A personal injury lawyer is a type of civil litigator who provides legal representation to plaintiffs who are alleging physical or psychological injury as the result of the negligent or careless acts of another person, entity, or organization.
Personal Injury Is Tort Law
Personal injury attorneys specialize in an area known as tort law. This covers private or civil wrongs or injuries, including defamation and actions for bad faith breach of contract. The main goal of tort law is to make the injured party whole again and to discourage others from committing the same offense.
Personal injury lawyers help plaintiffs receive compensation for their losses, including loss of earning capacity due to an inability to work, pain and suffering, reasonable medical expenses, both present and expected, emotional distress, loss of consortium or companionship, and legal costs and attorney fees. They also work to safeguard clients from being victimized by insurance companies and the legal system.
Personal Injury Is Tort Law
Personal injury attorneys specialize in an area known as tort law. This covers private or civil wrongs or injuries, including defamation and actions for bad faith breach of contract. The main goal of tort law is to make the injured party whole again and to discourage others from committing the same offense.
Personal injury lawyers help plaintiffs receive compensation for their losses, including loss of earning capacity due to an inability to work, pain and suffering, reasonable medical expenses, both present and expected, emotional distress, loss of consortium or companionship, and legal costs and attorney fees. They also work to safeguard clients from being victimized by insurance companies and the legal system.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Any case or claim that involves an injury to the body or mind falls under the umbrella of personal injury law. Some of the most common types of cases handled by this type of lawyer include:
Any case or claim that involves an injury to the body or mind falls under the umbrella of personal injury law. Some of the most common types of cases handled by this type of lawyer include:
- Animal bite injuries
- Auto accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
- Insurance/bad faith claims
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
What a Personal Injury Attorney Does
Attorneys who specialize in this area handle cases from inception through appeal. They perform tasks similar to most litigators. They investigate claims and screen potential clients to evaluate the merits of their cases. They gather evidence, formulate legal theories, and research case law. The job involves drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery requests, as well as interviewing and deposing witnesses.
All these tasks contribute to trial preparation, but the job doesn't end there. Personal injury lawyers advocate for their clients before and during the trial. This can include counseling them as well as dealing with obstacles in the legal system and presented by their adversaries.
Personal injury attorneys often juggle large caseloads and work on tight deadlines with sometimes demanding clients. But many lawyers find that the most rewarding aspect of personal injury practice is helping injured victims and their families receive justice.
Personal injury lawsuits can be extremely complex, so these attorneys often specialize in certain niche types of cases. For example, someone who handles medical malpractice might specialize in breach births. Those who routinely litigate motor vehicle accidents might specialize in ATV rollover incidents.
Required Education
All attorneys must pursue the same path of training and education. They must earn their law degrees and pass written bar examinations, but this can't be accomplished until they’ve earned an undergraduate degree and passed the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with a reasonably high score.
Lawyers can additionally become certified as specialists in civil trial advocacy by completing a specialty certification program accredited by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification (NBLSC). This is a non-profit organization accredited by the American Bar Association to provide board certification for attorneys.
Many state bar associations also require that personal injury lawyers pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). The MPRE focuses on professional behavior. Your state might also require that you take continuing education courses.
Read More: The Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer
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