Whether you are traveling on Interstate 80 or seeking medical treatment at one of Laramie County’s many healthcare facilities, accidents can happen at any time. While some are incidental, others are the direct result of someone’s reckless or negligent actions.
These accidents often leave you with massive medical expenses and lost wages, leading to a large financial burden. Fortunately, there is hope.
You have the option to pursue legal action through a personal injury lawsuit. At Edwards Law Office, P.C., we have helped our clients take the first steps toward recovering compensation.
If you would like to learn more, reach out to our Cheyenne personal injury lawyer to learn more.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
According to the National Safety Council, 63 million people sought medical attention for injuries in 2022. While most of these injuries were preventable, not all qualified for a personal injury claim.
A personal injury claim is a legal action initiated by an individual who has suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm due to someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. With this claim, you seek compensation for the damages incurred because of the injury.
Some of the factors that lead to personal injury claims include:
- Car accidents: When you have been involved in a vehicle crash, those injuries sustained due to negligent driving fall under personal injury claims.
- Truck accidents: Truckers and fleet companies are responsible for acting in a safe manner. If they are reckless, these parties can be liable for any resulting tractor-trailer crash.
- Workplace accidents: If you’re injured on the job due to someone else’s negligence, you may have a personal injury claim.
- Product defect accidents: Injuries resulting from defective products, such as faulty car parts, fall within this category.
- Medical malpractice: When medical professionals fail to meet the standard of care, patients may pursue personal injury claims.
When pursuing a personal injury claim, you will need to gather evidence to support the case. This evidence may include medical records, eyewitness testimonies, accident reports, and other documentation relevant to the incident. You will want to consult with a Cheyenne personal injury lawyer during this time to learn more about your legal options.
Do I Have a Pursuable Injury Case?
In all personal injury claims, you need to show that the other individual, business, or entity acted in a negligent manner.
When it comes to establishing negligence, there are several key elements that your legal team will need to prove.
The first element is the duty of care. With that, the responsible party owed you a duty of care. For example, in a car accident, all drivers on the road have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic rules.
Breach of duty is the second element. This requires proving that the defendant breached their duty of care. Once again, looking at the car crash example, this breach could take the form of reckless driving, failure to maintain premises, or medical malpractice.
Along with that, there must be a causation. You need to establish a direct link between the breach of duty and the injuries sustained. If you can show that the defendant’s actions directly caused harm, then a strong negligence case can be made.
Finally, you need to suffer some type of damage from the incident. Whether it is a physical injury or financial harm, there needs to be some damage related to the incident. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be seeking compensation from the responsible party.
If you have any questions about the validity of your claim, make sure to contact us at Edwards Law Office, P.C. We will be happy to discuss your situation.
What Type of Compensation Can I Recover If I’m Injured?
In personal injury cases, these damages will compensate you for any losses you may have experienced due to the actions of another party. These losses may include:
- Medical expenses include treatment costs, doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and continuous care.
- Lost wages and earning capacity reimbursement may be available if your injury prevents you from working.
- Pain and suffering are non-economic damages that cover physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish from the accident.
- Property damage may be recoverable in some situations, like car accidents, where property damage is part of the claim.
In some cases, you could also qualify for punitive damages. These are awarded to punish the defendant for intentional misconduct or gross negligence. However, keep in mind that not all personal injury settlements include these damages.
The type and amount of your damage award will depend on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your life, and other factors. If you would like to know what you can expect from your claim.
Remember, there is a deadline to take legal action. In Wyoming, the statute of limitations is four years. While that may seem like a long time, the sooner you act, the quicker you get money for your losses.
Allow Us To Handle Your Personal Injury Case in Cheyenne, WY
Personal injuries can lead to substantial medical bills, lost income, and other unexpected expenses. Fortunately, you have the option to seek compensation from those responsible for your losses.
If you want a skilled legal team to handle your claim, contact us at Edwards Law Office, P.C. We have years of experience working with clients and getting them the compensation they deserve.
When you are ready to let a professional team handle your case, contact us for a consultation. Our Cheyenne personal injury lawyer will be happy to discuss your case.