Accidents can happen at a moment’s notice and end up causing injuries and losses that last for months, years, or sometimes even decades at a time. Fortunately, if you know someone else is directly responsible for causing you to get hurt in an accident, you may be able to hold that person financially accountable for your ensuing damages by taking proactive legal action against them.
Whether your case can be resolved through private settlement negotiations or must progress all the way into a civil courtroom, an experienced attorney’s assistance can be invaluable throughout the entire legal process. From establishing legal fault for your injuries to identifying and valuating specific losses caused by those injuries, your dedicated Trinity personal injury lawyer at Distasio Law Firm could make all the difference in whether your case ultimately has a positive resolution.
Possible Grounds for a Personal Injury Claim
Personal injuries—and accordingly, personal injury cases—can stem from numerous situations, including:
- Automobile accidents and commercial truck wrecks
- Collisions between cars and pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists
- Slips or trips and falls, and other accidents caused by dangerous property conditions
- Misconduct by medical professionals
- Dog bites or and animal attacks
- Unreasonably dangerous or defective consumer products, including medications
- Abuse or neglect inside nursing homes
When it comes to establishing grounds for civil litigation, though, the common thread between all these unique scenarios is usually the presence of “negligence.” In short, negligence occurs when a party directly causes an injury to occur by violating a “duty” they had to act responsibly under specific circumstances. If you can prove someone was “negligent” in this way leading up to your accident, you can usually hold them accountable for any harm you suffered as a result.
However, exactly what qualifies as legally actionable negligence can change a lot depending on the circumstances. Something that might be grounds for a lawsuit in one case might be considered totally reasonable in another. Guidance from a knowledgeable Trinity personal injury attorney like Scott Distasio can be key not just to figuring out when a lawsuit might be possible, but also to building a strong and comprehensive claim against someone you believe negligently caused you harm.
What Damages Could Be Recoverable?
On the topic of comprehensive civil claims, it is important when filing suit or demanding a settlement after suffering a personal injury to account for every negative effect that injury will have and already has had relative to the time of filing. This includes both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills
- Personal property damage
- Lost work income
- Physical pain
- Psychological distress
- Lost quality of life
In rare cases involving extremely egregious negligence or overtly malicious conduct, a court may impose additional punitive damages on a defendant that would then be paid to the injured plaintiff. As a well-practiced personal injury lawyer in Trinity could explain, though, these damages only come up rarely in personal injury litigation, and there are caps set by state law on how much a court can actually award in punitive damages in a single case.
Contact a Trinity Personal Injury Attorney Today
Getting hurt by no fault of your own is a uniquely frustrating and potentially traumatizing experience. If you fail to understand and enforce your legal rights after an incident like this, you may find no relief for your frustration and get no financial help recovering from the various forms of trauma you may be dealing with.
Legal guidance from a qualified Trinity personal injury lawyer can be key to avoiding that kind of outcome and obtaining the compensation you deserve. Schedule a consultation with one of the dedicated legal professionals at Distasio Law Firm by calling today.
