Personal InjurY Litigation

Suffering a personal injury can have devastating effects on you and your family – financially, physically, and mentally. Personal injury lawsuits are most commonly filed by people (or their representatives) who have been injured due to the negligence or intent of someone else. The injury may be either physical or emotional or both, and it can arise from a variety of sources or types of conduct.

Some common types of personal injury cases are: slip and fall, automobile collisions, assault and battery, medical malpractice, and product liability. In general, the goal of a personal injury action is to determine who was responsible and to compel the responsible party to compensate the injured person for the losses sustained. If you or someone you know has been injured by the careless actions of another, you may schedule a consultation with Bishop Friend, P.S.C.

Liability can be caused by intentional acts, negligent acts, or strict liability. Liability will usually attach when you are injured by someone who intends to injure you or who injures you with reckless disregard for your safety. A negligent act occurs when someone commits an act without exercising a proper standard of care. If you are harmed as a result of that failure the person who harms you may be liable for your injury. If a careless driver runs into your car, that will normally be a negligent act.

If someone is injured by an inherently dangerous activity or a faulty product, under the terms of strict liability, that person might not have to prove intent or negligence, and would only need to show that harm resulted from the activity, or the product was defective, through no fault of the injured person’s own.

Personal injury lawyers can help ensure that their clients receive the damages to which they are entitled by law. Some of the items for which injured parties may be legally entitled to compensation include lost wages, past and future medical expenses, and damages for pain and suffering. Sometimes, a close family member of the injured person, such as his or her spouse, may also be entitled to damages. This type of award is often referred to as loss of consortium damages, which are intended to compensate the loved one for the loss of the injured or deceased person's services and companionship.

In addition, punitive damages may be awarded when the defendant's conduct was particularly egregious. Punitive damage awards may serve to deter others from engaging in similar wrongful conduct.

Bishop Friend, P.S.C. can examine your claim and determine how soon you must act to preserve your rights and the damages to which you may be entitled. Contact us to schedule a consultation.