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A personal injury lawsuit is a civil action brought by an individual who has suffered harm as a result of the negligence or intentional misconduct of another person or entity. In order to establish liability, the injured party must typically show that the defendant owed them a duty of care, that the defendant breached that duty, that the breach caused the injury, and that the injury resulted in damages. Personal injury can be a complex legal field, and it takes years of experience to become an expert in navigating these cases. Fortunately, there are plenty of trained professionals who can help if you find yourself in need of an attorney. If you want to learn more, keep reading to find out about the basics of personal injury law.
What are the basics of personal injury law?
A personal injury lawsuit is a civil action brought by an individual who has been injured as a result of the negligence or intentional misconduct of another person, company, or entity. In order to prevail in a personal injury lawsuit and recover damages, the injured person must establish that the defendant was negligent or acted intentionally in causing their injuries. Damages can include compensatory damages, which are intended to compensate the injured person for their losses, and punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant and deter them from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
If you believe you may have a personal injury claim, the first thing you should do is schedule a consultation with a personal injury law firm, like this one that specializes in Denver personal injury law. Make sure you find an attorney who has a history with cases that are similar to yours. You can usually learn more about the experience of working with a particular attorney or law firm by reading the testimonials and evaluating their past successful settlements and judgments.
A personal injury lawsuit can provide compensation for a wide variety of losses, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. If the defendant is found liable, the court will typically order them to pay damages in an amount that is meant to make the injured party whole.
Why do you need to hire a lawyer right away?
One reason why it’s essential to find a lawyer right away is that there may be a statute of limitations on your claim. A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit on how long a person has to file a lawsuit. The time limit varies depending on the type of lawsuit. If a person files a lawsuit after the time limit has expired, the court will likely dismiss the case. However, there are several exceptions to statutes of limitations. For example, the time limit may be extended if the defendant fraudulently concealed the wrongdoing. Your attorney will be able to explain what time frame applies to your claim.
Many people delay hiring an attorney due to fear of the cost, but you shouldn’t worry. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fees are a type of fee arrangement between a lawyer and client in which the lawyer is paid a percentage of the damages awarded to the client in a case. This type of fee arrangement is common in personal injury cases because the lawyer only gets paid if the client recovers money from the other side. There is no fee if the client does not recover anything. When you meet with an attorney for a consultation, you can ask for the details about what fees they charge.
If you’re the victim of an accident, you need to educate yourself about personal injury law. This area of the law covers compensation that may be available to you if you’re injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. In order to recover compensation, you’ll need to prove that the other party was negligent. This means that they failed to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances, and their negligence caused your injury. There are also time limits in place on how long you have to file your lawsuit. The best way to ensure you get the compensation you deserve is to work with a qualified personal injury attorney. Follow the tips in this article and you’ll be on your way to winning your case.