Hi! My name is Sam, and I started this blog to help other injured people. Before you start reading, let me tell you a little about myself. Ten years ago, I slipped on a slice of fruit in a grocery store. My leg slid out from under me, and in a freak twist, it was rendered useless. I could no longer work and struggled with intense pain every day. Luckily, I found an accident and injury attorney who was able to get me the compensation I needed to cover my medical bills and my lost time at work. However, while I waited for the settlement to come through, I had to get creative physically and financially. This blog is dedicated to anyone who is in that limbo position. I hope the posts here help you decide what to do while you wait for the results of your trial.
When you have been the victim of a crime many thoughts run through your head. First you are just glad that you are alive, even if you have been injured both physically and emotionally. You are also spending a lot of time thinking about your injuries and what you need to do to heal. Next you want to make sure that the person who committed the crime is caught and punished. You may not even be thinking about being compensated monetarily for your injuries. However, once you are feeling a bit better, and the medical bills start pouring in, you will wonder how you are going to pay them all. If you haven't already contacted a personal injury law firm, now is the time to do so. Here is a bit of information on what can happen once you decide to sue.
Criminal vs Civil Litigation
When a crime has been committed, the state will bring criminal charges against the offender. During this time, any civil case you may want to file (this is the part where you are suing the defendant) will be held until the criminal process is complete. The criminal case is held to determine if the offender is indeed guilty and what his or her punishment will be. Only after this is finished can your civil case continue.
Innocent or Guilty
This is where things can get a bit confusing. You can bring a civil case against the defendant even if he or she is found innocent of the crime. In a criminal trial, the jury must be convinced "beyond a reasonable doubt," that the defendant did commit the crime. In a civil case, the defendant will be held liable if there is enough evidence to suggest that your side of the story is most likely what happened. While the defendant will not be charged or punished with jail time, he or she will have to find a way to pay you the amount the court agrees upon. If the person cannot pay, you may file for a judgement or liens against his or her assets.
Whether or not the person has been found guilty of the crime against you, hiring a personal injury lawyer like Speers Reuland & Cibulskis, P.C. is the best way to be fairly compensated for your injuries. Keep in mind, even if you were not physically injured, you may have a case based on the emotional distress the whole situation caused you.
Share22 April 2016
