In many personal injury cases, no one intended to injure the other party. It wasn’t a malicious act. This is why it is often a civil issue rather than a criminal one.
Instead, the key lies in showing that one party was negligent. They made critical mistakes that they should have reasonably avoided. By being careless and negligent, they caused the other person’s injuries. Therefore, they are liable for any direct costs stemming from those injuries. These costs can be significant — especially with serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.
Car accidents
When it comes to car accidents, negligence often means making a driving mistake. An example of this could be turning left in front of a motorcycle. Another example is tailgating another vehicle, making an accident unavoidable if the driver in front stops quickly. There are hundreds of driving mistakes that people make every day, including driving under the influence, distracted driving, speeding and running stop signs.
Medical mistakes
Negligence is also a key component of medical malpractice cases. Doctors are supposed to adhere to a certain standard of care. When they fail to do so, they may be accused of negligence. Often, medical experts are brought in to testify about what a reasonable standard of care would be in the medical industry, so the court can decide if the doctor in question failed to meet that standard.
Navigating a personal injury suit
If you’ve been injured and believe someone else’s negligence caused those injuries, you may deserve significant compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Be sure you know all the legal steps to take to seek this compensation.