Injuries can occur in a variety of situations that lead to personal injury legal cases. When injuries result from another party’s negligence or intentional actions, you might have questions about liability and if you have any legal recourse. Enter the intersection of civil law and personal injury.
Is Personal Injury Civil Law?
Your first round of questions might be about the relationship between personal injury and civil law. Are they the same thing? How are they connected? Personal injury law is actually a subset of civil law. Civil law focuses on private rights and remedies, and personal injury cases fall under this area because personal injury cases involve seeking compensation for harm suffered due to the negligence or intentional actions of another party.
Liability in Personal Injury Cases
Liability–the legal responsibility that a person or entity holds for causing harm to another individual–is a central concern in personal injury cases. Establishing liability involves demonstrating that the actions (or lack of action) of a specific person or organization directly led to injuries sustained by another person. This typically requires proving in court that the person or organization breached the duty of care they owed to the victim.
Legal Recourse and Compensation
When someone suffers an injury due to another party’s negligence or intentional actions, he or she has the right to pursue legal recourse to seek compensation for their losses. This compensation, often referred to as damages, is meant to cover various economic and non-economic damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other quantifiable financial losses directly resulting from the injury. Compensation may also be awarded for non-economic damages, which address more subjective losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.
Navigating the Legal Process
A Texas personal injury case involves navigating a complicated legal process. After the incident, the injured party must gather evidence including accident reports, witness statements, medical records, and expert opinions. These things are key when it comes to providing support for their claim of negligence or intentional wrongdoing against the responsible party. An experienced attorney can help, and once the evidence is collected, a lawsuit against that responsible party can be filed. Many personal injury cases are resolved through settlements, wherein both parties agree on a compensation amount without going to court; but sometimes an agreement cannot be reached and there is a trial in court.
Understanding the legal processes and the potential for seeking compensation is crucial for anyone who finds themselves facing the aftermath of a personal injury incident. If you have suffered a personal injury due to another party’s negligence in the Austin, Texas area, it is advisable to seek professional legal counsel to help you with your case. Consider Brad Reeves of Reeves Law, PLLC. Whether you want to negotiate a settlement or go to trial, having a knowledgeable attorney like Mr. Reeves by your side can significantly improve your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve for your losses. Contact Reeves Law for a free consultation