The definition of personal injury law can be challenging to interpret, as there are several types of cases, each with its own laws. Our team of attorneys is ready to help you receive the settlement you deserve and support you throughout the legal process.
The primary purpose of personal injury law is to compensate those who have been injured due to specific types of circumstances. Since there are many different kinds of injuries and unique laws associated with them, it is difficult to offer a single answer to the question: “what is personal injury law?”
Personal injury cases are considered a type of “tort law.” The term “tort” is Latin for twist, wrong, or harm. People turn to tort law in the case of physical or mental personal harm. This differs from criminal law, where the government acts as the prosecutor. Often those involved in the tort lawsuit are private parties, or civilians, which is how we come to use the term “civil court.”
If you think you have a personal injury claim, contact our team by calling 888-459-8260 or clicking the button below to reach us online.
What Are Common Case Types?
As we mentioned, there are different types of injuries, with various laws, procedures, and rules, making it difficult to provide a single, exhaustive definition of personal injury. With our team’s combined experience, we will evaluate your case and determine how we can best help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
The types of damages in personal injury cases vary according to the nature of the claim, the type and degree of injury, and other factors. While the majority of claims settle before going to a trial with a judge or a jury, we are prepared to go the distance to ensure you receive fair compensation.
In personal injury cases, you can seek compensation or reimbursement of the following:
- Medical expenses incurred in the past and reasonably probable to be incurred in the future
- Loss of household services
- Loss of wages and/or earning capacity incurred in the past and reasonably probable to be expected in the future
- “Noneconomic Damages” sustained in the past and reasonably probable to be incurred in the future. All damages for pain, suffering, pre-impact fright, inconvenience, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of consortium, or other non-pecuniary damages are “Noneconomic Damages”
Vehicular Accidents
Vehicular accidents are perhaps the most common type of personal injury lawsuit. These cases are not, however, limited only to cars. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, truck accident, or even a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
If the accident was not your fault, we will provide you with the best legal team to make the necessary claims, attempt to obtain a fair settlement and if necessary, file a lawsuit. If you were the driver during the accident, the passenger in the vehicle, or even if you were injured as a bystander or pedestrian, you could have a claim.
We encourage anyone who has been injured in any kind of automobile, motorcycle, truck or bicycle accident to immediately seek medical attention, as well as legal advice. Depending on the type of accident, you may only have a certain period of time from the date of the accident to file a claim. Contact our team of attorneys for more information about your specific circumstances.
Slip and Fall
Slip and fall injury settlements are commonly sought as well. A variety of factors come into play when you slip and fall on someone else’s property. Owners have a legal duty to keep floors and walkways free from obstruction or hazardous conditions. In some cases, renters could also be responsible for ensuring safe floors and walkways. For example, owners or renters of a home may be responsible for clearing snow or ice from the sidewalks in front of their homes.
Every individual has an obligation to watch where he walks and what’s happening around him, so a trip or fall may not necessarily lead to the liability of the property owner. Owners can be held legally responsible for slips, trips, and falls if one of three circumstances occur:
- They created the surface conditions that led to the incident;
- They knew about and did nothing to prevent the conditions of the surface; or
- They should have known about the conditions of the surface because a “reasonable” property owner would have repaired or fixed the surface’s
As with automobile accidents, you only have a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit in both Maryland and DC. Therefore, it is best to contact us directly to ensure we provide you with the most up-to-date information on current laws concerning slip and fall lawsuits.
Medical Malpractice
Generally, medical malpractice falls into two different categories: commission and omission. Medical malpractice by commission means that your doctor or healthcare provider did something that resulted in your injury. For example, your doctor operated on the wrong leg or performed surgery under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Medical malpractice by omission means that your doctor didn’t do something that he or she should have done which resulted in your injury. For example, he or she failed to refer you to the proper specialist or failed to diagnose your actual condition.
It is important to remember that not all unfavorable results from medical care can be considered medical malpractice. Our team of attorneys is qualified to help you determine whether or not your matter is compensable. For more information, refer to our medical malpractice page.
What’s Next?
There are several other types of personal injury as well: assault and battery, dog bites, and workers’ compensation. The definition of personal injury is complex and multi-faceted. With each case, several variables must be considered when filing a claim and obtaining your compensation or personal injury lawsuit settlement.
You can trust Houlon Berman to give you the individual attention you need to file your claim and help you receive fair and just compensation. If you’d like to speak with an attorney, click below to contact us online, or call 888-459-8260 today.
