Personal injury law, also known as tort law, is designed to protect you if you or your property are injured or harmed because of someone else’s act or failure to act. A personal injury or tort lawsuit is a civil (not criminal) cause of action. The wrongdoer compensates the victim with money. There are three different classifications of torts: negligence, strict liability, and intentional torts. The remedy in most tort suits is the same: payment of money by the defendant to the plaintiff. Sometimes the remedy is an injunction rather than monetary damages (for example, if your neighbor plays loud music, you can file a nuisance action seeking an injunction to stop him).
Every tort claim, regardless of its basis, whether negligence, strict liability, or intentional, has two basic issues — liability and damages. Was the defendant liable for the damages you sustained, and, if so, what is the nature and extent of your damages? If you can prove liability and damages, our system of justice will award you compensation for your loss. Even if liability is established, the parties in a lawsuit may argue strenuously over the proper amount of damages. Some types of damages, such as lost wages and medical bills, are easy to calculate. But reasonable minds can differ on other kinds of damages, like a person’s expected future earnings and how to quantify “pain and suffering.”
If you’ve sustained a personal injury you may be facing many questions such as:
- How will I pay my medical bills?
- How can I recover damages for my injury?
- What if I lose time from work?
- How can I afford a lawyer when I have so many other injury-related expenses?
What Types of Injuries Can Willis and Toews Help With?
Willis and Toews offers a free consultation to help you answer these questions.
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Give us a call now, we’re more than happy to review your case: (509) 529-0908. You may also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) menu at the side which explains basic terminology that you may be wondering about.
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