If you are facing significant medical bills after a personal injury, you may be wondering whether you can file a personal injury claim to get compensation. There are just three simple questions you have to ask to determine whether you have a personal injury claim.
Did you suffer personal injury? A personal injury claim can only be filed over personal injuries, and does not include property damage claims. Personal injury can be physical–such as a broken bone or brain damage–or it can be emotional–such as pain and suffering or diminished quality of life. Many injuries are both.
Was someone else responsible? Sometimes responsibility of the other party can be determined directly. You can point to a specific act of negligence. Other times, responsibility depends on strict liability, when a person or group is considered responsible for certain injuries even when you can’t point to a specific act of negligence. Strict liability is commonly applied in product liability and dog bite cases.
Do you have damages? “Damages” is the legal term for consequences of your injury that may be compensated. Damages can be economic, like medical bills and lost wages, and noneconomic, like pain and suffering or loss of companionship.
If you answered “yes” to all three questions, you have a valid personal injury claim. If you’re not sure of the answers, or if you want to set your claim in motion, please contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, PC today for a free consultation.