If you’ve been injured by another person or entity’s negligence, the physical, financial, and emotional losses you experience can drag you down, and you may not know where to turn for help. While your medical bills mount, your income could be headed in the opposite direction, and the best path forward may not be clear.
Fortunately, our experienced personal injury lawyer in Harrisburg, PA, stands by to help and can make an immense difference in your claim’s outcome and future.
Your Personal Injury Claim
Each personal injury claim is specific to the unique circumstances at hand, but they are generally classified into categories like the following:
- Traffic accidents of all kinds, including car, truck, pedestrian, bike, and motorcycle accidents
- Incidents that are closely related to personal injury claims, such as those that lead to medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, and workers’ compensation claims
Each of these—other than workers’ compensation—is based on negligence, which is the guiding factor.
The Required Elements of Personal Injury Claims
To bring a successful personal injury claim, you will need to prove that each of the following elements is true:
- The at-fault party was responsible for your safety, which is called a duty of care. A good example of this duty of care is every motorist’s responsibility to everyone who shares the road with them.
- The at-fault party breached the duty of care owed to you, and their negligence was the direct cause of the accident.
- You suffered legal damages, which means you experienced losses addressed by personal injury law.
Your trusted personal injury attorney will take the steps necessary to carefully establish each of these elements in defense of your rights.
Proving the Other Party’s Fault
Because personal injury claims hinge on negligence, the matter of proving the other party’s wrongdoing is key, and evidence like the following generally comes into play:
- The accident report – or the police report and any traffic tickets issued, such as for impairment or distraction, in a traffic accident claim
- Testimony of eyewitnesses, as well as any photos or videos they took
- Footage obtained from dashcams, security cameras, and traffic cameras
- Testimony from witnesses with expertise in relevant professions
- Physical evidence gathered at the scene, such as the positioning of the vehicles, skid marks on the road, and anything else that speaks to how the accident happened in a traffic collision
- Professional accident reconstruction models that depict the particulars of the accident
Establishing the other party’s fault is essential to your claim; toward this end, your dedicated personal injury lawyer will leave no stone unturned.
Proving Your Losses
In addition to proving the at-fault party’s negligence, you’ll need to confirm the extent of your losses, including in each of the following areas:
- Property damage, such as to your vehicle and its contents, in a traffic accident
- Medical bills, which may be ongoing
- Lost income, which may need to reflect losses related to your career
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can shoot past your other losses combined in terms of the total amount
Proving the loss you’ve endured due to another person’s negligence requires demonstrating the degree to which you’ve been affected by their wrongdoing. The kinds of evidence you’ll turn to accomplish this are likely to include your account of how your life has been affected, testimony from your friends and family regarding how your life has changed, your doctor’s report along with all your related medical bills, the testimony of medical professionals with expertise in the kinds of injuries you’ve suffered, and beyond.
The Insurance Company Isn’t on Your Side
The insurance company handling your claim is in the business of making money, and they manage to keep their profits high by keeping settlements low. As such, it’s a good idea to let your focused personal injury attorney communicate with them on your behalf. Staying off social media while your claim is pending can also help.
Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Harrisburg are Here for You
The savvy Harrisburg personal injury lawyers at Marzella & Associates dedicate our imposing practice to tirelessly advocating for favorable claim resolutions that support our valued clients’ ability to recover as fully as possible. Your claim is important to your future, so please don’t wait to learn more by contacting or calling us at 717-876-8681 to schedule a free consultation today.