Personal Injury Law – Frequently Asked Questions to Consider

Q:  Why do I need a personal injury lawyer?

With personal injury law, having a personal injury lawyer can help you with the legal aspect of your claim.  They will be able to cut through the bureaucracy and the red tape that you could not do on your own.  They will also be able to advise you whether or not you have a case.  They don't want to waste your time or money.  If they feel that you do have a case, they will try to get the best possible settlement available.

Q:  What is a personal injury case? 

A personal injury case is when you have been injured due to someone's negligence.  Or you may have been injured due to someone's property.  Some injuries are physical.  Others are psychological.  You could have a claim where you felt that someone was slandering your or attacking your character.  That would be called slander.

Q:  When can I file a lawsuit?

You have a certain time frame otherwise known as "statutes of limitations".  This is a provision that applies to states in regard to how long you have to file a lawsuit, starting from the date of your injury.  Some states give you a year to do that.  Others may give you two years.  You have to check with your state to see what the statutes of limitations are where you live.  You have to be sure to file the lawsuit within that time frame or else you may not be able to file the claim.  You should speak with your personal injury attorney for more information.

Q:  What should I present to my attorney when we meet?

Bring every piece of document you have in relation to this case.  You should also bring copies of medical bills and reports in regard to the accident.  They will be able to see if you had a hospital stay and how long you were there.  Information on the person that caused the injury would be very helpful, since they are the target you are going after.

Q:  What will happen to the person that caused the injury?  Will they go to jail?

More than likely, the defendant will not go to jail, unless it's for something else.  A personal injury case is a civil matter, not a criminal one.  There is the possibility of getting compensatory damages for what they did to you.  Compensatory damages deal with how much your pain and suffering was worth.  The court could also assign punitive damages which are meant as punishment for behavior unbecoming to the public.