If you’ve been injured in any capacity and in many settings you must remember that you have specific rights that help protect your interests. You could potentially receive compensation whether it be from your place of work or the parties at fault. Knowing your rights and what path to take for each different situation is essential. Make sure that you act quickly and familiarize yourself with the laws surrounding personal injury. Here are the basic things you need to know to ensure you can protect yourself and your family.
When Injured, Immediately Seek Medical Attention
The reason for a trip the doctor right off the bat is two-fold: first, it’s obvious that you’ll have a better chance of healing safely and quickly if you get professional treatment after an accident. But from a legal standpoint, it’s essential that you have documentation of the extent of your injuries — so that if needed, you can provide thorough evidence in court.
Understanding Negligence
Negligence is the frontrunner for many personal injury claims in a variety of accidents that law firms like Fannin Law are involved with. Negligence is defined as the failure to take the necessary precautions — whether through action or omission — to avoid accidents. If someone is found negligent, they can be held liable, or responsible, for the injury. If negligence is suspected in an accident then getting in contact with a lawyer as soon as possible is the right direction to take.
Liability — Who is at Fault?
There are many different people and corporations who can be held responsible for your injury. Medical malpractice and (a doctor’s mistake in a surgery or procedure that harms you) product liability (like when a defective tire causes you to veer off the road and crash your car) are both examples of personal injury claims, but even governments, companies, and individual people can still be held liable. Have professionals help you determine the parties that are at fault in your specific case. Not admitting fault or using a non-apology apology are a good practices for individuals that are trying to avoid litigation.
Damages: A Look at Compensation
If you’re able to prove someone liable for your injury, the chances are good that you may be entitled to damages, or compensation, to cover medical costs and lost wages. Damages come in many forms. Actual damages cover general pain and suffering, and the accident itself. Special damages are responsible for wages lost, and require documentations of injuries from medical professionals as well as proof of wages paid. General damages, by comparison, don’t have a specific amount, as they are how much you are rewarded for pain and suffering as opposed to a repayment of lost wages. Punitive damages, as the name suggests, are fines used to punish the liable for their negligence. They are often large amounts, as they also serve to frighten others away from committing similar crimes, and are usually awarded when there was malicious or fraudulent intent on the part of the liable party.
Navigating personal injury/tort law on your own can be difficult. To make sure you receive the most compensation, be sure to consult with a lawyer as they are better equipped, by far, to help you get compensated after an accident.