Imagine this situation: a man is walking on the street and is preparing to cross the pedestrian lane. On the other end of the road, a driver who is preoccupied with his phone failed to notice that the red light is on and continued driving recklessly. Suddenly, there’s a loud crash, and something went flying.
With this situation, it’s obvious that the driver’s negligence caused the accident because he failed to see the stoplight and follow the rules. The victim can end up suffering from brain or spinal injuries, internal bleeding, concussion, broken bones, paralysis, or worse, death.
A responsible driver would stop and call an emergency hotline to get medical attention for the victim. But a reckless driver can flee the scene of the crime, resulting in a hit-and-run case. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you should know that you can take legal actions to receive compensation for your medical expenses and suffering.
Which field of law do accidents belong to?
Accidents can happen in any place and at any time. It’s not something that people can control, but human errors and negligence can often cause it. Accidents that harm other people’s lives due to another party’s negligence can be considered cases under the personal injury law.
This is because injuries can leave long-lasting medical and financial repercussions on the victims and their families. Victims resort to suing negligent parties for the accidents to get ample compensation for their pain and medical expenses.
Some of the most common forms of personal injuries can be caused by motor vehicles to other passengers or pedestrians, as well as in construction sites. But serious injuries can also be incurred through something as simple as slipping and falling in public spaces that are hazardous.
How can you know if your situation is considered a personal injury case?
There are situations when it can be difficult to gauge whether your accident was caused by another party or just pure bad luck. When you’re in that situation, it can be easy to look for other people to blame for the pain you’re dealing with.
However, you can’t push that blame on just anyone or anything. To know if your accident can be considered a personal injury case, you will have to provide enough evidence that will support your claim. Evidence can include pictures from the accident scene, medical records that prove your injuries, or witness statements.
How can legal assistance help you in this situation?
Once you figure out your situation and decide to sue the negligent party, you will have to contact a personal or brain injury attorney who can represent you. Getting legal assistance with your best interests in mind can help you get the appropriate compensation from your insurance company or the negligent party.
You have to remember that you should never sign any documents from your insurance company without consulting your lawyer because you might be signing off your rights to be properly compensated. This can happen to plaintiffs who fail to get legal representation.
Your lawyer should be able to strongly build your case through consultation with experts in different fields involved in your situation. For instance, a doctor that can prove how the accident affected your health and left you unable to continue working is a fair use of expert advice.
What can happen after all these?
Your situation can result in one of two scenarios: it’s either your case is taken to court for a trial that you can win or lose, or the negligent party will compensate you through a settlement negotiation. In most cases, lawyers aim to achieve that second scenario for their clients.
This is because accidents often cause serious damages to the victim’s health and overall living condition, especially if the situation left them unable to work or care for themselves. That’s why having good representation is vital so that the victim can get compensated for their increasing medical expenses over time.
Taking legal actions against negligent parties can be long and arduous, but it’s a necessary process for a victim to receive justice and apt compensation. There can be more situations that can lead to personal injuries that were not mentioned above.
It can be difficult to go through the traumatic experience of your accident repeatedly during this legal proceeding. Still, it can be vital to getting proportional damage compensation that can cover your medical expenses for the present and the future. It can also serve justice for circumstances that aren’t your doing.