Personal Injury FAQs
After you’ve suffered an injury, you may have a lot of questions. You might be wondering: what do I do right after an accident? Should I file a claim? How do I prove it was someone else’s fault? Do I need a lawyer?
It’s important to understand what a personal injury is and when you need a lawyer to help you. This is because filing a claim can help get you the compensation you need while making a recovery from your accident.
So today, I’ve compiled a list of personal injury FAQs that I hope will empower you in your personal injury case.
What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
When someone else has verbally or physically harmed you—either intentionally or unintentionally—you can often file a lawsuit or a claim to hold the offender legally responsible for your injuries.
The goal in filing a claim like this is to prove that someone else’s negligence caused you harm. For example, if someone hit you with their car because they were texting and driving. Or, if an employee did not clean up a spill in a restaurant, and you later slipped and fell.
A lawyer’s expertise is very helpful in these cases, as they will be able to identify what counts as negligence and what does not.
What Qualifies as a Personal Injury?
Personal injuries can happen in many different situations. Here are the most common types I see:
- Car accidents
- Slip and falls in grocery stores, restaurants, or at work.
- Birth injuries. For the child, these can include things like cerebral palsy or skull fracture. For the mother, these may include injuries like broken bones or abnormal uterine bleeding.
- Dog attacks
- Product liability, like when a space heater tips over and causes a fire.
- Wrongful death
- Other injuries from trusted products and medicines, like Roundup, 3-M Earplugs, Baby Powder, Zostavax, and more.
Should I Hire an Attorney?
Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can be extremely beneficial when making your claim. Not only will you have a better chance at receiving compensation, your lawyer can take the burden of the legal headache off your plate.
An attorney can discuss your case with medical professionals, get police reports, and build a strong defense for you if the 
other party makes legal claims of their own.
If you’re thinking about quickly settling out of court, you may want to think again. Often, the other party’s insurance company will encourage you to settle your claim outside of court for a significantly lower monetary value than you might have received with legal help. Additionally, an insurance company is usually trying to settle for the lowest value possible, and any legal advice they give you may not be sound.
How Do I Know If I’m Entitled To Damages?
The types of damages you receive will depend entirely on your own personal case. You can seek damages for:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Future Income
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
It’s Not Too Late to Get an Attorney, Even If You’ve Started the Process On Your Own
Many people begin the process of making a claim without the help of an attorney, only to find they do not understand the legal jargon and the intricacies of court proceedings.
But the good news is that you can finish the claim with an attorney even if you’ve started it on your own, which will give you the very best chance at success.
Talk with Tennessee’s Top Personal Injury Lawyers Today for FREE
I have been a personal injury lawyer for more than thirty years. I’m proud of the team I’ve built, and I’m even more proud of our success record.
If you still have questions after reading these personal injury FAQs, or would like to speak with a top personal injury lawyer, contact us online today or call us at (901) 327-2100. The consultation is absolutely free, and we will talk you through all of your options. Don’t wait; get the compensation you deserve for your personal injury today.