When someone suffers an injury that is caused by the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of someone else, it is called a personal injury. And when someone suffers a personal injury they are entitled to compensation that can cover any expenses caused by that injury.
Medical bills are the most obvious expense, but there can also be repairs or replacements for damaged property, as well as lost wages if the nature of the injuries leaves the victim unable to work for a period of time.
Personal injuries are divided into major and minor categories that are differentiated by the severity of the injuries. No matter what kind of injury you suffered, you will need the help of a personal injury attorney to get the compensation you need. They can calculate the amount of compensation you need and negotiate to make sure that you get it. If you live in Florida, then you should contact personal injury attorneys Fasig and Brooks in Orlando for assistance with your personal injury claim.
What is a Personal Injury?
As stated earlier, a personal injury is caused when the negligence and carelessness of someone results in the injury of someone else. That is the basic gist of it but the following elements need to be present before a case can legally be considered a personal injury:
The perpetrator owed the victim a duty of care – This means that the person who caused the accident that led to the injury should have been acting in a reasonable and lawful manner. For example, a driver owes a duty of care to everyone else on the road by following the road rules and being attentive and sober behind the wheel.
The duty of care care was violated – In the case of a driver, that means they were driving drunk, they ignored a stop sign, or they engaged in other types of reckless driving behaviour.
The violation of the duty of care caused an accident.
The victim suffered damages because of the accident – Those damages could be physical injuries, the loss of property, or both.
If all of those elements are present, then the victim has a valid personal injury claim. Most personal injury cases are due to negligence, some common examples include car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall accidents, and product liability.
However, intentional acts like assault and battery fall under the personal injury umbrella as well. Personal injury cases rarely make it to court and are usually resolved well before a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Minor Personal Injury Claims
Minor personal injury claims involve minor injuries, which are classified as tissue injuries, i.e. injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These can include conditions like sprains, pulled muscles, and minor cuts and/or bruises. These types of injuries can be painful but they are not permanent. However, it should be noted that some injuries take a while to manifest fully and what might initially seem like a minor injury could develop into a major one.
Neck and back injuries may seem minor at first, but they could worsen to the point where they become debilitating. So even if an injury seems minor, you should visit a doctor and wait a few days to see if it gets any worse. That way you can receive the compensation you need to take care of it.
Major Personal Injury Claims
These are defined as major, debilitating injuries that can have long term, or even permanent effects. These injuries can result in permanent loss of bodily function, dismemberment, and even death. The seriousness of these injuries means that the person who suffered them will need a lot more compensation than someone who experienced a minor personal injury since their expenses will be much greater.
Anyone unfortunate enough to suffer a major personal injury will have to deal with huge medical bills and additional expenses such as accessories like prosthetics or wheelchairs. They might also be out of work for a long time, or they may never be able to work again. That is why they need a big compensation to take care of the numerous expenses caused by their injury. If the injury results in the person’s death, then their remaining family members have to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf.
An Attorney Can Help You With Your Personal Injury Claim
Regardless of whether you suffered a minor or major personal injury, an attorney can help you to get the compensation you need to cover your injury-related expenses.
Your personal injury attorney will help to find out exactly how much compensation you need and do everything they can to make sure that you get it. So contact an attorney as soon as possible if you suffer any kind of personal injury.
