A personal injury lawsuit is a civil lawsuit brought by someone who is injured against the person or company responsible for their injuries. These lawsuits try to recover money for the injured person’s injuries and certain other losses.

Even if you were hurt very badly in an incident, it’s important to note, that you might not have a personal injury claim.

The law requires that:
(1) you suffer a peronal injury (not just property damage),
(2) your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, and
(3) you suffered damages.

Personal injuries are injuries to your physical body or your emotional state. Breaking an arm or suffering from sever anxiety after an incident are examples of personal injuries.

Negligence is when another person or company acts in a careless manner. It is a failure to act in a way that a reasonable person or company would under the same circumstances. Sometimes, the reasonableness of someone’s actions is based on who they are (for example, lawyers have a certain duty of care with their clients) or the circumstances (for example, a good samaritan providing assistance is given more leeway than trained medical personnel).

Damages are quantifiable amounts due as a result of your injuries, such as medical bills, pain & suffering, and lost wages.