personal injury is a category of tort law, or a civil claim. Tort claims are grounded in two elements: liability and damages. Personal injury claims generally refer to instances where an individual has sustained a physical injury (damage) as a result of a third party’s negligence (liability). The cause of the injury can take many forms. The most common types of personal injury claims are automobile accidents, medical malpractice, dog bites, and premises liability (“slip and fall” accidents).

The amount of compensation received for a personal injury claim is always variable because it is based on the particular components of each individual’s claim. Multiple factors are taken into account, including the nature of the injury sustained, whether or not there is any permanent damage, the extent of the applicable insurance coverage, the amount of medical bills incurred, any lost wages, injury related travel expenses, various out of pocket expenses, and pain and suffering. Depending on the location, or jurisdiction, where the injury occurred, the type of recovery available can vary due to differences the statutory framework.

All personal injury claims are subject to a statute of limitations, or a period of time during which the claim can be legally pursued. Once this time period expires, the claim is barred and cannot be brought afterward. If you wish to pursue a claim, it must be done prior to the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations varies depending on where the injury occurred.

Consulting an attorney regarding the specifics of an individual Personal Injury Claim is advisable. An attorney can provide legal advice about how to pursue your claim, including what documents will be necessary to prove your case, the manner in which insurance coverage works, how you can expect your claim to proceed, and what your rights are. Attorneys are able to provide you with the exact statute of limitations for pursuing a personal injury claim in your jurisdiction. Attorneys also have prior experience with these types of situations. Since the average person is not usually familiar with this situation, it is common to have many questions related to your complaint. An attorney is the best resource to obtain answers for your questions. Because all legal cases are different, an attorney can take into account all the unique aspects your situations and provide information tailored to your circumstances.

Personal injury claims are usually resolved in one of three ways: a negotiated settlement (either without filing a lawsuit or after suit has been filed), through formal arbitration, or by a jury trial. The options for available for settlement of a claim may vary based on the total amount of damages sought and the jurisdictions. There are both advantages and disadvantages to each method of resolution. If you retain an attorney for handle your claim he or she will advise you about which methods are available and what is best for your claim. Ultimately, however, any decisions about settling your claim will be yours. Attorneys provide a resource and an guide to help you navigate your personal injury claim.

If you’ve suffered a personal injury in Arizona, contact a seasoned trial attorney at Petersen Johnson Law Firm. Experienced personal injury attorneys, we will make sure you are justifiably compensated for your injuries. At Petersen Johnson, we get paid only if we successfully collect on your claim. We also front the expenses associated with your claim, including, but not limited to, the police report, expert witness testimony and copies of your medical records and bills.

The typical fee charged by most law firms in Arizona for personal injury cases is 33.3%. Our fee is only 25%.

If you live on the west side, be sure to contact their Phoenix west valley law office at 602-650-1200. Hablamos espanol

Depending on your auto policy type and the state you live in, minimum PIP coverage typically pays up to $10,000 in “reasonable and necessary” medical bills; $10,000 in lost wages, which is paid at amount of up $200 per week after the first fourteen days following the accident; $2000 in funeral expenses: and $5000 for loss of services, which is subject to a maximum of $40 per day and $200 per week.

Loss of household services would be such items as housekeeping or yard maintenance. In the event you are injured and unable to perform such tasks, your insurance company may reimburse you for these expenses up to the amount of the specified PIP limit.

Liability coverage is mandatory in 48 of the 50 states. PIP is not mandatory coverage but an important for of coverage nonetheless. It is a great benefit if you are injured in an accident. PIP will cover you regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Following an accident, you may be faced with significant medical expenses and unable to work. PIP can help cover these expenses.

While your health insurance, if insured, may be able to cover treatment caused by a motor vehicle accident, it does not cover all treatment. It may have limitations on coverage or not cover chiropractic or massage treatment.

Following an accident, PIP insurance is the primary form of insurance for medical coverage. Your health insurer would likely make you provide proof of no PIP coverage. They would only pay medical expenses in the absence of coverage. Once the PIP coverage has been exhausted, health insurance would pay for additional medical expenses per the terms of the policy.

Because PIP is such an important type of coverage, some states require you to waive PIP coverage in writing. Auto insurance companies are required to keep a copy of your signed waiver and may have to pay PIP benefits in the absence of a signed waiver form denying coverage.

You also typically have the option of purchasing higher limits of PIP coverage from your auto insurance company. For example, in Washington State, the higher optional level of PIP coverage pays up to $35,000 in medical bills; $35,000 in lost wages, paid at amount of up $700 per week after the first fourteen days following the accident; $2000 in funeral expenses: and $14,600 for loss of services, which is subject to a maximum of $40 per day.

PIP coverage may also apply in bicycle or pedestrian accident claims. A bicyclist or pedestrian injured by a vehicle is typically covered under the PIP provision of the driver’s insurance policy, regardless of fault. If the driver that strikes a pedestrian or bicyclist does not have insurance or is underinsured, the injured person may be able to use their PIP coverage or their parents’ PIP coverage to help pay for damages such as medical bills and lost wages following an accident.

Children can also be covered under their parents PIP policy. Depending on the state they live in, if for example, a child who was walking or on a bicycle was struck by a driver that did not have PIP, they may be able to use their parent’s PIP coverage.

Some auto insurance companies also offer med-pay coverage, which is different than PIP. This is more limited coverage and covers medical bills only up to specified amount, typically $5,000 and no other losses.

Slip and fall cases are one of the backbones of Personal Injury Law. But slip and fall cases indicate something very specific. A slip and fall case is when a person is on a premises, such as a store or business, and he or she slips on liquid left out. If the person is seriously injured, he or she can pursue a lawsuit on the grounds that the company, employee or manager on duty acted negligently by both failing to find the liquid and by failing to remove it before a patron slipped. But there is another type of fall associated with personal injury that is generally much more fatal. That type of fall is called an elevated fall.

An elevated fall is when an individual falls from a very high place onto the ground. Persons who are injured may be eligible for compensation if:

• The fall happened while a person was working-this is common among construction workers who have to work on roofs or on cranes and have a good chance of slipping and falling a good distance.

• A club or course-a rock climbing course or a course on skiing may have casualties from falls. If the instructor acted negligently or the owner of the premises on which the fall happened failed to safe guard the area, they may be sued for wrongful death.

• Decks or balconies-deck and balcony collapse is an area of PI law which is separate from falls. But an elevated fall may be a part of a personal injury case or it could become a personal injury case if the there was some sort obstruction that made the victim trip and fall off the balcony. Whether or not the victim was intoxicated at the time of the fall may end up being a large factor in the PI case.

Elevated falls tend to end in more serious personal injury cases as these falls much more frequently end in death. If they do not end in death, they will likely end in much more severe injury and thus much more monetary damage in the form of medical bills, missed wages and rehabilitation costs.

Anytime someone is working at a high elevation, the possibility for serious injury should be evaluated.