Personal Injury
A Brief Explanation Of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property. The term is most commonly used to refer to a type of lawsuit alleging that the victim’s injury has been caused by the negligence of another, but also arises in defamation torts. Damages include bodily injury, intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) and negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED).
The most common types of personal injury claims are road traffic accidents, accidents at work, tripping accidents, assault claims, accidents in the home, product defect accidents (product liability) and holiday accidents. The term personal injury also incorporates medical and dental accidents (which lead to numerous medical malpractice claims every year) and conditions that are often classified as industrial disease cases, including asbestosis and peritoneal mesothelioma, chest diseases (e.g., emphysema, pneumoconiosis, silicosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic obstructive airways disease), occupational deafness, occupational stress, and repetitive strain injury cases.
Depending on the intent or negligence of a responsible party, the injured party may be entitled to monetary compensation from that party through a settlement or a judgment. This system is complex and controversial and an injured person should never attempt to navigate these waters alone.
It is also important to note that there is a time-limit (statue of limitations) that applies to personal injury cases. In some instances, the statue of limitations might be as short as two years, but can vary from state to state and by the type of injury incurred. Regardless, the only way to know if you have a case is to make an appointment with a law firm that has a proven track-record for success in personal injury cases.