Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer

An Introduction to Personal Injury Law

A lawsuit is a civil case brought before a judge when one person feels they have been mistreated by another. The goal of a lawsuit is to make the guilty party, or defendant, repay the injured party, or the plaintiff, for any damages unfairly inflicted on them.

Legally, "personal injury" refers to any kind of physical or mental damage inflicted on one person by another person, corporation or entity. So, a personal injury lawsuit is a way for you to recoup losses that have been caused to you by another person's negligent or malicious behavior.

Why File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

People can file lawsuits because they are seeking damages or equitable relief. Equitable relief refers to an injunction or other order handed down by a judge, such as a restraining order to protect a person who is being harassed. It is only awarded in situations where damages, or monetary compensation, could not sufficiently address the problem. Equity and damages are covered by different areas of law; generally you cannot request both damages and equitable relief in one lawsuit.

As mentioned above, the term "damages" refers to the money a defendant may be ordered to pay the plaintiff as a way of compensating for their careless behavior. These usually cover current and future medical expenses related to the injury, wages lost due to missed work or loss of a job, and repayment for physical pain and emotional suffering experienced by the plaintiff.

To win the case, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant owed them a certain duty of behavior, like the duty a teacher has to supervise students, or the duty of a pet owner to properly train and oversee their animals. The plaintiff must then show that the defendant failed to live up to their duty and, by doing so, caused an injury to the plaintiff.

If you believe you have grounds for a personal injury suit, contact Jacksonville personal injury attorney Donald Guthrie at 904-493-6455.