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Are homeowners liable?
As a homeowner, you can be held liable for injuries that occur on your property. Generally, you're responsible if an invited guest or visitor is injured, particularly if it can be shown that the injury was caused by some negligence on your part.
Automobile no-fault
Under the traditional fault-based insurance system, if you're involved in an accident, the insurance company of the driver responsible for the accident pays all expenses and damages incurred.
Can I sue my lawyer for malpractice?
Lawyers are obliged to abide by certain codes of professional conduct and to provide clients with a high standard of legal representation. Clients who are unhappy with their attorneys can report any unsatisfactory or unprofessional behavior to the state bar association.
Can liability be waived?
If you've been involved in an accident, the insurance company liable may offer you a quick settlement and ask you in return to sign a document. Be very careful what you sign.
Claims against insurance companies
An insurance policy is actually a contract between you and your insurance company whereby you pay an agreed premium in return for receiving protection in the form of compensation under defined circumstances.
Comparative negligence
In an accident liability case, the party filing the complaint may be found to have contributed to the accident, or in other words, bear some proportion of the fault.
Damages
'Damages' is a term used for a sum of money awarded by a court to compensate for some breech of duty or for the violation of some right. There are two main kinds of damages: compensatory damages, sometimes called actual damages, and punitive damages.
Defamation of character
'Defamation of character' is the term used to describe the act of making false statements or information about a living person designed to harm that person's reputation.
How liable is a landlord?
Landlords are responsible for the general safety and security of their tenants and are required to take all reasonable steps to prevent accidents or injuries on their property.
How much is my claim worth?
The value of a claim for personal injury is generally estimated on the basis of your actual medical expenses, loss of income, costs to repair your property or vehicle, and damages for pain and suffering.
Imprisoned falsely
If you've been imprisoned falsely, you have the right to sue the authorities for compensation. In most jurisdictions, the police are protected from civil liability in the performance of their duty as long as their actions are within the law.
Is a hotel liable?
The responsibilities of a hotel towards its guests are essentially similar to the responsibilities of a landlord toward tenants. These basic responsibilities include maintaining a safe and secure environment, taking reasonable steps to prevent accidents on the property, and promptly rectifying any known safety issues.
Is public transportation liable?
Providers of public transportation facilities are regulated by state and federal laws and are closely monitored with regard to safety. Airline and railway companies, ship owners, bus operators, and other providers of public transportation must follow strict safety regulations and guidelines.
Liability
'Liability' is a term used for the responsibility to provide financial compensation for a breech of duty, an act of negligence, or a deliberate action that results in damage or injury.
Lost wages
In a personal injury case, the victim may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. If you're hurt in an accident and your injuries prevent you from working, the wages you would have otherwise received should be added to the amount of your actual expenses.
Medical malpractice
Medical practitioners can be held liable for negligence or incompetence in the treatment of a patient. Such cases are often complex and may involve the testimony of experts in the medical field.
Medical payments
In a personal injury case, the person held liable for the injury is responsible for paying damages to the victim. The damages awarded include medical expenses, as well as lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering.
Mental distress
Damages awarded in personal injury cases are generally based on actual monetary losses, such as medical costs, lost income, and the costs of repairs to property.
Pain and suffering
In a personal injury lawsuit, you're entitled to claim compensation for your actual expenses and any pain and suffering caused by the injury. Your damages claim is generally based on your actual medical expenses, loss of income, and the costs of repairs to property.
State laws
The laws concerning personal injury litigation differ greatly among states, and each state has its own statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
Statute of limitations
Statutes of limitations restrict the length of time that is allowed to pass between the occurrence of an injury and the date by which your case must be filed.
Strict liability
Generally speaking, strict liability laws are concerned with safety. A company or organization offering a product or service is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure the customer's safety.
The value of your claim
In a personal injury lawsuit, your claim is generally based on two major elements: the actual damages, and damages for pain and suffering. Actual damages include your medical expenses; compensation for lost wages or income; compensation for loss of future earning capacity, for example in the case of disability; the cost of repairs to your damaged property or vehicle, or the market value of a vehicle damaged beyond repair.
What about my personal privacy?
There are four major areas of privacy invasion: unreasonable intrusion, such as unwanted entry to your home, eavesdropping, tapping of your phone, or unauthorized observation; appropriation of your name or likeness, including unauthorized use of your picture or identity; publication of private facts, including medical records, tax records, or personal letters; and publication of information placing you in a false light.
What about trespassers and liability?
A property owner is generally liable for the safety of all persons who are invited onto the property. According to this definition, a property owner can't be held liable if a trespasser is injured.
What are good Samaritan laws?
Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect from liability someone who helps another person. The details differ by state, but generally, the law provides that passers-by who help someone in distress can't be held liable for any failure in their actions.
What does personal injury law include?
Personal injury cases are civil cases in which the injured party files suit against the perpetrator of the injury. The most important issue in a personal injury case is the establishment of responsibility; in other words, the court decides who was responsible for causing the injury.
What is a contingency fee?
When you hire an attorney, there are two ways of paying his or her fees: a straight fee or a contingency fee. A straight fee is either a fixed amount to be paid for services, generally based on an hourly fee plus itemized expenses.
What is battery?
'Battery' is the unlawful use of force by one person on another, and it's usually a misdemeanor crime, although the use of any weapon or instrument in the battery is generally a more serious offense.
What is liability insurance?
'Liability' insurance is a policy designed to protect you if you're sued. The owners of property or businesses generally carry liability insurance to protect themselves from lawsuits brought by persons injured on their property.
What is negligence?
'Negligence' is defined as conduct that falls below the standard established by law to protect others from reasonable risk or harm. In court, proof of negligence requires that three important criteria be fulfilled: that the defendant had a duty to the plaintiff, that the defendant breeched the duty, and that the plaintiff was harmed as a result.
What is premises liability?
All property owners are responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure that their property is safe. For a homeowner, this liability can extend to such measures as keeping pathways free from snow and ice, displaying warnings of any unusually dangerous areas or items of equipment on the premises, and generally keeping the property safe for visitors.
What is tort law?
A 'tort' is when the actions of one person or entity cause injury or damage to another, either intentionally or unintentionally. 'Tort' is another word for damage or harm.





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