What is a Personal Injury?
A Personal Injury is any physical or mental
injury to a person as a result of someone's negligence or harmful act. Sometimes
personal injury may be referred to as bodily injury. Personal injuries can occur
in a wide variety of ways. The following are some of the most common accidents
resulting in personal injury:
- Auto accidents
- Dangerous or Defective Product Injuries (Product Liability)
- Aviation Disasters
- Professional Malpractice
- Workers Compensation
- Wrongful Death
- Toxic Exposure
- Home Accidents
- Dog Bites
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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.
- Medical bills,
- Lost Wages, including overtime,
- Pain & Suffering,
- Physical Disability,
- Disfigurement,
- Permanent Scars
- Emotional Trauma,
- Mental Anguish,
- Loss of Enjoyment,
- Loss of Love & Affection,
- Embarrassment,
- Mental Disability,
- Property Damage,
- All out of pocket expenses (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.
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What if the accident is partly my fault can
I still have a claim?
Even if an accident or injury was partially your
fault you still may have a Claim based on the concept of Comparative Negligence
or Contributory Negligence. The term "contributory negligence" is used to
describe the actions of an injured person that may have also caused that
person's own injuries. For example, a person who ignores a "Caution - Wet Floor"
sign and slips and falls in the supermarket may be found to have been careless
and at fault for any injuries suffered. "Contributory negligence" can prevent a
person from collecting any monies to compensate for injuries suffered, even if
that person's carelessness was minor.
Some states have done away with the concept of
contributory negligence altogether and instead use the concept of "comparative
negligence." The term "comparative negligence" means that the fault of all
parties is compared and the amount of the recovery for damages sustained by the
injured victim is reduced by the percentage of his or her own fault. In this
way, each person is held accountable for the amount of damages that they
caused".
If you're injured by the negligent action of
another, but you contributed to the accident by your failure to exercise
reasonably prudent care, you're guilty of contributory negligence. You may also
be guilty of a form of contributory negligence if you voluntarily expose
yourself to danger - by riding a roller coaster without wearing a seat belt, or
working with a neighbor's power saw or other dangerous tool if you're
inexperienced or fail to use a safety guard. This is called assumption of risk.
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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.
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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 is recovery".
The client is generally responsible for the out-of-pocket costs of litigation.
Contingency fees are usually one third of what you win from the case.
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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.
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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 Kentucky, for example, you may have as little as one
year to file a lawsuit from an injury caused by medical negligence. If you miss
the statutory deadline for filing a case, your case is thrown out of court.
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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.
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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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What is negligence?
It's the commission of a civil wrong, a tort,
that accidentally causes injury to somebody by reason of failure to perform an
expected duty with the care that a reasonably prudent person would use with
regard to the safety of other in a particular circumstance.
Negligence is any conduct that falls below the
standards of behavior established by law for the protection of others against
unreasonable risk of harm. A person has acted negligently if he or she has
departed from the conduct expected of a reasonably prudent person acting under
similar circumstances. Negligence is also the name of a cause of action in the
law of torts. To establish negligence, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant
had a duty to the plaintiff, the defendant breached that duty by failing to
conform to the required standard of conduct, the defendant's negligent conduct
was the cause of the harm to the plaintiff, and the plaintiff was, in fact,
harmed or damaged.
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How do I Prove Negligence?
The burden of proof in a tort case, as in most
civil law cases, is lower than the proof required in criminal law cases. In a
criminal case, the state must prove a person's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
To win a personal injury lawsuit based on tort law, the plaintiff need only
prove that a majority of the evidence shows that an injury was caused by the
defendant's tortious actions. This standard of proof is called "the
preponderance of the evidence." The different burdens of proof mean that a
company might be acquitted of criminal charges stemming from its actions but be
found liable in a civil lawsuit stemming from the same actions.
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What are Negligence Defenses?
In the case of negligence, damages awarded for a
negligence claim may be reduced if there existed some type of contributory or
comparative negligence. In some cases if an assumption of risk was involved the
case may be dropped or the award reduced depending on the circumstances. You
should consult an attorney for more information regarding negligence defenses.
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What is Contributory Negligence?
The term "contributory negligence" is used to
describe the actions of an injured person that may have also caused that
person's own injuries. For example, a person who ignores a "Wet Floor" sign and
slips and falls in the supermarket may be found to have been careless and at
fault for any injuries suffered. "Contributory negligence" can prevent a person
from collecting any monies to compensate for injuries suffered, even if that
person's carelessness was minor.
