Lebanon Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury, also called tort, laws cover a wide range of cases that are filed when an individual sustains physical, emotional, and financial harm because of someone else’s negligence. Cases arise from vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, premises liability, and more.

The civil court allows you to pursue compensation from the liable party to cover their economic, financial, and noneconomic or non-monetary damages with help from a qualified attorney. Call a Lebanon personal injury lawyer for help with your case.

Examples of Cases A.W. Smith Law Handles

Examples of personal injury cases our lawyers at A.W. Smith Law handle include:

Vehicle collisions, including car, motorcycle, and commercial truck crashes
Slip, trip, and fall claims resulting from people falling and sustaining injuries on someone else’s premises because of property owner negligence
Medical malpractice lawsuits result from healthcare provider negligence or failure to provide patients with an acceptable standard of care during surgical procedures, diagnosis, medication, and childbirth
Defective product legal actions against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers resulting from dangerous and malfunctioning products
Dog bites and animal attacks, which occur because of owner negligence
Wrongful death civil cases against people or businesses for hazardous, reckless, or intentional actions that cause fatal injuries

Cases can arise from various circumstances where someone suffers harm due to another party’s negligence or intentional actions. After reviewing the case, a Lebanon personal injury attorney can help by answering your questions about the process and the possible recoverable damages.

Awards for Damages

The civil courts award the plaintiff damages based on the circumstances and specifics of the case, such as the severity of damages and the defendant’s actions. Settlements, which fall into two primary groups, aim to compensate the injured person for their financial losses and harm due to the defendant’s negligent actions.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover financial losses the plaintiff suffers because of the accident, including:

Healthcare expenses, including ongoing treatment
Medical equipment, medication, and rehabilitation costs, such as physical and psychological therapy
Lost wages the victim sustains while out of work recovering from their injuries, including earning potential and benefits
Property damages, such as vehicle repairs

The second category covers non-monetary and subjective losses people sustain in accidents caused by negligence.

Noneconomic Damages

The award for noneconomic damages covers losses that are more difficult to express in numbers, including:

Emotional distress and trauma the plaintiff suffers because of their injuries
Physical and psychological pain and suffering
Loss of the enjoyment of life and participating in activities they participated in before the cause of action
Loss of consortium, which is the benefits of a relationship they enjoyed, such as love, companionship, and intimacy

While there is no specific settlement amount in personal injury lawsuits when the injuries are severe and will continue to affect the plaintiff in the future, the award can be substantial.

Tort Laws

Understanding the tort laws is vital for successfully navigating the personal injury process, safeguarding your rights, and reaching a favorable outcome. The first is the statute of limitations, which sets an expiration date for initiating the claim in civil court.

Under the Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120(4), you have five years to file the lawsuit. Missing the deadline could mean losing eligibility to collect compensation from the liable party.

Modified Comparative Negligence

State civil laws follow a modified comparative negligence rule for shared fault cases. If the court finds the plaintiff is partly at fault, they can still collect compensation as long as their percentage of liability is under 50 percent.

However, the civil court jury reduces the settlement by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. A personal injury lawyer in Lebanon at A.W. Smith Law could take on the legal work to ensure compliance with the statutes.

Schedule a Meeting With a Qualified Personal Injury Attorney in Lebanon

Tort laws protect state residents by allowing them to pursue compensation when someone else’s thoughtless actions cause them harm. Even though fault in your accident case may seem obvious, the rules are complex and are best handled by an experienced lawyer at A.W. Smith.

A Lebanon personal injury lawyer could guide you with sound legal advice and advocate for a fair outcome. Call today to schedule an appointment.