To put it simply, Personal Injury is a legal term for an accident/injury to the body, mind or emotions as opposed to property. Accidents/injuries can cause harm and suffering and typically someone is legally responsible for that. Depending upon the intent or negligence of the person responsible, the injured party may be entitled to monetary compensation. There are two different ways in which to settle a personal injury case:
Formal Lawsuit: when a private individual files a civil complaint against another person, business, etc., also known as “filing a lawsuit”
Informal Settlement: (most common) when a settlement takes the form of negotiation where both sides choose to resolve the matter through payment of an agreeable amount of money outside of the courtroom
Since personal injury claims are typically settled outside of court with an informal settlement, there are many different ways in which an accident/injury victim may receive monetary compensation. For example, the responsible party may have to pay for things such as:
- Hospital Bills
- Therapy and Rehab Cost
- Property Loss
- Emotional Distress
Not only are there many different types of monetary compensation, but there are also many different categories that a Personal Injury case can fall under. Here are a few examples of the different categories of Personal Injury claims:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Accidents at work
- Accidents with Product Defect or Product Liability
- Medical/ Dental Negligence
- Industrial Disease (Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, etc.)
- Slip and Fall claims (ex: in a grocery store or retail store)
Do you or someone you know think you might have a personal injury case? Before you file a South Carolina personal injury claim, request a free copy of our South Carolina Accident book. When you’re ready to get started on settling your accident claim, contact a Charleston personal injury lawyer for a free and immediate consultation, 1-888-690-0211.