Some states have done away with the concept of
contributory negligence altogether and instead use the concept of "comparative
negligence." Comparative negligence looks to the degree of fault of each party
in determining whether an award is justified in the case and what amount the
award will be.
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What is Comparative Negligence?
Comparative negligence works on a percentage
basis to assign a degree of fault for the injuries suffered. For example a
plaintiff in a products liability case cannot be found more than fifty percent
at fault in order to be compensated for injuries suffered. If a plaintiff is
found to be fifty-one percent at fault, he or she will not receive any damages
for injuries suffered.
Additionally, for plaintiffs that are found to
be less than fifty-percent at fault, the award is reduced in proportion to the
plaintiff's percentage of fault. For example, in a case where a person slips and
falls on a wet supermarket floor and is awarded $100,000, the supermarket is
found to be eighty-percent responsible for the accident because of dangerous
floor conditions. The injured plaintiff is found twenty percent responsible for
not exercising caution, so the award is reduced to $80,000.
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What is Assumption of Risk?
If you have knowingly and voluntarily assumed
the risk inherent in a particular action that caused an accident, you cannot sue
the other person for negligence. If you went to a friend's house and they told
you not to go out the backdoor because the deck was being repaired and after
being told you still went out the backdoor, you assume the risk. If you become
injured in most jurisdictions, under the doctrine of the assumption of risk,
because you were aware of the danger and still chose to go out the backdoor, you
would most likely not be able to collect damages.
Another example of assumption of risk is
participation in a sport in which certain risks are inherent to the game. For
instance, if you are playing football and you get tackled and break an arm, you
may not sue the person who tackled you. On the other hand, if you are playing
tennis and a fight breaks out and you are hit in the head with a racket, you may
be able to sue the person who hit you, since the assumption of risk does not
cover any injury that was intentionally inflicted and not an inherent part of
the game.
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What does duty mean in a negligence
lawsuit?
When talking about negligence, duty is an
obligation to protect and respect the safety of others around us. That means
doing something that a reasonably wise person would do under the circumstances.
We all have a duty to drive our automobiles safely and respect the other drivers
and pedestrians around us. It is like when you come to a stop sign, you have a
duty to make a complete stop before proceeding.
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What is considered a Reasonable Person?
A person has acted negligently if he or she has
departed from the conduct expected of a reasonably prudent person acting under
similar circumstances. The hypothetical reasonable person provides an objective
by which the conduct of others is judged. In law, the reasonable person is not
an average person or a typical person but a composite of the community's
judgment as to how the typical community member should behave in situations that
might pose a threat of harm to the public. Even though the majority of people in
the community may behave in a certain way, that does not establish the standard
of conduct of the reasonable person. For example, a majority of people in a
community may jaywalk, but jaywalking might still fall below the community's
standards of safe conduct.
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What is Liability?
The term liability generally means that an
individual, company or some other entity may be obligated to pay damages or
compensation to another.
The negligent driver, manufacturer or seller of
a product may be responsible or liable to pay for damages including pain and
suffering and financial losses if they are caused by their carelessness.
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What is strict or absolute liability?
Strict or absolute liability means that the
defendant is responsible for injuring another person regardless of negligence or
intent. It means that the manufacturer of a product is liable for selling any
defective product that is considered "unreasonably dangerous" and results in
injury either to the buyer or someone else who uses it. In strict product
liability, it is unnecessary to prove that the manufacturer was negligent; all
you have to do is show that the product was defective, that it was allowed to be
sold, and that the injuries were caused by the defect in the product. Some
instances in which the law might apply strict liability are with regard to
product liability, abnormally dangerous or ultra-hazardous activities and animal
owner's liability. For example, a plaintiff may be entitled to compensation
after a defective product injures him or her regardless of whether the
manufacturer was actually negligent. In other words, the plaintiff only has to
prove that a product is defective or unreasonably dangerous and that the defect
caused the injury. It is not necessary to show that the manufacturer was
careless or negligent, which is much more difficult to prove.
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What is premises liability?
The term "premises liability" generally refers
to accidents that occur due to the negligent maintenance, or unsafe or dangerous
conditions upon property owned by someone other than the accident victim. Many
states have laws that generally require landowners to maintain their property in
a manner that does not cause injury to those that, for various reasons, visit
the property. Often, these laws pertain to both business owners and homeowners.
