Personal Injury Law

Guide to Tort Law
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Know your Rights!
Personal Injury Case Handbook
Articles About Personal Injury Law

Statute of Limitations by State
Personal Injury Law - US
Organizations Related to Personal Injury
Publications Regarding Personal Injury

What is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law refers to the legal remedies and defenses involved in civil lawsuits brought as a result of wrongful conduct. In fact, the word “tort” comes from a Latin term meaning twist, wrong, or harm. In contrast to criminal law, a tort action does not involve the government prosecuting the wrongdoer. Rather, these cases involve a private plaintiff seeking compensation (usually money) for the harm caused by the defendant’s actions.

Most personal injury cases are based on the doctrine of negligence. In essence, negligence requires every member of society to act responsibly and avoid putting others at risk. That is not to say that negligence will result each time someone gets hurt. The doctrine recognizes that some accidents are unavoidable. To establish liability, the plaintiff must show that a reasonably prudent person in the defendant’s position would have acted differently under the circumstances.

Examples of negligence include car accidents caused by drunk drivers, medical complications resulting from a physician’s carelessness, and dog bites that occur when vicious animals are permitted to roam free. In each instance, the responsible party ignored the risk posed to others, and as a result, the plaintiff was injured.

Once negligence has been established in a personal injury case, the defendant must pay the plaintiff for all injuries caused by the defendant’s actions. Certain types of damages are easy to calculate, such as property damage and medical bills. For other types, such as emotional distress and loss of earning capacity, expert testimony may be required. Punitive damages, meant to punish and deter particularly egregious conduct, may also be available.

When initiating a tort action, identifying the proper defendants can be difficult. This is because the “tortfeasor” who directly harmed the plaintiff – be it a delivery driver, nurse, grocery store clerk, or other individual – may not have the financial resources to pay a large judgment. An experienced injury attorney can identify and sue additional parties who are liable based on their relationship to the tortfeasor, such as a landlord or employer.

Common Torts and Defenses

Personal injury law encompasses a number of causes of action besides negligence. Many of these fall under the umbrella of intentional torts. As the name suggests, in these situations the defendant acts purposefully to harm the plaintiff. Examples include assault, battery, false imprisonment, trespass, theft, and infliction of emotional distress.

On the opposite end of the tort spectrum, there are scenarios in which defendants will be liable even though they did everything possible to avoid causing the harm. This is referred to as strict liability. The law will hold a defendant strictly liable if someone is hurt while the defendant is engaging in a highly dangerous activity, even if the activity is legal and all precautions are taken. Building demolition and transporting hazardous materials fall into this category.

Another common tort involves injuries caused by defective products. Liability in these cases can be imposed based on a theory that the manufacturer acted negligently by designing and selling an unsafe product. Or, if certain elements are met, plaintiffs hurt by a defective product may be able to sue under a strict liability theory. Either way, product liability cases have the potential to become large class action lawsuits, involving many plaintiffs and enormous money judgments.

To defend against personal injury liability, defendants tend to rely on a few common defense theories. In negligence cases, the defendant may argue that the plaintiff did not use due care, and is partially or wholly responsible for his or her own injury. The defendant may also claim that the plaintiff “assumed the risk” by voluntarily participating in a dangerous sport or activity, or that the plaintiff impliedly gave the defendant permission to take the action that ended up harming the plaintiff.

Plaintiffs who want to avoid losing a tort case based on such arguments should hire legal counsel. Retaining an attorney will also help avoid the unfortunate circumstance of violating a statute of limitations (that is, missing the deadline for filing the lawsuit), which is always a concern in personal injury cases.

Know your Rights!

10 Important Questions for Your Personal Injury Attorney

Accidents rarely come with any forewarning, leaving most victims unprepared and unsure of how to proceed. When you or someone you know is injured, you will have a lot of uncertainty and need to make a lot of decisions very quickly. You should always seek immediate medical attention for any injuries and also seek the assistance of qualified, experienced legal representation. But, how do you know who the best attorney is for your case?

How Are Damages Established in a Tort Claim?

The goal of damages in tort actions is to make the injured person “whole” through the award of money to compensate for injuries caused by the accident or incident.

I Was Given Bad Advice About Fitness or Nutrition, What Can I Do?

I recently spoke to a friend, who is a personal trainer, about diet and exercise. Her advice, while well-intentioned, was wildly off-base from a scientific standpoint. This got me to wondering, what if I had taken her advice to heart and suffered a loss? Would the consequences of choices I made about diet and exercise be mine alone or would she have some liability for her inaccurate assertions?

Injured at the Beauty Salon, What Should I Do?

