Following a personal injury, it can be challenging to adapt to the new physical restrictions of your recovery. You may have hospital or doctor’s bills—a financial stressor made worse by time away from work. Finally, dealing with the emotional consequences of knowing your accident was caused by the carelessness of another can leave you despondent. Fortunately, a personal injury lawyer can help you take action. By filing a civil suit against the at-fault party, you could recover damages for your injuries. The process can be challenging, however—between investigating your case, filing paperwork on time, and even negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance company. Let our Des Moines, Iowa personal injury lawyer review your case.
Bringing in a Personal Injury Claim: What You Must Know
Personal injury refers to the full range of physical damages you are likely to suffer in an accident. Most personal injuries are minor but severe ones can occur as well. Injuries are sometimes identified as temporary or permanent, or total and partial, in relation to the limitations these may impose on your work performance or ability to look after yourself. Personal injuries may include:
- Back, spinal cord, or lumbar injury
- Broken or fractured bones
- Brain injury
- Lacerations
- Burns
- And others
Personal injury law, sometimes known as tort law, is a subset of civil law that serves to protect you when you or your property is damaged by someone else’s action, and in some situations, inaction. At the very heart of personal injury law are negligence and damages: if you wish to file a successful claim, you must prove that another party acted negligently, resulting in your damages.
Des Moines IA Personal Injury Lawyer
And what can filing a claim help you with? When you suffer personal injuries due to the negligence of another party, filing a claim allows you to seek monetary compensation, also called damages, from the at-fault party or group of parties. The extent of damages that you can recover in a personal injury action is largely determined by the nature and extent of the injuries or losses that you have suffered. In the past, personal injury claimants have been successful in filing claims for damages of both economic and non-economic nature. Among them may be:
- Medical bills, including emergency fees and bills for ongoing treatment
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
Often, it can be complicated to determine the true value of your personal injury claim. This is why speaking to a trusted doctor not only allows you to get appropriate treatment for your injuries but also get a better idea of your total medical costs. With your cost of treatment as the cornerstone, it is possible to strengthen your claim with an experienced personal injury lawyer prepared to engage in the process of civil discovery.