A Washington DC personal injury attorney can review your case to determine if you have a personal injury claim. An attorney investigates the case to gather evidence and documents your injuries to increase your injury claim’s value.
A personal injury Washington DC case is based on an injury caused by another person’s wrongdoing or negligence. For example, another driver caused a car accident or a defective product malfunctioned and caused your injury. Personal injury claims arise from numerous types of accidents and injuries.
However, being injured in an accident does not guarantee that you will recover money for a personal injury claim. You must prove that the other party was negligent and that negligence resulted in your injury.
What Is Negligence in a Washington DC Personal Injury Claim?
Negligence is the foundation of most cases filed under personal injury laws. Negligence means that someone did not act with the level of care required for a specific situation. The level of care required in a situation is measured by what a person of ordinary prudence would have done in a similar situation. In other words, did the at-fault party act with reasonable care. If not, he is guilty of negligence.
However, being guilty of negligence is only one element of a personal injury case. To recover compensation for damages, you have evidence to prove all elements of a negligence claim.
The four elements of a negligence claim are:
1. Duty of Care
The party who caused your injury must have owed you a duty of care. For example, a property owner owes a duty of care to you to provide safe premises so you are not injured in a fall or other accident.
2. Breach of Care
The party did something to breach the duty of care owed to you. In the example above, the property owner failed to post warning signs of a large hole or place barriers around the hole to prevent you from falling into the hole.
3. Causation
The breach of care was a direct and proximate result of your injuries. For example, because the property owner did not post warning signs or place barriers around the hole, you fell into the hole and were injured.
4. Damages
You must sustain damage because of the breach of duty. If you fell in the hole, but were not injured, you do not have an injury claim.
However, if you broke your leg, had surgery, needed physical therapy, and missed time from work, you sustained financial and physical damages. The pain and suffering you experienced means you also sustained non-economic damages.
Damages for a Personal Injury Washington DC Case
Once you prove negligence in a personal injury case, the court could award you damages for your:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Physical injuries, pain, and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of income and benefits
- Decreases in earning capacity
- Disabilities and permanent impairments
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
A Washington DC personal injury attorney can review your case to determine if you have a personal injury claim. An attorney investigates the case to gather evidence and documents your injuries to increase your injury claim’s value.
Call a Washington DC Personal Injury Lawyer Now for a Free Consultation
At Roeser Law Firm, Our full-service personal injury law firm assists injured victims and their families throughout Maryland and Washington DC. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Washington personal injury attorney.
