The term "personal injury" covers many different areas. Black's Law Dictionary defines an injury as "any wrong or damage done to another either in his person, rights, reputation, or property; any invasion of any legally protected interest of another."
Injuries to your person can obviously occur in many different ways. Besides motor vehicle collisions, other examples of improper conduct that would warrant legal claims for injuries include negligence towards others such as in medical malpractice claims and claims of neglect towards patients in elder care facilities. In addition, a person or business can be negligent in taking care of their property. Claims that may result include incidents of slips and falls because of dangerous conditions and criminal attacks that occur because of negligent security.
Injuries to property occur in the event of theft, embezzlement, wrongful conversion, and vandalism.
Injuries to reputation generally occurs from libel, such as defamation, expressed in print writing, pictures or signs. Slander is the speaking of defamatory words intending to injury another's reputation, office, trade, business or means of livelihood. These cases are generally difficult to pursue because it is generally not easy to prove significant damages.
When a person suffers an injury to any of the above categories, they may be entitled to compensation. An injured person should consult a lawyer as soon as they become aware of the extent of their injuries. As time passes, evidence may disappear if not immediately preserved and claims will be waived if they are not brought in a timely manner. Thus, a person can lose their chance of a recovery if they do not act promptly. Some matters regarding your claim can be time sensitive and require the immediate attention of an attorney.
To consult with an attorney about your personal injury questions, please send your questions or concerns via e-mail to questions@aklegalgroup.com or call (877) 529-3272.
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The following are some of the most common accidents resulting in personal injury:
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- Animal Attacks
- Ankle Injuries
- Assault & Battery
- Automobile accidents
- Automobile Design Defects
- Aviation Disasters
- Back Injuries
- Bed Sores or Infections
- Boating Accidents
- Brain Damage
- Burn Victims
- Construction Accidents
- Failure to Protect Alzheimer's Patients
- Foot Injuries
- Fractured Bones
- Knee Injuries
- Loss of Limbs, Eyesight and Hearing
- Malfunctioning equipment or consumer goods
- Medical Malpractice
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- Motorcycle, Railroad and Trucking Accidents
- Neck Injuries
- Neglect Causing Injury or Death
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Paralysis
- Paraplegia
- Premises Liability
- Prescription Error Causing Injury
- Product Liability including:
dangerous or defective product injuries, chemicals and cosmetics , firearms, machinery and tools, medical products and devices, pharmaceuticals
- Rollovers and Defective Seatbelts
- Significant Scarring
- Unsafe premises accidents
- Wrongful Death including:
automobiles, trains, boats, planes, chemicals
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What financial compensation can I get in a personal injury claim?
Personal Injury Victims are entitled to recover money damages for all losses and expenses they incur as a result of an accident.
The damages may include the following:
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- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages, including overtime
- Pain & Suffering
- Physical Disability
- Disfigurement
- Permanent Scars
- Emotional Trauma
- Mental Anguish
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- Loss of Enjoyment
- Loss of Love & Affection
- Embarrassment
- Mental Disability
- Property Damage
- All out of pocket expenses including:
transportation charges, house cleaning, grass cutting, and others
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How do I know if I have a Personal Injury claim?
To have a personal injury case, you must be able to show that you have been injured. This may be a physical injury or it may be an emotional injury. In addition, you must be able to show that someone else (the defendant) is at fault for your injury under a negligence, strict liability or intentional misconduct theory. In some cases, it may be necessary for you to show that the other party is more at fault for the injury than you are.
How do I know if I may need an attorney?
If you have been seriously injured or are unsure as to the outcome of your injury, then an experienced personal injury attorney should always be consulted before you give any statements or sign any papers of any kind and as soon after your injury as possible.
In a serious injury case, you are better off hiring an attorney as soon as possible. Most firms offer a free consultation with no obligation therefore you have nothing to lose by consulting an attorney before you accept the insurance company offer.
There is a statute of limitations that requires you to file suit within a specific period of time, depending upon the circumstances of your case, or else you will be prohibited from obtaining any compensation for your injuries. An attorney will be able to help you keep within the statute of limitations.
What is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee is a fee that is used by lawyers in most personal injury cases. It is contingent when the fee is conditioned upon your attorney's successfully resolution of your case. A contingent fee is paid as a percentage of your monetary recovery. A contingent fee is what is meant when you hear "there is no fee unless there we recovery". The client is generally responsible for the out-of-pocket costs of litigation.
If I have a personal injury claim do I have to go to court?
Most personal injury cases are settled out of court between opposing lawyers or by the insurance company. If a case does go to trial you most likely will have to appear so that your testimony can be heard.
How long do I have to make a claim for Personal Injuries?
Every state has certain time limits, called "statutes of limitations," that govern the period during which you must file a personal injury lawsuit. In some states, for example, you may have as little as one year to file a lawsuit from an automobile accident. If you miss the statutory deadline for filing a case, your case is thrown out of court. The statute of limitation in Alabama for personal injury and wrongful death cases is generally two years from the date of the incident.
What are the Statutes of Limitations?
The statutes of limitations are time frames in which you have to file a lawsuit. When the statute of limitations expires on your case, you simply don't have a case anymore. Statutes of limitation differ not only from state to state, but also in regard to the kinds of lawsuits involved. In some states the statute of limitations for medical malpractice, suits against governmental agencies, and wrongful death actions is shorter than that for other types of personal injury cases. In general, however, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is from one to three years, and the time begins from the time of the accident. There are some exceptions and an experienced lawyer can help you with them. The statute of limitation in Texas for personal injury and wrongful death cases is generally two years from the date of the incident.
How long will it take to settle my claim?
The time it takes to settle a personal injury case depends on the circumstances surrounding the case. The more complex the case the longer it may take to settle. Many cases can take anywhere from 3 to 18 months to settle depending on its complexity.
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