Legally speaking, a personal injury occurs when someone is injured through the negligence or wrongdoing of another party. If you have been injured through no fault of your own, there are many damages that you may recover in a personal injury lawsuit. In order to win a personal injury lawsuit, you will need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.

Typically there are two main kinds of damages you may receive in your lawsuit: compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages (also called actual damages) are simply in place to compensate you and the indirect victims of your injury (such as your spouse) for injuries you sustained in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Punitive damages (also known as exemplary damages), however, are meant to punish the perpetrator of your injury so that he or she will suffer economically and avoid hurting others in the future.

Types of compensatory damages may include the following:

· Damage to your vehicle

· Rental car expenses

· Disfigurement

· Emotional distress

· Loss of affection (awarded to your spouse)

· Loss of life’s pleasures

· Loss of spouse’s contribution to household

· Loss of wages or income

· Loss of earned sick and/or vacation time

· Loss of impairment of earning capacity

· Medical bills

· Physical disability or impairment

· Mental disability or impairment

· Pain and suffering (depression, grief, fear, humiliation, etc.)

· Property damage

Following any kind of injury through no fault of your own, you may wonder if you have a personal injury claim. Generally speaking, it depends on what happened, what injuries were suffered, and to whom. Regarding vehicle accidents, it is important to look at the degree of the car accident and use your best judgment. A simple fender bender where no occupants were hurt can usually be appropriately handled through your insurer. Anything other than that deserves a bit more attention, especially in the litigious environment in which we live.

You should seek a personal injury attorney when:

· A serious injury is occurred, or where injuries are likely to be permanent, such as paralysis

· A death has resulted from the accident

· Fault is clearly an issue

· Other parties were involved, such as other vehicles or pedestrians

· The accident occurred in a construction area

· Important technical, legal or medical issues are involved

· You have no insurance or your insurance company suggests that you did not pay your premium

· Your insurer gives you the runaround

· Your insurer gets its own attorney

If you feel have a valid personal injury claim in the state of Texas, please visit the website of Marc Whitehead & Associates Attorneys at Law, LLP. We work on a contingency basis, and there is no fee for you unless we win your case.

By: Patricia Woloch

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Accident Lawyers