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Simple English definitions for legal terms
personal injury
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A quick definition of personal injury:
Personal injury means any kind of harm to a person's body, feelings, or reputation. It's different from harm to things like buildings or cars. There are three reasons why someone can sue for personal injury: negligence, strict liability, and intentional wrongs. Negligence is when someone didn't act carefully enough and caused harm. Strict liability is when someone is responsible for harm even if they didn't mean to cause it. Intentional wrongs are when someone meant to cause harm. Personal injury can happen from things like car accidents, workplace accidents, or medical mistakes. If someone wins a personal injury case, they get money to help them with things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
A more thorough explanation:
Personal injury refers to any type of harm or injury caused to a person's body, emotions, or reputation. This is different from damage to property rights. Personal injury claims can be brought on three grounds: negligence, strict liability, and intentional wrongs.
Personal injury claims can arise from various causes, including:
- Automobile accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Assault
- Product defect accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Toxic torts
These examples illustrate how personal injury can occur due to the negligence or intentional actions of others. For instance, an automobile accident can result in physical injuries to the victim due to the negligence of the other driver. Similarly, nursing home abuse can cause emotional and physical harm to the elderly due to the intentional actions of the caregiver.
If the plaintiff is successful in their personal injury claim, they may be awarded money damages to compensate for their loss. These damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Household assistance
- Travel expenses
These damages are meant to help the injured party recover from their injuries and losses. For example, lost wages can compensate for the income lost due to the injury, while medical expenses can cover the cost of treatment and rehabilitation.