You may have heard commercials on TV, on the radio and seen the billboards. But what really is personal injury? Is it something that has happened to you that you could benefit from? It’s quite a common occurence and you may qualify for some benefit if you have been injured.

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured or disabled due to someone else’s negligence, you may qualify for compensation. To get the best compensation that you deserve, you should search for a personal injury lawyer. Make sure you go local and be specific in your search, like personal injury attorney in San Francisco, rather than using a general search like lawyer or attorney.

A personal injury lawyer will be able to help you have a successful case with fair compensation if you have a legitimate injury. They are trained in this area, and know how to proceed in the best way. Look for a lawyer not only qualified and respected in this area, but one who will spend the time on your case that it deserves. Check out the firm’s credentials and see if they have some testimonials published or references they can share. Ask question so you know what you’re getting into. Once you find a lawyer you’re comfortable with, you’ll be off to settle your case.

What Exactly is Personal Injury?

As mentioned, if you have been injured or disabled form someone else’s negligence, you may qualify for personal injury compensation. Some types of compensation are attorney fees, medical bills, or compensation for emotional distress or loss of job or ability to work. Some examples of personal injury are:

• Injury from a car or motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault
• Getting hurt in a fall on someone else’s property due to negligence
• Injury from repetitive motion at work, like back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome

These are only some examples of what qualifies for personal injury. Other types result form medical malpractice where negligence comes into play or even assault. Though these may be the types of personal injury most frequently experienced, there are some more common types of personal injury:

• Injury from a defective product – This could be something like a defective part in a car causing a wreck with injury or even death. If a product is used as it is intended but injury results, there could be a case.
• Injury from a dog bite – If a dog bites you, you may be entitled to compensation from the owner depending on the circumstances.
• Injury form a misdiagnosis – Whereas this may fall under malpractice, if you are misdiagnosed and your condition becomes worse, you may have a personal injury case.

The Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Once you know you have a case and you’ve found a lawyer to represent you, you should know the process and the steps in this case.

A complaint will be filed and served on the defendant. The defendant is the one who was negligent – whether the owner of the property, the dog, or the one who hurt you through negligence. Once the defendant has a lawyer (or opts not to) there will be some pre-trial litigation. This is where the information is shared through discovery. It may take a short time, like just a few days, or it could last years. Many cases are settled before trial, because it’s just easier that way, especially if it’s a clear case. It saves everyone time and money. It may end up going to trial, where it will be tried in court. A jury may decide in either favor depending on the evidence presented. This is where you want the best lawyer you can find.

Personal Injury

Personal injury is serious, and valid, and if it’s happened to you, you deserve compensation. However, it often is connected with fraud and some people look at it as a quick way to make a buck. Slip and fall cases are huge in he fraud department, where people fake slips and falls to collect damages. Unfortunately, this may make a valid case harder to prove. That is another reason to seek a good, highly qualified, specialized attorney to help you in your personal injury case.

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