When someone hurts you, they are not always held criminally responsible for various reasons. Even so, they should not be allowed to get away with what they did, and you can hold them civilly liable.
You should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit if another person has caused you bodily injuries. Not every instance of bodily harm is considered a criminal offense, and a personal injury lawsuit might be the only way for injured victims to get justice. As part of your lawsuit, you can claim damages for the expenses related to your injuries and the pain and suffering you went through. To prove your claims against the defendant, you need as much evidence as you can gather. An attorney can not only help you find the evidence you need but use it in the most effective way possible.
The harm you experienced should not go unrecognized. Our Jackson personal injury lawyers can help you sue the person or people who hurt you and get you fair financial compensation. For a free case evaluation, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Reasons to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Jackson
Personal injury cases involve plaintiffs who have experienced some form of bodily harm at the hands of another. People are sometimes a bit confused over what kind of cases constitute personal injuries, as various damages that are not related to physical injuries can be brought alongside personal injuries. Generally, you must have suffered some bodily harm to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Accidents on the road are very common reasons why people file personal injury lawsuits. In such cases, you can sue other drivers on the road for causing the accident. If the accident in your case was caused because of faulty equipment, you might be able to sue the manufacturer of the vehicle.
You can also file a personal injury lawsuit if you were injured because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property. For example, if you tripped and fell on your neighbor’s front steps because your neighbor neglected to make necessary repairs, you can sue your neighbor for your injuries.
Personal injury lawsuits may encompass various other kinds of injuries in addition to those mentioned here. Our Jackson personal injury lawyers can go over your case with you to determine if you have a valid personal injury cause of action.
Damages You Can Claim in Personal Injury Lawsuits in Jackson
Damages are at the center of personal injury lawsuits and represent the injuries suffered by plaintiffs and the compensation they demand from defendants. Economic damages include losses related to money, while non-economic damages tend to reflect the subjective, painful experiences of the plaintiff. Punitive damages are designed to punish defendants for their egregious behavior and can be quite valuable in some cases.
Economic Damages
Common economic damages included in many personal injury lawsuits are medical expenses and lost wages. Medical bills can be quite high. Those expenses may be even higher if you require ongoing or more invasive treatments like surgery. To top it off, you might be unable to return to work while you recover, thus losing income. You can also claim the income you lose as part of your economic damages. Future lost income and medical bills you can reasonably expect may also be included in your calculations.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are somewhat more complex as they do not involve actual money lost. Instead, these damages reflect the personal experiences of the plaintiff after being injured. Your emotional and physical pain and suffering related to your injuries may be claimed as part of your non-economic damages.
Non-economic damages are often determined based on their impact on your life. If these damages prevent you from functioning on a daily basis as you normally would, you may claim greater compensation.
Punitive Damages
Punitive Damages may be awarded when the defendant has acted with gross negligence. This is above and beyond ordinary negligence and tends to arise in cases where the defendant’s behavior was willful or malicious. As such, punitive damages are not commonly awarded. When they are awarded, there are limits imposed under Mississippi Code § 11-1-65(3). Punitive damage caps are based on the defendant’s overall net worth.
Those with a higher net worth and greater ability to pay are subject to higher damages caps. For example, if the defendant has a net worth of $50,000,000 or less, punitive damages are capped at 2% of the defendant’s net worth. For those with a net worth above $50,000,000 but less than $100,000,000 dollars, the cap is $2,500,000. The higher the defendant’s net worth, the higher the damage caps in your case. Our Jackson personal injury attorneys can assess the limits of the punitive damage in your case based on the defendant.
Evidence to Prove Liability in Jackson Personal Injury Cases
You must support your claims for damages with as much evidence as possible. The stronger your evidence, the greater your odds of success will be. Our Jackson personal injury lawyers can help you identify important evidence in your case and use it to your advantage.
Photos and videos are extremely useful pieces of evidence. Luckily, this is evidence you can gather yourself. Ideally, you should try to record videos and take pictures as soon as you know you have been injured. At car accident scenes, taking photos of the damage for insurance companies is fairly standard practice, and you can incorporate the same idea into any accident or injury incident.
Your medical records are also very important in a personal injury case because they can help us prove the extent of your injuries. Plaintiffs’ injuries often heal up completely before they get to a trial. We rely on their medical records to prove that their injuries did exist. You must get immediate medical attention to ensure your records are as accurate as possible.
Witness testimony is crucial to any personal injury case. Having witnesses to back up your version of events helps prevent your case from coming down to your word against the defendant’s. Multiple witnesses from various vantage points are ideal, although any witnesses are useful.
Call Our Jackson Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Now
Our Jackson personal injury attorneys have experience with various kinds of cases and injuries. We can review your case free of charge to get you started and hopefully get you the compensation you deserve. Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 today.
