Getting injured is never fun. It disrupts your life, and could potentially change it forever if the injury is serious enough. Whether it comes from a car accident, a work-related injury, or a freak situation out of the blue, it becomes your number one priority as you work your way back to 100 percent.
Before you contact a top personal injury lawyer in your area, it’s important to know what constitutes a personal injury, at least in the eyes of the law. Having a clear idea of what type of injury you’ve sustained and what your legal options are will help direct you on the right course of action legally and as you focus on your recovery.
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Legally — What Is Personal Injury?
Cornell Law School defines a personal injury as “every variety of injury to a person’s body, emotions, or reputation, as contradistinguished from injury to property rights.”
Accordingly, there are three described grounds for a personal injury claim, as listed below:
- Negligence: The most common type of grounds for personal injury, the negligible actions of another person, company, government entity, or other organization can result in a personal injury claim. An individual fails to behave in a way that most people would have behaved in a similar situation. An example includes a driver not following traffic laws and causing an accident.
- Strict Liability: This type holds a defendant liable for their behaviors or actions, regardless of intent or mental state. An example includes a product recall that results in an injured customer. The company is liable despite the lack of intent to do wrong.
- Intentional Wrongs: As its name suggests, this type of grounds holds a defendant liable for having explicit ill intent in committing an act of wrongdoing.
What Are Common Types of Personal Injuries?
Personal injuries could result from a wide variety of different circumstances. Every case is different and should be treated differently depending on the circumstances and factors of the incident involved. Below are some of the most common types of personal injuries:
- Assault
- Car accident injuries
- Workplace incidents
- Incidents from faulty products or equipment
- Wrongful death incidents
- Medical malpractice
- Animal bites or attacks
- Premises liability (such as slip and fall incidents)
No matter the type of injury you’ve sustained, you may qualify for a personal injury claim to receive compensation.
How Do I Know If I Qualify for a Personal Injury Claim?
Whether you qualify for a personal injury claim could be complicated, depending on factors like the circumstances, setting, actions of others, and more surrounding your injury. That’s why it’s crucial to have a personal injury lawyer on your side to walk you through your options and provide counsel on what actions to take next.
Many lawyers even provide free consultations. This allows you to bounce questions off of them and get a rundown of your legal options at no risk or fee to you. The last thing you want to worry about is paying for an injury you weren’t responsible for. A personal injury claim can provide much needed compensation so you can focus on your recovery.
Conclusion
If you’ve been injured due to the negligible actions of others, you might be entitled to significant compensation. Contact a trusted legal professional today to explore your options and get back on the road to recovery.