Top 10 Personal Injury Articles in the LegalMatch Law Library
Many people remember the famous case where a woman sued McDonalds because her coffee was too hot. At a glance, this case may seem ridiculous. Who goes out of their way to sue a company over spilt coffee?
However, if you look into the details of the case, you quickly realize that the woman actually had a very legitimate complaint. The spilled coffee caused third degree burns which required skin grafts on a large area of her body. Her injuries took two years to heal. Given these facts, the question becomes, who wouldn’t try to receive compensation for such a severe and easily avoidable injury?
Personal injury law (or tort law) covers a wide range of civil complaints, from hot coffee to plane crashes. For an overview of this area of law, here are the Top 10 Personal Injury Articles from the LegalMatch Law Library.
1. Contingency Fees
A common assumption is that only the wealthy and powerful can afford the services of an attorney. Once you read this article, you will understand that this is not the case. Thanks to contingency fees, justice is available to even the poorest among us.
2. Suing for Pain and Suffering
Most of the compensation to a personal injury victim is designed to cover any expenses or loss that the victim incurred because of the accident. Medical expenses and lost wages compensation are typically the first considerations, but not the last. Pain and suffering puts a human dimension to the law of personal injury.
3. Automobile Insurance Claims
Here is a secret about insurance companies: their business model relies on denying consumers what they paid for. And here is a secret about automobile injury attorneys that more people should understand: they spend extraordinary hours getting those insurance companies to cough up the money. This article explains how.
4. Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
Contrary to popular belief, slipping and falling is actually extremely painful. This is especially true for the elderly, who are often unable to stand up again. This article reviews the basics of a slip and fall accident.
5. Hit and Run Accidents
Most people obey the law. Others insist on making a run for it. This article explains how you can get your fair share from the scumbag after the state has had its way with the hit and run driver.
6. What Are Bouncers Legally Allowed to Do?
Unless their name is Patrick Swayze and they are starring in Roadhouse, bouncers are not different from ordinary citizens. Of course, they can deny entry to underage teenagers, but their legal duties are much narrower than most people believe. Read this article to find out how narrow their duties are.
7. Ultrahazardous Activities
These types of claims do not arise very often (thankfully), but when they do it is usually quite noticeable. Transportation or storage of toxic chemicals and the use of explosives are typically ultrahazarous activities which require an extraordinary amount of care and regulation. This article explores the aftermath of these devastating accidents.
8. Comparative Negligence
This article explains the most common personal injury defense: "It was their fault!" Okay, there are a few legal nuisances to it, but that is comparative negligence summed up in a single sentence. Some states use the stricter version, contributory negligence, instead.
9. Punitive Damages
Personal injury law became controversial when "$1 million McDonalds coffee spill lady" made headlines. One of the many misconceptions regarding that case is when and how punitive damages are applied. This article explains exactly how punitive damages work and what you can expect if punitive damages are applicable to your case.
10. Medical Malpractice Caps
Many states have instituted caps on medical malpractice awards out of fear that doctors would be less inclined to practice medicine if they are constantly sued. On the other hand, patients who have honestly been injured by incompetent physicians often need more than the limited amount of money offered to fully recover.
