Celeste & Associates:

Personal Injury

"Personal injury" or “tort” cases are legal disputes that arise when one person suffers harm (physically or emotionally) from an accident or injury, and someone else might be legally responsible for that harm. Personal Injury laws allow the injured party to receive compensation for damages caused by someone else’s carelessness, negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions. You can receive this compensation as an award in a formal lawsuit, or you can resolve it informally “settling” before any lawsuit is filed. You can also settle through mediation or arbitration.

If a personal injury has taken place, the defendant is legally responsible to make good on the damage done. Personal injury law is a means for determining who is at fault, or “liable”, and what type of compensation the injured should receive.

Personal injury lawsuits usually fall under the jurisdiction of state courts in the county where the injury occurred, or where those involved in the incident are located. If the amount of compensation you are asking for is under $5000 it must be filed in a “small claims” court. There are exceptions when a case might be filed in federal court. An experienced attorney will be able to determine the proper court to file the claim.

Most injury cases have already been tried in another court at some point. Court decisions are the main source of law in any legal case arising as a result of an accident or injury. Many states have summarized the development of personal injury law in written statutes.

If you have been a victim of personal injury you should contact an experience lawyer as soon as possible. You should also seek proper medical attention, take pictures of any harm done, get contact information from any witnesses, and follow up with any authorities if necessary. Celeste & Associates has been trying injury cases for over 40 years. We will go to court to make sure you are properly compensated. Call us if you have been injured.