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Injury and Accident Law Overview

When a person is injured, tort law will govern whether that person may be compensated for the injury, the amount of compensation that may be recovered, as well as which parties will be liable for the injury. Tort law, also known as injury law, comes from federal and state codes, as well as judicial opinions from prior cases.

Types of Injury Claims

Personal injuries constitute most injury claims in the United States. Personal injury suits may arise from automobile, plane or boating accidents, medical malpractice, animal or dog bites, defective or dangerous products, "slip and fall" accidents, or intentional assault. A number of personal injury claims also arise from injuries sustained in the workplace, including complications from industrial diseases (asbestosis, asthma, etc.), repetitive strain injury and occupational stress. Other injury claims include suits for libel, slander, defamation and property damage.

Bringing an Injury Claim

If the negligent, reckless or intentional acts of another causes an injury, injured parties or their loved ones should obtain legal representation as soon as possible to preserve evidence. Even if it appears that no one is at fault for the injury, or that injuries are minor, it may be beneficial to seek legal advice before the statute of limitations runs out and precludes further legal action. An injured victim may be able to recover through a formal civil court proceeding, or through informal settlement negotiations. If a victim chooses to pursue a civil court action, they generally must file the lawsuit in the county where the injury occurred.

Negligence

Most injury cases require the injured party (the "plaintiff") to prove that the opposing party (the "defendant") acted negligently. In order to recover under a negligence claim, the injured party must prove that: (1) the defendant owed a legal duty to that party; (2) the legal duty was breached by the defendant; and (3) the defendant's actions caused the injury. Generally, every citizen has the duty to act as a reasonably prudent person under similar circumstances. Defendants breach this duty if they fail to act with reasonable care. If the injury would not have occurred but for the defendant's breach, and there is no intervening event that breaks the chain of causation, the defendant will be found negligent. If a court determines that a defendant was negligent, the defendant may be liable for the plaintiff's injuries.