How Do I Know If My Injury Warrants a Personal Injury Claim?

In terms of tort law, “Personal injury” describes physical, mental, emotional, and financial damage inflicted on a person through the actions of a third party. The injury itself can range from minor to potentially life-threatening, with more severe cases commonly involving a myriad of damage types.

Civil laws protect those harmed by third-party negligence, carelessness, or recklessness by enabling them to seek monetary restitution to compensate for the damage they’ve suffered. This restitution, kickstarted by a claim with your insurance provider or personal injury claim, should offer fair and total value for all the harm endured by the victimized party, not partial or “some” value.

But not every injury warrants a personal injury claim. In some accidents, there are no injuries whatsoever, or the involved party’s insurance policies cover the injuries that result from the accident. Each situation requires a unique response, so it’s recommended to speak with a legal expert early in the process to navigate your next steps properly.

Morgan and Morgan can help you understand more about your accident situation and guide you toward the best possible outcome. We’ll listen to your story, evaluate whether you should file a personal injury claim, and support you throughout your next steps, advocating for your best interest from beginning to end. When you’re ready to learn more about your legal options, complete our free, no-risk case evaluation to speak with our team.

Common Injuries Across Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury claims involve a wide range of accidents and incidents. Still, despite their variety, there are common injuries that arise. Understanding the diversity of damages can not only help you recognize that you’ve suffered an injury, but general familiarity can also help you understand when you have a potential personal injury claim on your hands.

Common types of injuries in personal injury claims include:

• Soft Tissue Injuries: Common in car accidents, slips, falls, and sports-related incidents, soft tissue injuries can affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, causing significant pain even in minor cases.
• Broken and Fractured Bones: The sudden, forceful impact typical of many accidents can lead to fractures and broken bones, ranging from simple breaks to complex ones.
• Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries: An impact to someone’s head can force the brain to collide with the inner skull and impact cognitive activity. Any head injury, no matter how minor, should be checked by an experienced medical professional to determine severity and long-term damage potential.
• Burn Injuries: Burns can occur in a variety of personal injury scenarios, including fires, chemical exposures, and electrical accidents. They are classified by degree, with third-degree burns being the most severe.
• Psychological Injuries: Beyond physical bodily harm, personal injury victims can suffer from psychological impacts such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can impact their ability to return to a normal life.

Filing a personal injury claim allows accident victims to recover the damage they suffered in an accident they didn’t cause. Without one, they must foot the bill for what they’ve suffered out-of-pocket or “pay” for it throughout their life with lingering pain that could have been prevented.

Although the aftermath of an accident is overwhelming, it’s important that you file your personal injury claim promptly, or you risk becoming entirely ineligible for compensation. Our team can help you understand more about your unique circumstances by completing a free, no-obligation case evaluation. 

Non-Physical Injuries in Personal Injury

Accidents often cause harm that extends beyond physical damage. Mental, emotional, and financial damages are equally if not more important after an accident than bodily harm.

Some examples of these injuries include:

• Lost Wages: A significant injury can prevent someone from returning to work temporarily or altogether. 
• Emotional Damage: The trauma of an accident can manifest as emotional changes that impact your ability to return to a normal life.
• Pain and Suffering: An injury can impose a great deal of suffering that extends far beyond the date of the accident.

Accident victims can and should seek these damages for recovery if they’re affected by them.

How to Know if Your Injury Requires a Personal Injury Claim

Those injured to any degree in an accident they didn’t cause, whose damages exceed any relevant insurance coverage, may have grounds for a personal injury claim. The only way to know for sure, though, is to speak with someone knowledgeable in the subject, like a personal injury lawyer, for further details about your situation.

Legal assistance can clarify your legal eligibility and provide comprehensive support for the steps ahead. At Morgan and Morgan, we offer the highest caliber of personal injury representation with no upfront or out-of-pocket costs.

Complete our free, no-risk case evaluation to get started.