Everyday, millions of women have various services performed at beauty salons. Hair cuts, dying, threading, manicures and pedicures, massages, and a host of other services are now available. While one rarely thinks about it, though, beauty salons are actually very dangerous environments. So what should you do if you are injured at the beauty salon?

Sports Injury Laws

But what happens if an injury occurs as a result of a deliberate hit or someone acts so recklessly that injury is almost certain to occur?

What is Negligence?

One can only bring a lawsuit for negligence if they can establish all four of the required elements. If any one of the elements is missing, then there is no negligence from a legal standpoint, and a lawsuit cannot be sustained.

What is the Economic Loss Doctrine and How Does it Apply to My Case?

If you have been involved in a product liability dispute (or some other types of cases), your attorney may have mentioned that your claim is subject to the “economic loss doctrine” or the “economic loss rule.” That could leave you asking what that is and when it applies.

What to do After a Bike Accident

First, the rider must try to keep his or her cool. What you do in the immediate aftermath of any accident, including a bike accident, may have a big impact on how much you recover for your injuries and damage to your bike. It may also affect the outcome of any lawsuits resulting from the accident.

What to Do after a Personal Injury

The moments following an accident or other injury are confusing and overwhelming. You may not know what to do or where to turn if you or a loved one has been injured due to someone's negligence or wrongdoing.

Personal Injury Case Handbook

Do you have a Personal Injury Case? This information will help you understand your legal issue and what to do.
Articles About Personal Injury Law

Personal Injury Case Handbook

Taking Legal Action after a Car Accident

Car accidents can have devastating medical and financial consequences. Whether you are recovering from an injury, paying exorbitant medical bills, or having your car repaired or replaced, these consequences can be a drain on you and your resources. However, if you take legal action, you may be able to recover damages to help you through this difficult time.
Workers’ Compensation

In many professions, day-to-day tasks involve some level of risk that could result in injury or illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported that on the job illness and injuries that resulted in time away from work affected approximately 1.2 million individuals in 2015.

What to Know Before Hiring a Construction Accident Attorney

You’re on a construction site and—almost out of nowhere—a large beam knocks you out, leaving you unconscious and in pain. You’ve suffered a head wound and broken your leg in the fall, causing you to stay off your feet for the next few months. Workers’ compensation might help you to a certain extent, but should you incorporate a construction accident attorney to get what you deserve?

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help in a Case of Motorcycle Wrongful Death by Truck?

Accidents involving a motorcycle and truck are serious, often fatal, and necessitate immediate legal representation and attention. Many tasks need to be performed immediately including obtaining investigative reports.

How Car Insurance Can Help Cyclists in Times of Crisis
Your coverage isn’t limited to auto crashes alone.
Five Things You Should Know about Truck Accident Cases

Some things are obvious. Other things are not. Like the fact that commercial truck drivers are bound by stricter laws and regulations. And in the case of impending litigation, it’s best left to an attorney to sort those things out. Because no matter what you may believe, a truck and car crash are two very different things. Ken answers some common questions and concerns we hear on a regular basis.

Legal Options after a Work Injury

We would like to think our employers take every necessary precaution to keep us safe at work, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes companies put workers in harm’s way through their negligent actions.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

In Philadelphia, car accidents are as large of a problem as they are across the country. In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation released car accident statistics, which indicate that Philadelphia has the highest number of car accident injuries and fatalities in the state, with over 60,000 accidents ranging from minor to severe.

Why People Are Hesitant to File Medical Malpractice Claims and Why They Shouldn’t Be

People often feel subject to things that are completely beyond their control and understanding. This is true not only of bigger forces in life, like the economy or the weather but of the small things. Few people, for example, have a deep understanding of how their phone works or how to fix their plumbing, so they defer to experts to fix things when they break.

Expert Witnesses Explain Potential Legal Issues with Autonomous Vehicles

The future has arrived, and it is showing the public that it includes vehicles that drive themselves. However, there are various issues that these cars may raise because of injuries, accidents and similar concerns. Many problems with these types of advancements in the world deal with how technology keeps outpacing the law, law enforcement and keeping legal matters settled.

All Tort and Personal Injury Law Articles

Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwide discussing legal aspects related to Tort and Personal Injury including: animal bites, asbestos mesothelioma, back and neck injury, bicycle accident, birth injury, brain injury, burn injuries, catastrophic injuries, construction accidents, construction injuries, defamation, libel and slander, defective products, industrial injuries, mass tort, negligence, nursing home abuse, pedestrian accident, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, sexual abuse, slip and fall, spinal cord injury, torts, toxic mold, toxic torts, workplace injuries and wrongful death.

