If you sustain injuries and believe that they resulted from someone else’s wrongful actions, you may have a lawsuit. With your injury, medical bills can pile up, you might be missing time from work, or you might be unable to enjoy life anymore. However, before you file a claim for damages, it is worth addressing an important question- do you qualify for a personal injury claim?
There are three types of harm you can suffer from; personal injuries, property damage, and damage to one’s reputation. Personal injury claims occur when you suffer emotional harm or actual harm to your body. Injuries may be from another party’s reckless actions, negligence, or maliciousness. The experts at the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan advise you to discuss your options with a Bridgewater personal injury lawyer.
Common Personal Injury Accidents
Personal injury claims usually cover three fundamental problems that can appear in the aftermath of an accident:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Actual harm to your body
Actual harm to your body is a relatively simple concept to grasp. If an individual suffers injuries in a car accident by a reckless driver, you expect to receive compensation- and rightfully so.
Compensation covers current medical expenses and should also cover any future medical costs. Medical costs include additional surgeries, home care, physical therapy, and anything else that helps the injured person return to everyday life.
Pain and suffering damages are a bit trickier, though. Lawyers encourage clients to work with mental health professionals to document their pain and suffering. Anyone pursuing a claim should document their previous activities before the accident that they can no longer enjoy and participate in actively. It also helps injured clients document the daily emotions they experience to help build a strong case.
In certain states, anyone who is not an immediate party that suffers injuries can pursue compensation for pain and suffering. For instance, if someone attacks your spouse and they can no longer participate in a meaningful relationship, you can seek compensation for the loss of companionship.
Emotional distress covers a wide range of injuries, including any threat to you of physical harm and defamation. You can classify this type of injury as either negligence or intentional infliction. Again, emotional distress is one of the most challenging injuries to pursue.
Steps to Take After Personal Injury Accident
The common misconception we hear at the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan is that injury claims lead to trials in front of a judge with the filing of a lawsuit. We cannot stress it enough that this belief is far from the truth. Roughly 95 percent of all injury claims settle without ever reaching trial.
After a personal injury accident, the individual must file the necessary paperwork with the state of Massachusetts. If the injury occurred in another state, you must file in that state. The injured client’s counsel will negotiate with an insurance carrier to arrive at an agreeable amount. When everyone agrees on a settlement, the responsible party must include provisions that preclude any further actions about the case.
If the injured party wants to, they can take matters to trial if negotiations fail. Should it go to trial, the court hears the two sides’ arguments and then renders a judgment. To prevent responsible parties from avoiding negotiations or pushing issues to trial, the courts reserve the right to impose additional compensation for attorney fees and punitive damages.
Compensation From a Bridgewater Personal Injury Accident
Defendants who act egregiously may entitle the plaintiff to recover punitive damages and compensatory damages. The direct damages or compensatory damages are either economic damages or non-economic damages. Financial or tangible damages include objective costs and losses like medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, property damage, and future expenses of treatment.
The non-economic damages are more subjective and cover aspects like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. For a client to receive compensation, the damages must be reasonably quantifiable rather than speculative.
The amount of compensation you receive depends on the specific nature of the injuries. You can speak to a Bridgewater personal injury attorney to estimate what you will likely receive. You cannot accept payment until we complete a thorough and complete investigation.
Call a Bridgewater Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Call the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan at 1-508-588-0422, or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation today. Our Bridgewater personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for a fair settlement. You deserve compensation for your injuries and damages. We stop at nothing to ensure we provide top-notch service. Our clients are our top priority, and our positive testimonials can speak for themselves.
Bridgewater Personal Injury Attorneys
An experienced Bridgewater personal injury lawyer can help get your life back on track when it has been derailed by a severe injury. The injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan have secured full compensation for accident victims. We are ready to help you, too.
Our key to success? We care about each and every client. We are a family-owned law firm that has represented clients in Massachusetts for more than 30 years. We treat every person who walks through our door like a member of our family. Our clients benefit from our depth of experience, our vast resources and our commitment to help those who are struggling with traumatic injuries.
We provide compassionate and effective advocacy to accident victims in East/West Bridgewater and surrounding areas of Massachusetts. We stand ready to fight for your rights.
Call us now to get started. We will schedule a free consultation with one of our Bridgewater injury lawyers. We are here to answer your questions and help you explore your legal options.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Bridgewater
No two personal injury cases are alike. However, many serious Massachusetts accidents result from a handful of common causes. Our firm’s Bridgewater personal injury attorneys represent clients who have been injured by:
- Car accidents – Every year, thousands of people are seriously or fatally injured in car accidents caused by negligent or reckless drivers.
- Truck accidents – Commercial trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds. These massive vehicles can cause traumatic injuries when they collide with passenger cars.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcyclists lack the protection that other drivers have. When another driver fails to see or yield the right of way to a motorcycle, it is almost always the motorcyclist who suffers.
- Pedestrian accidents – A pedestrian who is hit by a moving vehicle – even a slow-moving one – can suffer severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and internal damage.
- Slip and fall accident – Slip and falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the U.S. These accidents can happen anywhere that a hazard exists, such as at a business, a neighbor’s house or the workplace.
- Dog bite – Dog owners have a responsibility to keep their pets leashed if they have a tendency to bite or behave aggressively. Adults or children who are bitten by loose dogs often sustain serious injuries.
- Workers Compensation – Construction workers are in one of the most dangerous industries. Jobsite workers face the risk of falling from great heights, being struck by a falling object or being hit by a construction machine.
- Product liability – Products that are manufactured or marketed improperly, or those without proper instructions or warnings, can injure even the most careful users. These cases may involve defective products such as faulty ladders, hazardous chemicals or dangerous toys.
- Medical malpractice – When doctors or other healthcare providers make harmful mistakes, they can be held liable for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice includes misdiagnosed conditions, surgical errors and wrongful deaths.
- Wrongful death – If your loved one was the victim of a wrongful death caused by the negligence or intentional acts of another party, our compassionate attorneys will fight to get you the full compensation your family deserves.
Talk to a Bridgewater Personal Injury Attorney
If you need a seasoned attorney for your Bridgewater personal injury, look no further than the legal team at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan. Our attorneys can help on your case by:
- Helping you understand your rights and the laws that apply to your case
- Estimating the full value of your personal injury claim
- Managing your legal documents and deadlines
- Investigating and compiling evidence to support your case
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and expert witnesses
- Communicating with insurance providers and lawyers on your behalf
- Negotiating fair settlements from insurance providers
- Representing you in court and arguing your case, if necessary
- Working to secure a favorable outcome, if your case goes to trial
To learn how we can help with your case, call our offices today or send us a message online. Our initial consultations are free of charge. We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve a favorable outcome in your case.
