Personal Injury
Personal injury is a legal term that refers to harm to a person's physical, mental, or emotional health, or reputation, caused by the wrongful or negligent actions of another person or entity. It is a legal term used in civil law to describe cases where a person suffers harm due to the wrongful or negligent actions (or inactions) of another party. Here are the key components of personal injury:
Types of Harm
- Physical Injury: Harm to the body, such as fractures, burns, or other bodily harm.
- Mental or Emotional Injury: Psychological trauma, stress, or mental suffering caused by an incident.
- Reputational Harm: Damage to a person's reputation, often associated with defamation cases (libel or slander).
Causes
- Negligence: Failing to act with reasonable care, leading to harm (e.g., car accidents, slip-and-fall incidents).
- Intentional Acts: Deliberate actions causing harm (e.g., assault or battery).
- Strict Liability: Cases where liability is imposed regardless of intent or negligence, often in product liability cases.
Common Examples
- Car crashes
- Medical malpractice
- Construction site injuries
- Defective products
- Hazardous conditions at business and residential buildings
Legal Remedies
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages or earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress