Personal injury is any physical injury to a person’s body, including mental and emotional injuries.

Personal injury law is based on the principle that an innocent victim, injured by another person’s careless action, should not have to absorb and suffer the consequences of the loss alone. Instead, the party responsible for the injury should be held financially accountable to the victim for injuries, medical bills, and lost income caused by the accident.

Whereas a crime is an act prohibited by law against society and punishable by the government, a personal injury is a “wrongful” act for which the government doesn’t punish the offender. Instead, the law allows the victim of a wrongful act the right to pursue a private claim, and, if necessary, a civil lawsuit against the offender.

Relief is provided to accident victims in the form of “damages” (money) from the person who has inflicted the injury.

Damages fall under three general categories:

General or Non-economic Damages - These compensate the victim for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, embarrassment and humiliation, and scarring and disfigurement.

Special or Economic Damages - The victim is compensated for present or future loss of an actual dollar amount based upon medical expenses or loss of earnings.

Punitive Damages - Intended to punish the offender, punitive damages are awarded where the wrongful act is outrageous.

Personal injury law  covers physical harm, pain and emotional suffering resulting from . . .

• motor vehicle automobile accidents
• motor vehicle automobile accidents

• boating or water sport accidents

• motorcycle accidents

• construction accidents

• airline or train accidents

• slip and fall accidents

• dog bites

• medical, dental or legal malpractice

• bad faith business and insurance claims

• exposure to toxic elements

• poisoning

• defective products

Personal injury law is based on this simple premise: when someone inflicts harm on another person which causes physical, mental, or financial distress, the injured person deserves to be fairly and adequately compensated for any loss suffered as a result of the negligent person’s misconduct. Although it may sound simple, injury law is a complicated maze of twists and turns, best navigated by a personal injury law firm that limits their practice to injury law.