Free District of Columbia Personal Injury FAQs | Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions

I Was Injured. Can I File A Lawsuit Against The Party That Caused My Injury?

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:19:00 GMT

You can make a claim against another party or parties if they are at fault for your injuries. If your own negligence was a partial cause of your injuries, you will be completely barred from any recovery under the doctrine of contributory negligence. You are entitled to compensation for your injuries if it is found that a defendant was negligent, that such negligence was the cause of your injury, and that the injuries resulted in compensable damages. Any personal injury case depends on liabili

Who Is Responsible When A Person Is Injured?

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:57:39 GMT

The law of personal injury is concerned with determining who may be responsible for your injuries and how much they should be required to pay for your damages. Personal injury is part of the law of torts, the legal term that includes all types of injuries to people and their property. There are a number of principles that apply to the law of torts and personal injury. These principles recognize degrees of fault on the part of the person who causes the injury. In general, the degrees of fau

How Do I Decide If I Need To Hire An Attorney?

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:19:00 GMT

There are situations where an attorney is unnecessary, such as very small cases. Small claims court in the District of Columbia will handle claims up to $5000. If your injury is a minor one that will not result in any incapacity, or substantial medical care, then you may want to settle it yourself in small claims court.

An attorney should be consulted if you have been seriously injured or are unsure as to the outcome of your injury. These cases can get quite complicated. In such cases,

How Much Will An Attorney Cost?

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:19:00 GMT

Most attorneys who believe a case has merit will take the case without payment up front. They will take the case on a contingency basis, which means they will receive a percentage of your award if and when you recover for your injuries. Contingency fees average between 25 and 40 percent. Most attorneys charge a smaller percentage if the case is settled before the attorney does all the work necessary to go to trial. If you and your attorney agree to a contingency fee, the attorney must put the

How Long Do I Have To Hire An Attorney?

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:21:37 GMT

The law requires that you file a lawsuit within a specified period of time depending on the nature of the claim and the entity that caused your injury. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. Failure to file suit within this time frame prevents you from filing suit at all. In the District of Columbia, a claim for personal injuries must be commenced within three years. Claimants who are either under the age of eighteen, mentally incompetent or imprisoned may bring their action wi

How Will My Claim Be Processed?

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:19:00 GMT

You should be sure not to sign any documents without prior review by an attorney. You need to attend all scheduled doctor appointments in order to document your injuries. Accurate records should be kept of time you missed from work, medical bills, and property damage repairs. You can document your damages with photographs of your injuries or photos of property damage.

After a lawsuit has been filed, both parties will conduct discovery. Pretrial discovery usually takes about a full year

What Damages Can I Recover?

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:05:02 GMT

You can recover your actual economic losses such as the costs of reasonable and necessary medical care, property damage, car rental expenses, costs of domestic services, and loss of earnings. The law allows compensation for future medical and care expenses that the claimant can prove will be reasonably necessary to treat the injury. The claim may include income the claimant can prove will probably be lost in the future because of the injuries. Loss of earning capacity is also allowed when

How Can I Determine How Much My Claim Is Worth?

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:19:00 GMT

For purposes of settlement, a claim is valued upon an estimate of what a jury would likely believe the case to be worth, taking into account the severity of the injury, the effects of the injury on your life and the negligence of the other party. Any settlement will be reduced if there appears to be a good chance that the claim will not be successful. Other factors that may reduce the damages include past medical history, preexisting injuries, and prior claims history.

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