Personal Injury F.A.Q.

What is the basis for personal injury law?

How do I know if I have a personal injury case?

What can I do if I think I have a case?

How do insurance companies decide how much to pay in damages?

1. What is the basis for personal injury law?

Answer:

Personal injury law is based on negligence, strict liability, or intentional misconduct theories. Under a negligence theory, the question is whether the defendant failed to use ordinary care in the circumstances that led to the injury. Under strict liability, a manufacturer or designer may be liable for injuries caused by a defective product if that product was unreasonably dangerous, even though the manufacturer or designer used reasonable care in making or designing the product. Intentional misconduct includes battery (harmful or offensive contact), false imprisonment (wrongful detention), and intentional infliction of emotional distress (outrageous behavior resulting in severe emotional distress).
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2. How do I know if I have a personal injury case?

Answer:

To have a personal injury case, you must be able to show that you have been injured. This may be a physical injury or it may be an emotional injury. In addition, you must be able to show that the someone else (the defendant) is at fault for your injury under a negligence, strict liability or intentional misconduct theory. In some cases, it may be necessary for you to show that the other party is more at fault for the injury than you are.
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3. What can I do if I think I have a case?

Answer:

If your injury is minor, you may want to contact the person that you believe is responsible and ask for compensation. If this does not work, you should consult an attorney. If your injury is not minor, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible. To find a good personal injury lawyer, you may want to ask your friends or other lawyers that you know. You may also want to contact a local Bar Association for a recommendation.

4. How do insurance companies decide how much to pay in damages?

Answer:

Insurance companies consider the actual monetary costs that you are facing. These costs may include medical bills and lost wages. Insurance companies also consider your pain and suffering and whether you have become disabled or disfigured.

Finding the right fit in Car Insurance

Many Americans report that shopping for auto insurance, and the decision of which company and which policy to choose, can often be extremely stressful. Companies can vary tremendously in terms of their coverage of claims, availability, and service, and with so many options available, how do you know which is the right choice for you?
If you have a student in college who is not driving one of the family cars, speak to your auto insurance company about a discount. Most insurance companies understand that a resident student is unlikely to be driving your car very often while they are away at school, and will offer a discount comparable to removing them from the policy.
Theft of your vehicle factors in when insurance companies calculate your premium. If you have a car alarm or tracker installed on all of your vehicles, you could stand to substantially lower your premium since these prevent theft and aide in the recovery of stolen vehicles, making you less of a liability.
If you buy aftermarket enhancements for your car, determine the insurance consequences should your car get damaged or stolen. In a lot of cases, insurance companies do not cover these upgrades. They only consider the added value to the entire car.
With auto insurance, the lower your deductible rate is, the more you have to pay out of pocket when you get into an accident. A great way to save money on your auto insurance is to opt to pay a higher deductible rate. This means the insurance company has to pay out less when you’re involved in an accident, and thus your monthly premiums will go down.
When buying a new or used car, don’t forget to factor in the cost of insurance. Your dream car may come with an insurance premium that pushes the monthly payment out of your reach. Do some research before you go shopping. You can find average rates for different car models online, or your insurance broker can provide this for you.
No search for car insurance is complete without a thorough comparison of multiple quotes from several companies. As you will find, insurance rates vary greatly by the company. Get a new batch of quotes each year to ensure you always have the best rate. Make sure these quotes are for a similar amount of coverage when you’re comparing rates.
Once your car gets to be older and worth less, consider dropping the collision and maybe even the comprehensive coverage. You will save a good bit of money on your premiums. Find out how much your car is worth and calculate what you pay each year to insure it. If the numbers are close to each other, reduce the coverage.
Your goal is affordable auto insurance, but what exactly does that mean? By carefully considering the various factors involved, such as the amount of coverage you need, as well as the amount you want your deductible set at, among other factors, you are well on your way to making this important decision.