Filing a lawsuit is certainly something that is frowned upon in popular culture. In reality, though, it’s a key part of the way that the law protects people who are injured. Below are just a handful of the most common reasons why people choose to file for personal injury cases.
Medical Bills
One of the most common reasons to contact an injury attorney is because of an individual’s medical bills. A serious injury can easily wrack up tens of thousands of dollars of medical bills, even if an individual has good insurance. It makes sense, then, for those who have been injured to seek out redress for that wrong. Injuries that have resulted in medical costs are generally easy to prove, leaving the court to determine where the liability lies.
Missed Wages
Others aren’t just worried about the cost of healing – they’re worried about the costs associated with missing work. Spending time in a hospital can lead to lost wages and lost work, while certain injuries can even end a career. While the states vary in how individuals can collect on missed and potential earnings, this is a common reason why an injured party might want to reach out to a personal injury attorney.
Insurance Issues
Finally, some individuals bring lawsuits because insurance companies simply don’t act as they should. The other party’s insurance company may only offer minimal compensation, or it might fail to offer compensation at all. If the injured party cannot settle with the insurer, he or she really has no choice but to bring a personal injury lawsuit in order to get the money necessary to recover from his or her injury.
Public Responsibility
Of course, some people file personal injury cases not because they are worried about their own futures, but they are worried about the future of others. Some choose to file these cases to hold the parties that cause these injuries responsible for their actions. This helps to change the way that individuals and businesses act, helping to create a safer world for everyone.
The reasons for filing personal injury lawsuits are many, but in the end, the goal is always to redress a wrong. Choosing to file a lawsuit is a very personal decision and those who file need to understand not why they’re filing, but what they face going forward. With the right motivation, though, filing a lawsuit can be an ideal choice.