Statute of Limitations by State

Alabama - Section 6-2-38
Alaska - Sec. 9.10.070
Arizona - Title 12, Article 3
Arkansas - Sec. 16-56-104
California - Sec. 335.1
Colorado - Rev. Stat. Secs. 13-80-102
Connecticut - Ch. 926 Sec. 52-584
Delaware- Title 10, Ch. 81
District of Columbia - Title 12, Ch. 3
Georgia - Sec. 9-3-20
Hawaii - Rev. Stat. Secs. 657-7
Idaho- Title 5, Ch. 2, Sec. 5-219
Illinois - 735 ILCS 5/13-201, 13-202, 13-212
Indiana - Title 34, Art. 11, Ch. 2, Sec. 34-11-2-3, 34-11-2-4
Iowa - Chapter 614, Section 614.1
Kansas - Chapter 60, Art 5, Sec. 60-513
Kentucky - Title 36, Chapter 413, Sec. 413.140
Louisiana - Ci. Code. Art. 3492
Maine - Title 14, Part 2, Ch. 205
Maryland - Sec. 5-101
Massachusetts - Title 5, Ch. 260, Secs. 2A and 4
Michigan - Chapter 600, Act 236, Ch. 58
Minnesota - Ch. 541, Sec 541.05, 541.07
Mississippi - Title 15, Ch. 1, Secs. 15-1-36, 15-1-35, 15-1-49
Missouri - Title 35, Ch. 516, Secs. 516.105, 516.120, 516.140
Montana - Title 27, Ch. 2, 27-2-204 and 27-2-207
Nebraska - Title 25, Section 207, 25-207
Nevada - Chapter 11, Sec 11.190
New Hampshire - Title LII, Chapter 508, Sec. 508.4
New Jersey - Title 2A, Ch. 14, Sec. 2A:14-2, 14-3
New Mexico - Ch. 37, Art. 1, Sec. 37-1-8
New York - Art. 2, Secs. 214, 214.s, 215
North Carolina - Title 1, Section 1-52, 1-54
North Dakota - Title 28, Ch. 1, Secs. 28-01-16 and 28-01-18
Ohio - Title 23, Ch. 5, Sec. 2305.10
Oklahoma - Title 12, Ch. 3, Sec. 95
Oregon - Ch. 12, Secs. 12.110, 12.115, 12.120
Pennsylvania - 42 PA Con. Stat. Sections 5523, 5524
Rhode Island - Title 9, Ch. 1, Sec. 9-1-14
South Carolina - Title 15, Ch. 3, Secs. 15-3-530, 15-3-545, 15-3-550
South Dakota - Title 15, Ch. 2, Secs. 15-2-14, 15-2-14.1, 15-2-15
Tennessee - Title 28, Ch. 3, Secs. 28-3-103, 28-3-104
Texas - Civ. Prac. & Rem Code, Title 2, Ch. 16, Secs. 16.002, 16.003
Utah - Title 78B, Chapter 02
Vermont - Title 12, Ch. 23, Secs. 512, 521
Virginia - Title 8.01, Ch. 4, Secs. 8.01-243, 8.01-247.1
Washington - Title 4, Ch. 16, Secs. 4.16.080, 4.16.100
West Virginia - Chapter 55, Sec. 55-2-12
Wisconsin - Chapter 893, Secs. 893.54, 893.55, 893.57
Wyoming - Title 1, Ch. 3, Sec. 1-3-105

Personal Injury Law - US

ABA - Personal Injury

The American Bar Association’s personal injury web page contains information about pursuing a claim, as well as general discussions of negligence, medical malpractice, and products liability law.

ABA - Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)

TIPS brings together legal professionals from all sides of tort law, including plaintiffs’ attorneys, defense lawyers, and insurance representatives. While aimed at practitioners, the site contains news and events of interest to the public.

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)

The U.S. House of Representatives provides this online summary of the FTCA. Those looking to sue an employee of the federal government will find this to be a useful starting point for further research.

Personal Injury - Wikipedia

This web page offers an encyclopedia-style description of personal injury law in the U.S. and abroad. The discussion includes information about insurance coverage and the taxation of damage awards.

Theories of Tort Law

Stanford University has compiled this outline of tort law theories and practices. A significant portion of the discussion deals with the economic aspects of the subject. An extensive biography is provided.

Tort Law - Overview

Cornell University Law School maintains a series of web pages known as the Legal Information Institute (LII). The tort law page offers a thorough overview, with in-text links to related topics.

USDOJ - Torts Branch

This page explains the role of the U.S. Department of Justice in tort legislation involving the federal government and its officers. The page also provides access to an expandable flow chart of the entire USDOJ civil division.

Organizations Related to Personal Injury

American Tort Reform Association (ATRA)
Personal Injury Settlement and Claim Advice
Publications Regarding Personal Injury

Journal of Tort Law

Tort and Personal Injury Law Dictionary

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