Personal Injury
A personal injury is any kind of physical or psychological harm resulting from an accident.
Most personal injury cases stem from automobile accidents and work-related mishaps. Personal injury can also result from assault, an accident at someone's home (such as slipping on an icy sidewalk) or place of business, and medical/dental malpractice.
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For legal purposes, occupational diseases also fall under the category of personal injury. This can include
asbestosis and
mesothelioma as well as repetitive strain injuries, hearing damage and even occupational stress.
When a causal connection between an illness or injury and a working condition can be shown - which is to say, it can be proven that some condition in the workplace was directly responsible for the injury or illness - the victim is usually entitled to monetary compensation from the employer. This is the basis of most civil lawsuits.
When an injury occurs on a given piece of property and the owner can be held liable, any resultant judgment may be covered under the terms of a homeowners or property insurance policy. Virtually all mortgage agreements require a homeowner to carry such liability insurance in the same way that state laws require motorists to have a similar policy covering their vehicles. In addition, most medical and dental professionals carry malpractice insurance - which some pundits blame for the dramatic rise in health care costs in the U.S.
Relatively few personal injury cases involve major injuries. Nonetheless, medical expenses can be considerable, and a plaintiff has the legal right to recover those expenses. In addition, there may be psychological damage, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and if the injury was due to egregious negligence, punitive damages may be in order.