Personal injury is one of those things we don't like to think about. For legal purposes personal injury happens when an individual is harmed in some way because of the actions, negligence or carelessness of someone else.
In cases like this where the injury is serious enough to have a significant impact on the injured person's life the question of "liability" is immediately raised. And in today's society where almost everything is measured in terms of dollars and cents, the job of the courts is to decide the cash value of this liability - the amount of monetary compensation the injured party should receive from the party responsible for the injuries.
Most of us have liability insurance to protect us against being sued for thousands or millions of dollars in compensation for injuries we may have caused other people. If a person is found to be "liable" for personal injury to someone else the insurance company holding that person's policy will pay the compensation up to the level covered by the insurance policy.
It is because there is so much at stake in most personal injury cases that makes it important to have experienced legal representation. Without a competent personal injury lawyer deciphering the law and representing your case before insurance companies and other lawyers you are at a serious disadvantage.
Injuries due to traffic accidents are the most common types of personal injuries that become the subject of litigation or compensation. Such injuries range all the way from strained necks or backs to the loss of limbs, paralysis, and death.
For example, if someone hits your vehicle from behind you may suffer a neck or back injury as a result. The driver of the vehicle that hit you may be found to be liable for your injuries because he or she failed to obey the traffic laws.
Work-related injuries are also very common. For example if you work for a construction company and are injured as the result of unsafe conditions in your work place, you will probably be eligible for compensation. You may fall off a poorly constructed scaffold, have a heavy object fall on you from above, or have a heavy machine or truck back over you because of a careless driver.
In all work-related cases it is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe environment and take reasonable precautions against the possibility of injury or harm to its employees.
Manufacturers can also be liable for personal injury when their products are found to be unsafe or cause harm. Companies sometimes wittingly or unwittingly allow a dangerous or defective product to enter the market. In such a case it may be possible to gain compensation for the costs associated with the pain or suffering caused by the product.
Claims against manufacturers can be filed for a variety of reasons. If you used the product in the proper manner, but were injured or harmed in some way, then the manufacturer may be liable for defective design or even misrepresenting the product.
Many of these cases involve the effects of potentially harmful chemicals. Well known examples include cases of certain prescription drugs such as Reglan or of the highly-publicized and controversial case of silicone breast implants.
Other well known cases involve playground equipment which has been found to be dangerous in some situations. Other prominent cases involve manufacturing problems in cars or trucks. A well-known example is the case of the exploding Ford Pinto gas tank that became famous a couple of decades ago.
The reason personal injury cases are so complicated and contentious is because there is so much at stake in them. The injured person has had his or her life altered - often in a very profound way. In many cases, things will never be the same for them. This often has a major impact on their enjoyment of life, their ability to engage in regular activities, and - perhaps most important in the eyes of the court - their ability to hold a job and earn a living. That is why it is so important to contact an attorney when you suspect you have been injured as the result of someone or some other party's actions or negligence.
The goal of a personal injury lawyer is to assist people who have been injured to get the level of compensation they are owed because of their injuries. Without knowledgeable and vigorous representation by an experienced personal injury lawyer it is unlikely an injured party will receive full compensation.
Nick Messe is president of The Lead Frog LLC. If you are in the Chicago or Morris Illinois areas be sure to contact Fitzpatrick & Harrop, experienced
LaSalle County Personal Injury Lawyers for the best possible representation when you are injured. - http://www.fhlawfirm.com
