There’s nothing worse than getting injured when you did nothing to cause it to happen and may have just been going about your day as normal. Whether you visited a business where you tripped and fell, were injured in a car accident or bought a new product that led to an injury due to a fault in the manufacturing, you might be wondering if you have any grounds for a claim. If you have been injured through no fault of your own or as a direct result of the negligence or carelessness of others, then you may be entitled to compensation.
Do I Have a Claim?
The best way to find out if you have a personal injury claim is to speak to a personal injury lawyer who may be able to help. Share with them the details of what happened and the impact that it has had on your life, for example, if you had to take any time off work due to the injury or if you were left paying medical bills for any treatment you received. After getting more information on your situation, a good lawyer will be able to give you further direction, and let you know whether or not it is worth pursuing your claim further. Some of the main factors that lawyers look for when determining if you have a personal injury claim include:
The Injury Wasn’t Your Fault
If you were injured due to something that you chose to do yourself such as ignoring hazard warning signs or speeding on the highway, then chances are you will not have a claim. This might also be the case if you were taking part in a potentially dangerous activity and were warned of the potential dangers beforehand and accepted this before taking part. You will usually only have a personal injury claim if you were injured through no fault of your own and were not given any opportunity to either prevent the accident or accept the risk.
Your Life Has Been Affected
While there may be a claim for any injury that you have suffered through no fault of your own, you will usually have a stronger claim if your life has been affected in some way; for example, if you had to take time off work to recover from the injury or you have been permanently affected, such as if you are now in receipt of disability benefits or are no longer able to do the job that you once did as a result of the injury that you have suffered. If you are in medical debt or have lost out due to paying high medical bills for the treatment that you have received a result of the injury, then this can also help to strengthen your claim. You may also have a stronger claim if you have suffered mentally, for example, if you have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, since the injury occurred and as a result of it.
If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, then it’s always worth checking with a lawyer to see if you have a potential personal injury claim.
