If you watch television or drive on the highway, you have undoubtedly seen advertisements for Birmingham personal injury lawyers. But what, exactly, is a personal injury case, and how can a personal injury lawyer help you?
These are questions that many people have. The personal injury attorneys at the Fob James Law Firm are here to answer your questions and provide the help you need.
If you have never been involved in a personal injury accident, you may not even know what the term means. Nevertheless, personal injury accidents happen much more frequently than you might imagine, potentially putting you at risk of being involved in one yourself. If you sustain injuries in a personal injury accident in Birmingham, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
With money on the line, it is important to be able to recognize what types of personal cases exist and what you need to do to recover the compensation you deserve.
What Is a Personal Injury Case?
A personal injury case is at its core a “negligence” action. The legal definition of negligence is a failure to act with a reasonable level of care that an ordinary person would have exercised under similar circumstances.
To win a negligence case, you must be able to prove four elements:
- Another person owed you a legal duty to act reasonably under the circumstances;
- That person breached his or her duty by failing to act as a reasonably prudent person would have under the same circumstances;
- You suffered actual damages; and
- The other party’s breach was the cause of your damages.
Put simply, any time someone’s negligence causes you harm, you may have a valid personal injury claim.
What Are the Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Birmingham, Alabama?
You might not realize it, but personal injury accidents can occur virtually anywhere at any time. They can happen on the highway, in the grocery store, at the park, or even at the doctor’s office.
Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include:
- Car accidents,
- Commercial trucking accidents,
- Dog bite cases,
- Medical malpractice,
- Products liability,
- Premises liability, and
- Wrongful death cases.
If you think any of the above types of personal injury cases apply to you, contact an attorney today to discuss your claim.
What Are Typical Types of Damages in Personal Injury Cases?
A personal injury claim provides injury victims with an opportunity to recover monetary compensation for their injuries from the at-fault party. This monetary compensation that the law imposes is referred to as “damages.”
Knowing what types of damages are available in personal injury cases is critical, to help ensure you recover compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial damages.
The types of damages for which you can typically receive compensation in personal injury cases include:
- Property damage,
- Ambulance costs,
- Surgery expenses,
- Hospital stays,
- Prescription medications,
- Lost wages or loss of earning capacity,
- Pain and suffering,
- Disfigurement, and
- Mental anguish and emotional distress.
If you have suffered any of the above damages due to the negligent actions of another, you may be able to recover compensation for some or all of your losses. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you assess your damages and fight to maximize your recovery.
What to Do After a Personal Injury Accident in Birmingham
If you have sustained injuries in an accident caused by the negligence of another party, contact a personal injury attorney today. Hiring an experienced attorney is one of the best steps you can take to get the compensation you need and deserve.
The Birmingham injury attorneys at the Fob James Law Firm have been helping accident victims in need for years. We work each day to obtain justice for our clients, and we hope we can do the same for you.
Contact our team today for your free case review and see how we can help.
Fob James
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large regional firm for several years where he obtained awards for both individual and corporate clients, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society.