The term “personal injury” refers to an area of the law that lets you get a legal remedy for all losses stemming from an accident or other incident where someone else’s carelessness or intentional conduct caused you to be injured.

In a personal injury case, if you’ve suffered an injury, property damage, or any other kind of loss, as the plaintiff you may seek compensation from whoever caused or contributed to those losses. The legal term for this kind of compensation is “damages”.

If your insurance claim stalls or settlement negotiations break down, you can always get the personal injury lawsuit process started by filing your complaint in the local branch of your state’s civil court. One key law to keep in mind is the personal injury statute of limitations in North Carolina.

Insurance companies typically multiply the amount of medical bills by a number between one and five to calculate “pain and suffering.” The more severe and permanent the injury, the higher the multiplier. You, or your attorney, will need to use your best judgment in estimating your pain and suffering.

If you’re negotiating a personal injury claim with an insurance company, the adjuster is the one you’ll be dealing with. It may be helpful to understand how he or she operates before you make your written demand, and certainly before you accept (or reject and counter) a settlement offer.