Personal injury law lays the framework for an injured victim to file a civil lawsuit and seek legal damages for all losses resulting from an accident or incident. The personal injury system is designed to award financial compensation to make an injured person whole after suffering harm due to someone’s negligence or intentional misconduct. When you or a family member are involved in an accident that results in injuries, the first step is understanding the difference between personal injury and bodily injury.
What’s Personal Injury?
A personal injury is sustained in an accident and includes physical, mental, and emotional damage. A personal injury claim is filed against the person whose negligence caused the injury. There are several different types of personal injury claims. You can file a claim if injured in a car accident caused by a negligent motorist or if you slip and fall on a business’s property. You can also file a claim for nursing home abuse, injury due to a defective product, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. The best way to determine if you have grounds to take legal action is to speak with an attorney who can assess your situation and determine if you have a case.
Paul Wilkinson Law Firm knows just how stressful dealing with physical pain and impairment, medical bills, insurance companies, and an inability to work can be. Rather than deal with the aftermath alone, a personal injury attorney can help you make sense of your situation and guide you through the next steps. The Paul Wilkinson personal injury law firm has years of experience representing the victims of car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. The team of injury attorneys specializes in several practice areas, including auto accidents, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, insurance bad faith, and wrongful death. During a free initial consultation, a personal injury attorney will assess your situation and determine the best course of action to win you the fair settlement you deserve.
What’s Bodily Injury?
A bodily injury refers to a physical injury to your body; it’s not a type of legal claim. The term bodily injury can be used to refer to the harm sustained in a criminal case. It can also refer to insurance policies and claims when you are or aren’t covered. Most insurance companies will pay a specific settlement amount for bodily injury depending on the medical treatment and injury severity. Business owners carry some type of insurance policy that includes bodily injury coverage to protect them in the event a customer is injured on business property. Bodily injury coverage can prevent an injured person from raising a lawsuit. If you are involved in a car accident, you may be able to file a coverage claim for an injury that prevents you from working, rather than taking legal action against another motorist.
Assessing Injuries To Make a Claim
The bodily injuries that result immediately from a car accident create medical expenses. From the moment an ambulance arrives until you finish medical treatment, you will accumulate medical expenses. Serious injuries can result in long-term medical bills. All claims have a statute of limitations during which you can file a claim. An injury attorney can help assign value to your claim that includes the full cost of long-term medical bills to be covered. An experienced personal injury attorney can accurately assess the degree of fault. They review police and incident reports to prove the cause of the accident and interview accident witnesses to collect testimonials and depositions. An attorney also values each part of your claim to ensure you get the maximum financial compensation and negotiates with the at-fault party and their insurance provider.
The sooner you seek legal representation, the sooner you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries while a lawyer fights for your legal rights and a fair settlement.
