What is a Personal Injury?
Sometimes when you are involved in an accident, nobody is really at fault for causing the accident. Other times, an accident is the direct result of the negligence of another individual. This is particularly true when considering auto accidents. The vast majority of auto accidents are the result of driver error—or negligence. Negligence in an auto accident means that a driver is not properly obeying traffic rules and laws. This could include such things as exceeding the posted speed limit, running a red light or stop sign, or failing to yield to traffic.
You may wonder how negligence is determined. When a judge or jury determines whether negligence was present, they will ask whether an individual acted in a manner that another reasonable person—given the same set of circumstances—would have done. We all have a duty of care to others which includes acting in a reasonable manner. When we breach that duty of care, causing injuries—and those injuries lead to damages—then negligence has occurred.
Personal injuries occur when an individual or entity exhibits negligence, and that negligence leads to an accident. A personal injury could encompass an auto accident, a workplace accident, medical malpractice, a premises liability accident (like a slip and fall), a product liability claim for a dangerous or defective product, or a dog bite. Auto accidents are definitely the top cause of personal injury claims. It is important that you have a Missouri City personal injury attorney from Sullo & Sullo to help you through this difficult time and ensure you receive a full and fair settlement.
What Types of Fort Bend County Personal Injury Claims Can Sullo & Sullo Help You With?
Among the many types of personal injury claims, if you have any of the following types, a Missouri City accident lawyer from Sullo & Sullo can assist you.
- An auto accident injury can cause you to be unable to return to work and make a living, as well as burying you in medical bills. Even those with good health insurance can find that their co-pays are quickly draining their financial resources. Since the auto accident was not your fault, it can be extremely helpful to have a strong legal advocate for your auto injury claim.
- There are many different types of car accidents, including drunk driving accidents and texting-while-driving accidents. You may have had a head-on collision, a rear-end crash, a high-speed collision, or a T-bone accident. Uninsured motorist accidents and hit-and-run accidents are additional types of car accident injury claims that can be particularly complex. Having a strong Houston car accident attorney from Sullo & Sullo can help you through the entire injury claim process.
- Having an experienced Houston truck accident lawyer can be especially helpful for complex truck accident injury claims. When you are involved in an 18-wheeler accident, chances are your injuries are extremely severe, or even catastrophic. This means you are likely to have many years filled with surgical procedures, rehabilitative therapies, doctor visits, and possibly even assistive devices to help you in your home. Truck accident injury claims are also complex because of the potential for more than one defendant. The truck driver may have been at fault for the accident, or the trucking company could also bear liability if it was aware the driver was exceeding his or her hours, or if the company failed to do a thorough background check on the driver. If the accident resulted from poor maintenance, then the maintenance company could be partially liable, or if the accident was caused by shifting or falling cargo, the loading company could be held partially liable. If the accident was the result of a dangerous or defective truck part, the manufacturer of that part could be held liable in a product liability claim. Finding a truck injury lawyer can seem overwhelming at a time when you are already anxious about your future. Consider speaking to a Missouri City truck accident lawyer from Sullo & Sullo.
- Motorcycle accident injuries, like truck accident injuries, can be severe. Motorcyclists have virtually no protection, other than a helmet, so when hit by a car, the motorcyclist is often thrown into traffic or against a fixed object or hard surface. Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries are common motorcycle accident injuries. Even motorcyclists who have taken a motorcycle safety course or motorcycle training course have little defense against a negligent driver.
Damages You Might Expect from Missouri City Personal Injury Claims
Following your auto accident, your exact damages will depend on the facts and circumstances surrounding your accident. That being said, you are entitled to economic damages—damages that have a specific dollar amount attached, like medical expenses and lost wages. Medical expenses encompass both current medical expenses related to your accident injuries as well as current and future lost wages. Non-economic damages—those that are more difficult to quantify—include pain and suffering. Pain can be actual physical pain as well as emotional pain and trauma stemming from the accident.
Getting the Assistance You Need for a Missouri City Personal Injury Claim from Sullo & Sullo
No matter what type of auto accident injury claim you are filing, handling your own claim is rarely a good idea. Insurance companies will do their best to pay you as little as possible and may even offer you a quick, low settlement that will not begin to cover your actual damages. Speaking to an experienced Sullo & Sullo Missouri City personal injury attorney can make a huge difference in the outcome of your auto accident injury claim. We will ensure you are not taken advantage of and that you receive a full and fair settlement. Contact Sullo & Sullo today for the assistance you need following your personal injury accident.