You just got in an accident and you are hurt. Most people dont know what to do or who to call. We’ve all heard about big dollar settlements from cases where someone was hurt, but probably don’t know one of these people personally. And we probably are not attorneys either so we don’t know the law and what our rights are. So how do you know if you need to hire a lawyer?

Injury cases fall under tort law, and in every type of tort claim, you need to prove two essential points. First, was there liability on the other party’s part, and second do you have any damages? If you feel that either of these is the case, you should get legal advice before signing anything. If you don’t know an injury attorney personally, look on the internet for a local one. You can check on their credentials at Martindale Hubbell, and see if they are peer-review rated or not. This will give you some good references to start with before even talking to a single lawyer. But remember, in your case, you have to prove the liability & damages in court.

Most types of personal injury cases that are filed fall under the automobile accident category. That is the most common type of claim. But if you are in a fault state, to win an injury case against the other person, you need to establish that the other person was negligent in the accident. The standard to prove is whether the other party failed to exercise reasonable care or not. Whether you know this or not, all drivers have a duty to exercise reasonable care when they get behind the wheel of a car. If the other driver did not exercise reasonable care & breached that responsibility, then the law states that you can sue for your loss. In states where they have passed no-fault laws, the standard is different, so make sure you consult with an attorney who is in your area.

Strict Liability is another basis for a personal injury claim. It is a growing area of tort law and is gaining importance. If a product is defective and you are injured by that product, you can sue the manufacturer or designer as they are strictly liable for any damages or loss caused by their product. Negligence is a different basis, but you do need to prove that the design of the product or its manufacturing process caused it to be dangerous when used normally.

If someone hits you in the face or body, you could also file a personal injury case against them but under the basis of Intentional Wrongs. These types of cases arent filed as much, but it can happen. Or if you are accused of shoplifting from a store, and the store security wrongfully detains you for a period, you can file a wrongful imprisonment suit against them. They could also have criminal charges filed against them, but the state would have to file them on your behalf, rather than you filing a criminal complaint against them.

Now we come to damages. Did you suffer any monetary or physical damages from your injuries? What type of accident were you in, was it intentional? What is the nature and extent of your damages? Just because you were hurt, does not mean that you automatically are eligible to collect a big payday. You need to prove this in court, and let the court decide the compensation for your loss. However, many lawsuits dont make it to court, and are settled before that happens.

One thing to ask your attorney is what is the statute of limitations for this type of case? Your attorney will be able to let you know how long you have before it is too late to file a case in court. It can be as little as one year for an auto accident. Each state has different laws so be certain to find out so your case doesnt get thrown out of court.