What Is Personal Injury and Do You Need a Lawyer?
The legal world seems like a confusing, scary place to those who don't work in the industry. Phrases like "tortious liability" and "breach of a duty of care" can make everyday citizens turn and run. In reality, the underpinnings of personal injury lawsuits are simple: did someone else cause your injury? If the answer is yes, you might be able to sue them for compensation money. If you're prepared to hire personal injury lawyers, you might be able to sue the other party with a team of lawyers of your side. You can sue for personal injury if the injury occurred within Australia, regardless of your own nationality.
What is personal injury?
Personal injury is a broad category of legal claims, all of which involve physical harm to you as a person. Sometimes, psychological harm can also fall into the category of personal injury. There are five sub-categories of personal injury, and your claim could be easier if it fits into one of them:
- Incidents at work which cause injury to your body
- Criminal acts, usually involving assault or other application of force to your body
- Car crashes causing harm to your person (not just your car)
- Injuries caused by dangerous locations; e.g., slippery stairs in a library
- Defective products which create a danger that injures you
What should you do if you have a personal injury?
If you have a personal injury which you believe was caused by another party, you should document the injury as much as possible. Take photos, find witnesses who were present when your injury occurred and most importantly write down everything you can remember. The date, time, and location are all important pieces of evidence for bringing a case in court. Make sure to record and collect evidence regarding the loss this injury has caused you (e.g., you had to take time off work to recover or your medical costs were $3000), as this will become important when seeking money.
Once you have all the details and facts straight, calling a team of personal injury lawyers is the next step. A specialist team will be able to assess your chances in court and give you advice about the next steps you should take.
What damages can you seek?
As your personal injury lawyers will tell you, damages for personal injury are calculated on the basis of compensation. Therefore, you will need to show the types of loss that have resulted from your injury in order to claim the money you deserve. Hiring a team of personal injury lawyers is essential if you want to maximize the amount of money you receive because they will tell you which types of loss to claim.