Understanding Personal Injury Lawsuits
To determine if you have a personal injury case, it is first important to understand what defines a personal injury case. Personal injury lawsuits are filed by injured people or their representatives, due to the negligence of someone else.
Negligence may be described as a failure to act with proper or reasonable caution or care. An example may be a motorist on the road. A person driving a car has an obligation to obey traffic laws and to act with reasonable caution for the safety of others. If a driver is texting while driving, drives while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or takes his or her eyes off the road for any reason, and an accident occurs as a result, this may provide sufficient grounds to hold that driver accountable for any resulting injuries.
Negligence can take on many forms, so it is important to talk to your Santa Barbara personal injury attorney about the circumstances surrounding your accident and injuries to see how negligence may have been involved and what party (or parties) can be held legally responsible for your injuries.
Compensation in A Personal Injury Claim
Your injury may be either a physical injury or emotional harm and it may arise from many sources or types of conduct. Common types of personal injury cases include slip and fall accidents, vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, and product liability. Generally speaking, the goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to require the at-fault party to compensate the injured person for their losses.
Compensation awarded in a personal injury claim may include money for:
Medical expenses
Future medical treatment
Physical therapy
Assistive or prosthetic devices
Medication
In-home care, if needed
Loss of earnings
Loss of future earnings
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Other emotional trauma
If you have been harmed by the carelessness of another, contact Andrade Law Offices and let a Santa Barbara personal injury attorney discuss how we may help you.