What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Accidents happen. That’s a fact. And when they do, they tend to be accompanied by unexpected property losses and injuries that may affect your health for some time. How to proceed when you find yourself in this situation?
You have heard about personal injury lawsuits but are unsure as to what they are exactly, what they entail, how much you can reasonably expect to recover, and how to get started.
What Exactly Is A Personal Injury Lawsuit?
These are legal disputes that originate when someone is harmed in an accident and someone else might be responsible for the injuries or harmed caused. The insurance company from the person that caused the harm will pay for the injured party’s medical bills, ongoing medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other bills associated with fixing your car or whatever personal property has been damaged.
By having a personal injury attorney representing you, the case can be formalized through a civil court proceeding. The purpose of this procedure is to determine who is legally at fault for what happened. And what the consequences of this determination should be.
Are This Type Of Disputes Always Settled In Court?
Generally, it’s much more common to reach a resolution through an informal setting. Sometimes, even before the lawsuit has been filed. This means that both parties get together and discuss their differences to come to a mutually acceptable agreement.
How Much Time Do You Have To File A Personal injury Lawsuit?
As the plaintiff, you have a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit, as established by the statute of limitations. In general terms, the time limit starts to run the moment the plaintiff is injured or realizes they have sustained an injury. Statutes of limitations are established by each state’s law and vary depending on the type of injury that has occurred. In California, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury and three years in cases of property damage.
How Have The Laws That Govern Personal Injury Cases Evolved?
Personal injury law has been the product of court decisions and of treatises written by legal experts. In many states, these court rulings have been summarized in written statutes. However, most cases are decided by the courts.
How Much Money Can You Expect To Receive Through A Personal Injury Lawsuit?
As mentioned above, most of these cases get settled before going to court. And in those that do end up in court, the verdict is unpredictable. The biggest payouts tend to go to the biggest injuries. That is, the more serious the injury, the higher the settlement amount.
Another factor that plays a role in settlement amounts has to do with insurance limits. That is, the insurance company will not offer a settlement that is over the policy limits.
Get Legal Representation On Your Side
Engaging the services of a personal injury attorney will have an important effect on the outcome of your personal injury claim. And there is a significant difference in the results compared to when people proceed on their own. That is why, if you are considering a personal injury lawsuit, you should call the offices of Timothy J. Ryan & Associates Personal Injury Lawyers. They will listen to your case in a free consultation and suggest the best way for you to proceed with your case.
