Personal injury lawsuits are some of the most common forms of legal action. Every day, people file new personal injury lawsuits seeking financial compensation from someone who caused them an injury. If you’re considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, it’s important to know how they work so that you can achieve the best outcome. Below, we’ll answer a few commonly asked questions related to personal injury lawsuits in 2023 to help you prepare.
What is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
A personal injury lawsuit is a type of civil action in which an injured person sues a responsible party for damages. The primary goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to receive financial compensation for losses suffered during the accident. Personal injury lawsuits can be brought for a number of reasons, such as car accidents, workplace injuries, or slip-and-fall accidents.
Who Can File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
In order to be eligible for a personal injury lawsuit, you must have suffered some form of injury as a result of another party. This makes a wide range of people eligible for filing lawsuits, depending on the specifics of the situation. Generally speaking, anyone can file a personal injury lawsuit if there is substantial evidence that their injury was the result of someone else’s actions or negligence.
For example, if you’re injured while browsing through a retail store, you may be able to sue the company or the building owner to help cover the medical costs. Since the business or building owner is responsible for ensuring that customers have a safe environment, and their inability to provide this caused your injury, you would have grounds for a lawsuit.
In some situations, it may be difficult to determine who is at fault. For instance, let’s say you’re injured by a company’s security team while on their premises. Would you then sue the business or the security team that they hired? It’s in situations like this where you’d want to work with a lawyer, as they could answer questions such as who is liable for your injury or how to sue a security company. In either event, you’re still eligible for a lawsuit, it’s just a matter of determining who is at fault.
What Damages Can You Sue For?
In a personal injury lawsuit, there are many damages you can seek compensation for. For starters, you can seek financial compensation for any medical expenses you accrued. If your injury necessitated you going to a doctor, taking medications, receiving treatment, attending physical therapy sessions, or anything else of this nature, you can sue for compensation to cover these costs. In addition, you can also sue for your pain and suffering as a result of the accident. Those who experience long-term or permanent injuries as a result of the accident should especially seek financial compensation for their added emotional and physical stress.
Finally, if your injury caused you to miss work, you can sue to reclaim lost wages. For example, if you miss two weeks of work while you recover, you can seek financial compensation to cover the wages you lost during that time. Other damages may come into play depending on your situation, which a lawyer can help you discover when discussing your case. To get an estimate of your potential damages, try using an online damages calculator.
How Long Do Personal Injury Lawsuits Take?
The length of a personal injury lawsuit can vary greatly from case to case. Some of the factors that play a role include where you live, who you’re suing, and the extent of your injury. In addition, whether your case goes to trial or you reach a settlement will impact the overall length. Generally speaking, you should expect any personal injury lawsuit to take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
What Evidence Do You Need for a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
In any personal injury lawsuit, the more evidence you have, the higher the likelihood that you receive the financial compensation you deserve. When you meet with a lawyer, they will help you determine what types of evidence you need and can help you gather it. Some common forms of evidence in personal injury lawsuits include medical records, copies of prescriptions, security camera footage, and eyewitness testimony.
How To Get Started with a Personal Injury Lawsuit
There’s a lot that goes into filing and completing a personal injury lawsuit. This is why the best way to typically start is by contacting a lawyer. Look for a lawyer in your area who specializes in personal injury lawsuits, especially for your type of accident. Lawyers will typically offer a free consultation, where you can learn if you’re eligible for a lawsuit and, if so, how to proceed. Trying to navigate a personal injury lawsuit on your own can be tricky and you’re likely better off working with an experienced professional.