Personal injury occurs when a person has suffered some form of injury, either physical or psychological, usually as a result of a negligent act, meaning another’s failure to use proper care that causes an injury to occur.  The negligent act may result in a vehicle accident, a fall, a defective product or drug, nursing home neglect, a work injury, exposure to a harmful substance, or an animal bite.  Personal injury is often known to include medical, dental or legal malpractice claims, and sometimes includes intentional acts such as assaults.

Personal injury claims must be brought within specified periods of time following an injury, known as the statute of limitations. In Wisconsin, the time period applying to personal injury claims for adults is usually two or three years. If the personal injury claim involves a minor, a longer statute of limitations time period may apply.  If an employee of a municipality or governmental agency causes a personal injury, additional notice requirements and time deadlines may apply.

In most personal injury claims, insurance companies or self-insured entities provide coverage for individuals who cause the injuries.  The injured person may be entitled to make a claim for monetary damages, and the insurance company or other entity will be responsible to pay. The monetary damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, out of pocket expenses, loss of consortium, pain, suffering, disability, and disfigurement, and sometimes punitive damages.

In most personal injury claims, attorneys who represent persons who have been injured will represent them on a contingency fee basis.  That means that the attorney will get paid a percentage of the injured person’s eventual compensation, paid when the case is resolved either by way of settlement or trial verdict.  In personal injury claims, the person who causes an injury, and who also has insurance, will have financial protection by their insurance company up to the limits of their liability insurance coverage.

It is crucial to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible concerning your personal injury claim in order to understand your rights and obligations.  Although the majority of personal injury claims are resolved by settlements in the claims stage of the process, a lawsuit may need to be filed if a settlement cannot be made due to a dispute about fault of the parties or the value of the personal injury claim.  Even if the injured person is partially at fault in causing the injury, or the responsible person causing the injury is uninsured, an experienced personal injury attorney will often be able to assist in successfully pursuing an injury claim. 

Personal injuries may have devastating consequences, both short-term and long-term, financially, physically and emotionally.  Our friendly and professional staff can assist to help you find an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you get compensation for your injuries and damages.  Our attorneys have the experience and dedication necessary to assist you with all of your legal needs and understand the complexities of personal injury cases.  Call us at (262) 544-4016, or submit your case any time using our online form.