Texting driver caused my accident

If you've been involved in an accident, you might not know what actions to take next. You may be wondering if you should file a lawsuit against the person responsible for the accident. It's important to know that there are times when accidents do call for lawsuits, especially when the responsible party refuses to own up to the accident. If you're not sure whether you have a personal injury cases, here are four crucial questions you should ask yourself.

Were You Personally Injured?

When it comes to personal injury claims, the first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you were personally injured. That doesn't necessarily mean physical injuries. It could also mean emotional injuries, or even injuries to your reputation, such as with defamation of character, libel or slander. If you have suffered personal injuries as a result of an accident or incident, you may have a claim for personal injury.

Did Someones Negligence Cause the Injuries?

If you've been injured in an accident or incident, you next need to ask yourself if the injuries were caused by someone's negligence. For instance, if the injuries occurred in a car accident, was the other driver negligent in their driving? Negligence in a car accident would involve things like speeding, driving under the influence,or driving while distracted. If the injuries you sustained were the result of someone's negligence, it's time to consider proceeding with a personal injury claim.

Were There Damages?

Once you've determined whether you suffered personal injuries in the accident or incident, and you've determined whether you think the other party was negligent, you'll need to determine whether you suffered damages. There are two different types of damages – special and general.

Special Damages

When considering whether you suffered special damages, you need to look at things like medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, property damage, or loss of income. If you're dealing with those issues as a result of your accident or incident, you've most likely suffered special damages.

General Damages

General damages are related to damages that you can place a monetary value on. Those damages include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and emotional distress.

Should You Hire an Attorney?

It's not always easy to know when you should hire an attorney. However, when it comes to personal injury cases, if you've suffered personal injuries as the result of someone's negligence, and you're dealing with damages, you should consult with a personal injury attorney. Contact a firm, like Borbi Clancy Patrizi, LLC, for more help.