Personal Injury Lawsuits - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Legal Issues

If you have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence you may be entitled to financial compensation. Whether you are currently involved in personal injury lawsuit or you are contemplating a civil lawsuit you need to learn more about personal injury law. The following frequently asked questions will provide you some basic information about personal injury lawsuits.

When can someone who is injured sue and get money under personal injury law?

If you have been injured because someone else was negligent, you are entitled to financial compensation for that negligence. For this to happen, a court of law has to determine that negligence occurred and that your injury was a direct result of that negligence.

What is legal negligence?

To establish negligence in a court of law you must prove that the person accused failed to do something that a normal person would. Or, that they neglected what would be considered reasonable care or had knowledge of a risk and ignored it. This is measured against an average person's ability to judge caution, risk and care.

Can a lawyer take any personal injury case?

Generally yes, though their rates will vary. Many personal injury attorneys have what is called a contingency fee. This means that a lawyer does not get paid for his or her services in a civil lawsuit unless the victim receives financial compensation. That way lawyers weigh the likelihood of a successful outcome before taking a case and investing resources into it. In a way, this helps prevents frivolous lawsuits from being filed.

What type of situations can result in a personal injury lawsuit?

The number one situation that leads to a personal injury lawsuit is when a person is injured in a motor vehicle accident. That said, personal injury lawsuits can also result after a trip and fall, defective product injury, workplace injury, or injury in someone's home.