In many states, property owners and business
establishments have been found to have a duty to provide a safe environment for
individuals on their premises. If you are injured because a property owner or a
business establishment fails to provide a safe environment, you may have a right
to bring a claim for various damages incurred due to your injury. In many
states, these damages include pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost
wages.
Premises Liability cases involve injuries
sustained on the property or premises of a negligent third party. These types of
cases often involve slip and fall accidents, which usually occur when a
defective condition, foreign substance or object causes a fall. Crucial to
settlement recovery is being able to show how long the defect or substance was
there, how visible it was, and how much notice the owner had of the dangerous
condition before the accident.
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What is Intentional Misconduct?
Intentional misconduct is a deliberate action
resulting in an injury to another person or damage to another person's property.
For example, if a manufacturer deliberately sells products it knows to be
defective, it is causing harm on purpose. A plaintiff alleging intentional
misconduct need not compare the defendant's actions to those of a reasonable
person; he or she only must show that the defendant intended his or her actions.
In a civil lawsuit in which the plaintiff alleges intentional misconduct, the
plaintiff can recover punitive damages in addition to awards for injuries, pain,
and suffering. Punitive damages, designed to punish people or organizations for
unlawful acts, are often very large sums of money. Until recently, there were
few limits on the amount of money a jury could award as punitive damages.
However, Congress and state legislatures recently have passed laws putting caps
on punitive damage awards in certain types of cases.
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What if I've been injured in an automobile
accident?
When a motor vehicle is in an accident, it is
important that certain action is taken. The name and address of the operator of
each vehicle should be obtained. Additionally, the name and address of the owner
of each vehicle involved should be obtained and license plate number of all
vehicles should be recorded. Lastly, the name of the automobile insurance
company for each vehicle should be obtained. If possible, obtain the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident.
If there has been any type of injury, the police
should be called to investigate the accident. The police officer will write a
report which includes the details of the accident and the nature and extent of
any damages and injuries. Insurance companies will require that a report of the
accident be obtained before providing any benefits.
It is most important to immediately contact your
own motor vehicle insurance company to report to them any property damage or
personal injury. If you or a family member is injured in a motor vehicle
accident, prompt medical attention should be obtained.
If you are seriously injured as a result of
someone else's negligence, you should not talk to any representative of the
negligent driver or owner's insurance company until you have sought the advice
of your own attorney.
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What should I do if I've been injured in a
slip & fall accident?
Most businesses and homeowners carry liability
insurance to protect them in the event that someone is injured while on their
property. This would include slip and fall type cases which are generally known
as premise liability cases.
The owner or possessor of a residence, land, or
place of business has the duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of
those individuals who are invited to come upon the premises. This would include
those who, as members of the public, come upon the land or enter a store or
place of business to shop or do business. In such cases, the owner, company, or
person occupying the premises must inspect the premises to discover any
dangerous conditions and warn the invitee of dangers upon the premises.
Additionally, the property owner or possessor
has a duty to exercise ordinary care in maintaining his or her premises in a
reasonably safe condition in order to prevent injury to persons on the property.
Furthermore, owners or possessors of land or buildings must take reasonable
measures after an accumulation of snow and ice to diminish the hazard of
injuries to others.
Landowners may also be responsible for injuries
occurring as a result of poorly maintained or poorly lit common areas of a
building such as stairways, sidewalks, and halls. Likewise, homeowners may be
liable for injuries which occur in their homes or yards if such injury results
from a condition which presents an unreasonable risk of harm to those who have
permission to be upon the premises.
Those injured by a negligent owner or possessor
of a premise may recover damages for their injuries, including, loss of income,
medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
If you are injured upon someone else's property,
you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney who will be able to
analyze your case and the principles of law concerning premises liability. You
should not give an interview to insurance adjusters of investigators hired by
insurance companies until you have consulted with an attorney.
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If you are looking for a head injury attorney, contact us today. Head, brain, spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic, life changing. We at Herren & Adams have experience in representing the head injury victim, spinal cord, or brain injured victim. These cases require medical knowledge to be able to convey the damages to insurance representatives and/or juries.
Contact us for a Kentucky head injury lawyer, a Kentucky spinal cord lawyer, or a Kentucky medical negligence lawyer. Our staff of Kentucky negligence lawyer(s), Kentucky catastrophic injury lawyer(s) and Kentucky catastrophic injury attorney(s) will help you successfully resolve your case. Get expert advice from a Kentucky spinal cord injury attorney, a Kentucky negligence attorney or a head injury attorney.
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