When accidents happen to people, they often think of solutions themselves, not knowing that hiring a civil lawyer can give them advantages in certain areas they may not know. Attorneys can help you pinpoint the root cause of the problem and protect you against it if legal actions have been claimed. Here are known personal injuries that a person usually encounters.
Animal Attacks
Being knowledgeable of the legalities of your injury is very helpful. Being a victim of a dog bite may attain strict liability. The dog’s owner is entirely held accountable for any bite injuries the dog has caused despite the owner’s prudence in preventing such accidents—putting up cautionary and awareness signs all around their house. The owner is responsible when:
- There is unauthorized trespassing on their property
- A veterinarian is providing medical service to the dog
- Someone is encouraging the dog to act aggressively
Vehicular Accidents
May you be a passenger, bystander, or a relative of the person involved in the accident, you are still a victim. If you were not at fault, you might have compensation through the other driver’s money, its owner, or the driver’s supervisor to ask for monetary damage for your car’s repairs, medical aid, and all your permanent injuries.
Accidental Slips and Falls
If you are or were once a victim of this kind of accident, then you are eligible for compensation of the following:
- The pain you are experiencing.
- Damaged property when the accident happened, such as broken furniture.
- The salary you were unable to obtain from work due to recovery processes.
- Medical service correlating to the accident.
The court may have to discern both party’s comparative liability—the level of responsibility each party has to handle for being the injured and the property owner. They will then calculate the percentage to determine the property owner’s costs for the injured party.
Sexual Abuse
Keep these critical points in mind if you or anyone you hold dear is a victim of sex crimes:
- Call a civil or personal injury lawyer if the cases are against children, for these are the most challenging crimes to solve.
- Exploiting sexual offenders on the streets equates to preventing sexual abuse to future victims.
- Do not hesitate to prosecute the perpetrators. Hiring a skilled attorney and standing up for justice is a way of protecting your rights.
Special Compensatory Damages
Also known as “specials” or “special damages,” special compensatory damages are designed to reimburse you for the financial damage you have suffered as a result of the injury. Included in this list are:
1. Physical Pain and Suffering
You have a right to compensation for your medical bills. These costs, however, do not include the agony and suffering that your accident has undoubtedly caused you to experience.
Insurers, juries, and judges have to rely on various variables to establish the worth of your pain and suffering because physical discomfort is subjective. There are several aspects to consider, such as:
- Permanent injuries
- Recovery length
- The prescribed medication
- Type of injury
2. Lost Income
As an outcome of your injury, you’re also entitled to compensation for lost wages. In the case of an ankle injury sustained in a car accident committed by another vehicle, you will be compensated for the lost wages you could have earned during your healing period. The same is true if your accident develops in an impairment that limits your ability to earn in the future.
3. Medical Costs
Accidents almost usually necessitate medical attention and treatment. As a result, treatment costs might quickly mount up. As a result of your accident, you’re entitled to compensation for your medical expenses. Even future health care costs (i.e., those that you expect to spend after settling your case) are covered. Standard medical costs are:
- Chiropractor
- Prescriptions
- Surgical procedures
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- X-rays
Take note that if your health insurance pays any medical expenditures linked to your injuries, the insurance company will expect reimbursement from the damages you get in the future. Insurance companies often put a medical lien on your potential damages award as well.
4. Emotional Distress
Because of your injuries, some states give you the right to compensation for emotional distress (also known as “mental agony”) that you may currently experience. Pain and suffering are difficult to define, and emotional anguish and many jurisdictions limit the number of damages you can claim for emotional distress.
Although laws may differ from various states, hiring a civil attorney or a personal injury lawyer will help you understand the jurisdictions in your area. Remember that there are certain limitations you have to take note of when dealing with negotiations and entitles compensations.