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If you’re thinking of undertaking a lawsuit related to accidents and personal injury, you’ll want to hire a good lawyer specializing in this field. While your attorney will handle the nitty gritty paperwork, it’s still a good idea to get a grasp of the legal language you’ll be hearing as the case goes forward.

To help you out, here, the professionals of Osborne, Tripp & Schmidt in Sparta, WI, explain some essential terms from the field:

1. Negligence

accidents and personal injuryWinning a personal injury lawsuit requires you to prove that the other party was “negligent.” In other words, it has to be shown they violated a duty to reasonably avoid harming another—and that this breach of responsibility led to your injury.

2. Comparative Negligence

A single person may not be fully responsible for an accident. If the law deems you were also partially to blame, you may have to take on some financial responsibility too. The financial penalties will reflect this division—for instance, if you’re deemed 40% responsible, you’ll bear 40% of the costs.

3. Damages

In a legal sense, damages refer to the amount of money you are seeking. This could include money for medical bills, as well as to address emotional suffering and physical pain from accidents and personal injury.

4. No-Fault

No-fault refers to a condition under which insurance companies are responsible for covering damages, regardless of who was to blame. This legislation only takes you so far, however, and you may be able to claim additional money beyond what insurance covers.

5. Statute of Limitations

There is a timeline that limits how long you can wait to file a personal injury lawsuit, referred to as the statute of limitations. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss this deadline.

If you’re dealing with a legal case related to accidents and personal injury, Osborne, Tripp & Schmidt can help. Located in Sparta, WI, their lawyers are all licensed to practice throughout the state and will fight to secure the best possible outcome for you. Their specialists practice in diverse fields, from bankruptcy to criminal law; you can find out more about their practice areas online. To schedule an appointment, call (608) 269-2400 today.

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