It could be due to a doctor’s failure to properly diagnosis an illness or medical mistake. It can happen when the driver of a car, truck, or bus drives too fast for road conditions. It can be caused by slippery surfaces on a floor, an aggressive dog, or a defective product. Many situations can cause a personal injury that leaves you with extensive medical bills and causes you to miss work.
If you are suffering an injury caused by another person’s negligence, a Port Huron personal injury could help you recover compensation to cover your expenses and help make up for the pain and loss caused by your injury. It may take substantial time for the full effects of your injury to become apparent, but an experienced personal injury attorney could help anticipate future needs to protect your rights and your future.
When Someone May Be Held Liable for a Personal Injury
When one person is held legally liable for an injury suffered by another, that liability is typically based on negligence. When someone is negligent, they do not deliberately seek to cause harm to another—rather, they fail to live up to a responsibility owed to that person, and that failure is what causes the harm.
For instance, a doctor owes a duty of care to patients to follow accepted medical practices when diagnosing an illness or completing a medical procedure. If the doctor deviates from acceptable medical practices and provides substandard care, the patient may be entitled to recover compensation for the harm that results.
Similarly, drivers owe a duty of care to others on the road to follow the laws and operate in a manner that is safe under current conditions. If they breach that duty by running a red light or turning without watching for pedestrians in a crosswalk, they may be liable for the injuries caused by that breach of duty.
Elements to Determine of Negligence
For a civil plaintiff to receive compensation in most cases, they or their Port Huron personal injury attorney must show that:
- The defendant in their case owed a duty of care to the plaintiff
- The defendant failed to fulfill that duty
- The injury would not have happened if the defendant had fulfilled their duty
- The failure to fulfill the duty directly caused the injury
- The injured person suffered compensable losses
Many times, it is necessary to bring in expert witnesses to demonstrate what the standard of care should have been or how the responsible person’s conduct failed to meet the standard, and how that failure then led to the injury. Other relevant evidence may include medical documentation of injuries, bills for treatment and repair costs, and accident reports drafted by law enforcement officers at the scene of the incident in question.
Potential Damages to Recover
When one person’s negligence causes physical injury to another, the law cannot technically compel the responsible person to correct the situation, because there is no way to instantly repair injuries or replace time lost. Instead, the law compels liable parties to provide monetary compensation to make up for various damages caused by their negligence.
Some losses are easy to calculate. If an injured person missed six months of work while recovering from an injury and is expected to miss at least six months more, their lost wages for that time should be part of a requested damage award. Past medical expenses and future medical needs can also be factored into a settlement demand.
A damage award can furthermore include compensation for damages that are not as easy to calculate. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Port Huron could help determine the appropriate value for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment, and other intangible losses.
Consult an Experienced Port Huron Personal Injury Attorney
When you have suffered a personal injury, you need to focus on recovering your health. However, it can be difficult to put your health first when you are worried about paying for medical bills and losing income due to time off work.
An experienced Port Huron personal injury lawyer could work on your behalf to obtain compensation for your past losses and future needs. To find out what may be possible in your case, call now for a case evaluation.
Information About the City of Port Huron
Port Huron is located on the eastern side of Michigan’s lower peninsula and serves as the County seat of St. Clair County. The city’s population was 30,184 as of the 2010 census. Port Huron is located along the St. Clair River. The Blue Water Bridge connects the city to Point Edward, Ontario in Canada. Port Huron is the largest city in the thumb area of Michigan, and is a center for industry and trade for the region.
Port Huron Area Legal Resources
As a resource for our Port Huron personal injury clients, we are providing you with a list of important contacts for accidents and injuries in Port Huron. You can obtain reports and other information from these places. If you choose us for your Port Huron personal injury attorneys to handle your case, we will get all of the information for you.
Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital
2601 Electric Ave.
Port Huron, MI 48060
(810)-985-1500
Request Medical Records
(Main)
- 29000 Inkster Road
Suite 150
Southfield, MI 48034
- Phone: (248) 595-7544
- 19 Clifford St.
Suite 805 Merchants Row
Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone: (313) 992-8281
- 1001 Woodward Ave.
Suite 505
Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone: (313) 777-8482
- 343 S. Main Street
#206
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Phone: (734) 888-3003
- 51424 Van Dyke Ave
#3
Shelby Township, MI 48316
- Phone: (586) 250-2626