a legal term for an injury usually suffered to the body but may also include mental or emotional injury. A personal injury claim claim has two basic components, liability and damages. A typical claim is filed because someone else’s act caused an injury. It does not matter whether the act was on purpose, through negligence or otherwise. The legal remedies involved in a civil lawsuit allow for a Plaintiff to bring a lawsuit to compensate for injuries that are as a result of someone else’s wrongful conduct.
All states have different rules to file a personal injury claim when an injury is suffered. It is critical to file a claim in a timely matter as set out in the local jurisdiction as per the statute of limitations that sets out when a claim is barred if not filed in a timely manner. Typically a personal injury claim must be filed within three years of the date of injury but every state has different rules. A person will need to prove harm which may include medical costs, lost income, and damages for pain and suffering, among other types of damages.
In circumstances in which a person suffers moderate to serious injuries, it is a good idea to speak with a personal injury attorney. A qualified personal injury lawyer will be able to evaluate a claim and provide objective legal advice on the likelihood of success of filing a claim. Speaking with an attorney after suffering an injury will also allow for the immediate preservation of evidence as a qualified attorney is familiar with the type of evidence that is critical to bring a successful case. A qualified personal injury layer will know how to investigate the case and is usually familiar with the type of evidence that will be needed to win a case. Most, but not all, personal injury lawyers work on a ‘contingency fee basis’, which requires no payment from the client up front.