If you were hurt in an accident brought on by another person’s negligence or recklessness, you have every right to hire an attorney and file a personal injury case. To be successful, there are a few points you’ll need to prove. The following guide outlines the four crucial elements of proof you’ll need to cover to receive your desired compensation.

4 Points You Need to Prove in a Personal Injury Case

1. Duty of Care

The viability of your case rests almost entirely on your ability to prove that the person who caused your injuries had a responsibility to exercise care. This first burden of proof is crucial, as it will allow you to show how your damages are a direct result of their actions. Common examples of this include drivers having a duty of care to exercise caution on the road, property owners having a duty of care to maintain safe grounds for legal visitors, and doctors having a duty of care to keep patients safe from harm.

2. Breach of the Duty of Care

Once your personal injury lawyer has proven the defendant’s duty of care, they will need to prove how their actions breach that duty. For example, if a property owner’s duty of care is to ensure safe grounds for legal visitors but their property is full of potholes, broken staircases, icy walkways, and debris, an attorney can easily prove they were not adhering to their required responsibilities.

3. Causation

Once your lawyer has proven the defendant’s duty of care, as well as how it was breached, they will need to show how that negligence directly caused your injuries. If you slipped and fell while visiting a property because the owner failed to salt any icy path, you’ll need to prove that your damages weren’t part of a preexisting condition or an outside experience. You can often do this using eyewitness statements and medical records from your doctor.

4. Damages

Once you’ve proven the above points, you’ll need to show the extent of your damages to help validate your claim for compensation. Damages may encompass medical care (both presently and in the future), loss of income, emotional duress, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.

If you need representation in a personal injury case, turn to Love-Sloan Law, LLC in Rock Hill, SC. With over 20 years of experience, these knowledgeable lawyers have the expertise necessary to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Visit them online to learn more about their practice areas, and call (803) 326-0000 to schedule a consultation today.