East Providence Personal Injury Lawyer

You may suffer a personal injury as a result of someone else’s negligence. At this point, it may be best to seek legal help. An East Providence personal injury lawyer can review your case and go over your legal options with you.

For more than 48 years, our Rhode Island personal injury lawyers have provided legal representation in personal injury cases. Our attorney is available to discuss your case. To learn more, reach out to us.

Personal Injury Definition

An injury is considered personal if it affects a person’s health and well-being. You may suffer this type of injury due to no fault of your own. Reasons why personal injuries happen include:

• Car accident
• Defective product
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and fall accident

If you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else, you may be entitled to damages. To find out if you may request compensation from an at-fault party, meet with an East Providence personal injury attorney from Gemma Law Associates, Inc. For more information, get in touch with us.

When to File an Injury Claim

Per Rhode Island General Laws §9-1-14, you may have up to three years from the date of your injury to pursue damages from a liable party. For example, a motorist may crash their car into yours, leaving you with an injury. In this scenario, you may be able to file a claim for compensation within three years of your accident and injury.

A personal injury lawyer in East Providence can help you decide if now is the right time to file a claim. They may calculate your losses and determine how much money you may be able to get in an injury lawsuit. Your attorney may also work with you to identify the liable party.

The at-fault party in an injury case may be a business owner, driver, product manufacturer, or another individual or entity. Your lawyer will help you hold a liable party accountable for their actions. To do so, they will gather evidence and build an argument designed to show this party was negligent.

Proving Negligence

A personal injury attorney in East Providence understands the elements of negligence. To prove a party was negligent, you must show that they had a legal obligation to act in a cautious and reasonable manner and chose not to do so. Also, you must verify that this party caused your injury and that you are now dealing with economic and non-economic losses due to their actions.

You may receive economic and non-economic damages in your injury case. A judge or jury may offer economic compensation for your medical bills and other losses you can quantify. You may get non-economic damages for your pain and other subjective harm.

The burden of proof in an injury claim matters. If you cannot make it clear to a judge or jury that someone else is liable for your injury, you may not get damages. As a result, you may be solely responsible for your injury-related losses.

Personal Injury Insurance Claim

You may submit a claim through an at-fault party’s insurance provider to cover the costs of your personal injury. For instance, you may suffer an injury at someone else’s home. You may get compensation through the at-fault party’s homeowner’s insurance.

Just because a liable party has insurance coverage does not guarantee you will get the damages you want. An insurer may be more focused on its client’s best interests and its bottom line than on helping you recover from your injury. As such, the company may do everything it can to dispute your claim.

Your personal injury attorney in East Providence can help you with an insurance claim. They can negotiate with an insurer on your behalf. If you do not get a fair insurance settlement, you can pursue other options to help you get a reasonable amount of damages.

How Much an Injury Case Is Worth

With an injury claim, case results vary. Your attorney can help you evaluate your losses. They may encourage you to pursue the maximum amount of damages possible.

The compensation you request may be used to cover your medical bills, property damage, and other losses. Your East Providence personal injury lawyer will help you determine how your injury may affect you long into the future. That way, you will be able to request damages you can use now and in the future.

An at-fault party or their insurance company may pressure you to accept a settlement. If you agree to a settlement, you may wind up accepting less money than what your case is actually worth. Your attorney can help you weigh the pros and cons of a settlement offer so you can make an informed decision about it.

How Comparative Negligence Applies to an Injury Case

According to Rhode Island General Laws §9-20-4, you may be subject to a pure comparative negligence statute. The defendant in your case may attempt to prove you were partially at fault for your injury. If they succeed, you may not be able to get 100% of the damages you initially requested.

As an example, a judge or jury may find you are 20% liable for your injury. If this happens, the defendant in your case is 80% at fault. Therefore, they may be ordered to pay 80% of the damages you originally sought.

You have the right to pursue compensation from an at-fault party in an injury case, even if you were 99% liable. If you want to submit a claim for damages, it may be beneficial to partner with an East Providence personal injury lawyer who has a wealth of injury case experience. This lawyer may use what they know to prepare an argument that resonates with a judge or jury and helps you recover full damages.

Request Legal Help

You may have the opportunity to get compensation that helps you cover the costs of your personal injury. At Gemma Law Associates, Inc., we are dedicated to your results, and we will work with you to pursue damages from the party responsible for your injury. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today.