Common Questions and Answers About Personal Injury Lawsuits

Accidents and injuries can happen when we least suspect them. Such is the unpredictable nature of life.

You could be going about your usual daily business, perhaps at work, at home, or out and about in your local area, when suddenly, without warning, disaster strikes, leaving you in need of urgent care.

This happens all the time, with statistics showing that millions of people get injured each and every year. One person dies from such injuries every three minutes, but the vast majority survive, thanks to the help of modern medicine. While recovering, many of these victims think about how to get justice or compensation for their injury, and this is where a personal injury lawsuit can occur.

With the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can put together a case against the person or party that may be held responsible for your accident or injury. With the right legal team by your side and the correct evidence at hand, you can receive an impressive settlement, with averages of around $52,900 per case.

Read on to learn more about how these lawsuits work.

What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit is a type of lawsuit filed when a person suffers some form of injury due to the negligence or inaction of another person or party. The intention of the lawsuit is to help that victim receive financial compensation for the damages they’ve incurred. This money can be used for medical bills, legal fees, rehabilitation costs, loss of income, and so on.

What’s the Process for Personal Injury Lawsuits?

Personal injury lawsuits can vary quite a lot in terms of how they play out, depending on the specifics of the case. However, they tend to roughly follow these basic steps:

• The case needs to begin with some form of injury, and it’s important that the circumstances of the injury match with the established definitions required to build a case. This means that the injury must have been caused by the negligence or inaction of another party, rather than the person who actually got hurt.
• After suffering an injury and receiving medical treatment, a victim will typically contact a lawyer at their earliest convenience in order to discuss the details of the situation and see if a case can be made. The attorney will be able to assess the circumstances and, if they believe a personal injury lawsuit is valid, they can then file an official complaint in court. The same document will also need to be ‘served’ to the defendant.
• The defendant may then hire their own lawyer and build a case of their own, leading up to a pre-trial phase, in which both sides can request evidence, share witness statements, and build up their own cases to argue in front of a judge, if the case ever goes that far. Both sides will also make depositions, which are recorded interviews regarding the specifics of the case.
• From there, the case may lead all the way up to a trial, in which a judge or jury will hear arguments of both sides and make a decision. However, it’s worth noting that many cases are settled out of court.

How Much Do Plaintiffs Usually Receive?

Many people want to know how much compensation they can hope to receive if they pursue a personal injury lawsuit, but the truth is that the values can vary wildly from case to case, and some cases end up getting thrown out without any kind of settlement at all. Those who are successful in their lawsuits can receive anywhere from $3,000 up to $75,000 and beyond.

The amount you receive can vary based on a range of factors, including the nature and severity of your injuries, what kind of insurance policy the defendant has, and the arguments your lawyer is able to make.

How Long Do Personal Injury Lawsuits Last?

As with the previous question, there isn’t one fixed answer for this one. Cases can vary in length quite a lot. Some are resolved quite quickly, while others can drag on for months or even years. It all depends on the nature of the case and the resolve of those involved, especially the defendants.

Final Word

If you find yourself injured because of someone else’s inaction or recklessness, there’s no need to suffer alone. You can pursue justice and get the compensation you need to continue life without worrying about financial hardship. Contact a lawyer to learn more.