What is Personal Injury?
A legal term for an injury to the body, mind, or emotions, as opposed to damage to property. Personal injury claims are typically brought in civil court to recover compensation for harm caused by another party's negligence or intentional misconduct.
Understanding Personal Injury
Personal injury law covers a wide range of cases including car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, product liability, and more. The injured party (plaintiff) must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused their injuries.
Examples
- 1Car accident victims seeking compensation for medical bills and lost wages
- 2Slip and fall cases in retail stores
- 3Medical malpractice claims against healthcare providers
Related Terms
Negligence
The failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another person or their property.
Damages
Monetary compensation awarded to a person injured through the wrongful conduct of another party. Damages are intended to restore the injured party to the position they were in before the injury occurred.
Liability
Legal responsibility for one's actions or omissions. When a person or entity is found liable, they are legally obligated to compensate the injured party for their losses.
Tort
A civil wrong that causes harm to another person, for which the law provides a remedy. Torts can be intentional, negligent, or based on strict liability.
Comparative Negligence
A legal doctrine that allows damages to be apportioned based on each party's degree of fault. The plaintiff's recovery may be reduced by their percentage of fault.
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