what is a personal injury claim

A personal injury claim is a civil legal claim used to pursue financial compensation for losses caused by an injury. Personal injuries include every variety of injury to a persons body, emotions, or reputation, as contradistinguished from injury to property rights. Personal injury claims can arise from harm done to the body, such as automobile accidents, workplace accidents, assault, product defect accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and toxic torts. They can also arise from non-bodily harm, such as intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false detention, arrest, or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and invasion of privacy. The purpose of a personal injury lawsuit is to recover financial compensation for the losses suffered because of the accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To win a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff must be able to prove that the defendant is liable for their injuries, showing that they were negligent or otherwise at fault for the accident. If the plaintiff is successful on their claim, they will be awarded money damages for their injuries, which are meant to compensate the injured party for their loss.