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The Basics of Personal Injury: What Does Personal Injury Include?

Author: Wallace & Graham, P.A.

Published: Tuesday, July 30, 2019

The Basics of Personal Injury: What Does Personal Injury Include?


The Basics of Personal Injury: What Does Personal Injury Include?

You may need a personal injury lawyer if you have been injured, even in the injury was accidental. A personal injury attorney may also be known as a plaintiff’s lawyer or a trial lawyer. This type of attorney litigates civil matters for those who have sustained a psychological or physical loss or injury because of the actions or inactions of another person or company. Many types of accidents that cause harm or the death of a loved one are personal injuries.

A personal injury attorney may try to settle a claim first, but if he or she doesn’t get a good settlement offer, the attorney will take the case to trial. A case will settle faster than if it goes to trial, which could last years, depending on the circumstances and the parties involved. In some cases, it might be in your best interest to settle while in others, it’s in your best interest to go to trial. Your personal injury attorney will advise you as to the best course of action based on the facts of your case.

Personal Injury Examples

A personal injury definition, in a nutshell, is an injury or death caused by any type of action or inaction by another party. If an accident caused a death, the next of kin may bring a personal injury case against the person that caused the death. Personal injury cases include:

If you have been injured or a loved one died because of an accident, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Personal injury cases have a statute of limitations—this means that they must be filed within a certain period of time. In most cases, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in North Carolina is three years for injury and two years for wrongful death.   If you fail to file your claim within the limitations period, your claim could be dismissed as untimely.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

It is our recommendation that you get the advice and/or assistance of an attorney.  You should keep in mind that insurance companies must look out for their bottom line. Often, insurance companies will offer you the lowest amount possible.  The process of taking a case through settlement and litigation is not an easy process. For example, if you were in a car accident with a tractor-trailer truck, you are not only dealing with your insurance company’s lawyers but also lawyers for the driver’s and the business’s insurance companies.  There are many complexities to handling a personal injury claim that requires legal assistance to maximize recovery.

Contact Wallace and Graham  

Contact a personal injury lawyer near me—Wallace and Graham—if you have a personal injury claim.