Personal Injury

Personal injuries encompass all types of harm inflicted on an individual's body, emotions, or reputation, distinguishing them from injuries to property rights.

Personal injury claims can be based on three primary grounds:

Negligence, the most frequently cited reason for such claims, arises from an individual’s failure to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances. An example of this is a hunter who recklessly discharges his weapon in the direction of others.

Strict Liability attributes responsibility to a defendant for an action, irrespective of their intent or mental state at the time of the act. For instance, if a consumer is injured due to a defect in a product, the manufacturer is liable for that injury, even if they did not act negligently or intend any harm.

Intentional Wrongs stem from deliberate actions taken by the defendant. Typical intentional torts include battery, assault, false imprisonment, trespass to land, trespass to chattels, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Claims for personal injury can result from physical harm to the body, such as:

Automobile accidents

Workplace accidents

Assault

Product defect incidents

Medical malpractice

Nursing home abuse

Toxic torts

Additionally, personal injury claims may arise from non-physical harm, including:

Intentional infliction of emotional distress

Defamation

Unjust detention, arrest, or imprisonment

Malicious prosecution

Invasion of privacy

If the plaintiff prevails in their claim, they can expect to receive monetary damages for their injuries. These damages are intended to compensate the injured party for their losses and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Medical expenses

Lost wages

Pain and suffering

Mental and emotional distress

Household assistance

Travel expenses