Personal injury law is a major field, but if you haven’t been involved in a personal injury case yourself, it wouldn’t be surprising if you don’t know the nuances just yet. To determine whether you should pursue a personal injury case, let’s explore what personal injury really means as a legal term.
Personal Injury Law
“Personal injury” typically refers to the law that governs victims of preventable accidents or injuries caused by another party. Personal injury cases are those where one of those victims seeks legal remedy from the party that they believe is at fault for the preventable accident or injury. Personal injury cases occur as a result of negligence, carelessness, or disregard of the safety of others rather than an active attempt of malice.
Personal injury cases can include a variety of situations that directly led to an injury. Common situations include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Plane accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Dog attacks
- Workplace injuries
- Product liability
- Premises liability
Because the definition of personal injury law is so broad, it’s important to seek an experienced lawyer.
What Does Personal Injury Mean in Terms of Damages?
Since personal injury cases are civil claims, they can be resolved through awarding compensation to the victim instead of penalties, jail time or sanctions that might be awarded in a criminal case. Instead, personal injury awards are monetary and can be equivalent in the opinion of the court to:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost future wages or decreased earning potential
- Physical suffering and pain
- Mental pain
- Lost quality of life
- Psychological injury
- Losses for permanent scarring and/or disfigurement
- Transportation costs
Because every accident is different and every victim is different, the amount awarded from case to case can dramatically vary. One car accident might only have a small monetary award, while another could be tremendous. The impact of pain and suffering is not quantifiable with a specific algorithm, meaning it is the job of attorneys to help clients arrive at a figure that is just and meets their needs throughout the recovery process.
Contact Mobley & Brown, LLP for Help in the Aftermath of Your Accident or Injury
If you are seeking assistance in Maryland in the aftermath of your accident or injury, looking to seek compensation through a personal injury case and unsure of how to proceed, contact Mobley and Brown, LLP today. Our experienced legal team will work with you to meet your needs. Call us now at (410) 385-0398.
