Personal Injury Lawyer | Rockland

When you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence, the emotional and physical toll is overwhelming. It’s natural to experience feelings of confusion, anger, and frustration as you grapple with the impact of someone else’s carelessness on your life.

The path to justice and compensation may seem unclear, but seeking a personal injury lawyer in Rockland can give you the clarity you need.

An attorney can focus on navigating the complexities of personal injury law, helping victims understand their rights, and guiding them through recovering damages for the harm they suffered.

If you’re unsure whether you suffered damages due to someone else’s negligence, we can help you with the legal steps involved in your journey to justice.

Contact us today to speak with an experienced injury lawyer in Rockland, Maine.

What Is Negligence?

Negligence is a fundamental concept in personal injury law. It defines a situation where an individual or entity fails to act with the reasonable care that someone in their position would. Negligence occurs when someone’s actions or inactions fall short of what is reasonable to prevent harm to others.

For example, a driver who runs a red light and causes a collision, a property owner who neglects to repair a hazardous step, or a doctor who makes a surgical error are all scenarios that can involve negligence. 

In each of these cases, the responsible party failed to meet the required standard of care, leading to someone else’s injury. Understanding this concept is crucial as it forms the basis for pursuing a personal injury claim and recovering damages for the harm caused.

How Do I Prove Negligence?

To successfully prove negligence in Maine, you must establish four essential elements. Navigating these elements with the help of Rockland personal injury attorneys ensures a strong case and increases your chances of receiving fair compensation for your injuries.

Duty of Care 

The first element demonstrates the defendant had a duty of care towards you, and the responsible party was required to act in a certain way to avoid causing harm to others.

For example, drivers must obey traffic laws and drive safely, while property owners must maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This duty determines whether the defendant’s actions or inactions were inappropriate under the circumstances.

Breach of Duty 

Once you establish that a duty of care existed, you must show the defendant breached this duty. A breach of duty occurs when the defendant fails to meet the standard of care expected in that situation.

Examples include speeding drivers or business owners neglecting to fix a known hazard. It’s essential to provide evidence demonstrating how the defendant’s actions fell short of what was considered reasonable under the circumstances.

Causation 

You must also show that the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused your injury. Causation involves linking the breach to the harm you suffered. For example, if a driver ran a red light and collided with your car, you must prove that this action was the direct cause of your injuries.

Causation often requires evidence showing a clear connection between the defendant’s behavior and your injury.

Damages 

Finally, you must prove you incurred actual damages due to the defendant’s actions. Damages refer to the losses experienced due to the injury, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

Your claim cannot proceed unless you demonstrate that you suffered damages. Gathering comprehensive documentation of all your losses supports this element.

Common Examples of Negligence 

Negligence in personal injury cases can manifest in various ways, each involving a critical lapse in the duty of care that leads to significant harm and suffering for individuals. Common examples include:

• Automobile accidents—incidents caused by reckless driving, such as speeding, driving under the influence, or distracted driving;
• Slip and fall incidents—injuries resulting from property owners’ failure to address hazards like wet floors, uneven walkways, or broken steps;
• Medical malpractice—errors in medical care, including misdiagnoses, surgical mistakes, or prescription errors; and
• Product liability—injuries caused by defective or unsafe products released by manufacturers.

Each of these examples involves a failure to meet the standard of care expected in specific situations, leading to harm and potential legal claims.

What Can I Recover? 

In personal injury cases, you may be entitled to recover general and special damages. Additionally, you can receive punitive damages in specific circumstances.

General damages compensate for intangible losses that are not easily quantifiable. Common examples include:

• Pain and suffering—cover the physical pain and emotional distress resulting from your injury and aim to compensate you for the discomfort and mental anguish you’ve endured;
• Loss of consortium—if your injury impacted your relationship with your spouse, loss of consortium addresses the emotional and relational effects on your marriage; and
• Emotional distress—emotional distress includes compensation for psychological impacts such as anxiety, depression, and trauma caused by the injury.

Special damages address the concrete financial losses you’ve experienced, including:

• Medical expenses—all costs related to your treatment, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and ongoing medical care;
• Lost wages—compensation for the income resulting from an inability to work while recovering from your injury; and
• Property damage—if your personal property, such as a vehicle, was damaged or destroyed in the incident, you may pursue compensation for repairs or replacement.

Evidence, including pay stubs, invoices, receipts, and witness testimony, can support your claim for compensation. 

What Are Punitive Damages? 

A court awards punitive damages to punish a defendant for particularly egregious behavior and deter others from similar conduct. They are granted where a defendant’s extreme actions demonstrate a conscious disregard for others’ safety.

They are less common and require clear evidence of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.

Understanding these categories of damages helps you better grasp the compensation you may be eligible to receive. Working with a personal injury lawyer in Rockland ensures that all your potential damages are considered and accurately claimed in your case.

How a Lawyer Can Help You

A lawyer provides invaluable assistance to an injured victim after an accident through experience, support, and advocacy during the entire legal process. Specifically, an attorney assists in the following ways:

• Legal knowledge. An attorney assesses a victim’s case, determines liability, and protects a victim’s legal rights throughout the process.
• Evidence gathering. Lawyers gather and preserve critical evidence, such as accident reports, medical records, and witness statements, essential for building a solid case.
• Negotiation. Attorneys handle negotiations with insurance companies and opposing parties and secure a fair settlement for a victim’s medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
• Litigation. If necessary, an attorney represents the victim in court, presenting the case to a judge or jury and litigating the case to judgment.

A lawyer’s involvement significantly enhances a victim’s chances of receiving just compensation and effectively navigating the complex legal landscape.

Contact a Rockland, Maine Personal Injury Lawyer Today 

When you hire Mann Law, you hire a legal team focused on you. Our Rockland personal injury lawyers deliver the highest level of personal injury representation in Maine and New England.

With over 50 years of combined experience, we have advocated for injured individuals in their time of need. Our attorneys are passionate about what we do and are committed to protecting what you value most.

 Mann Law has established a legacy of success in navigating our clients through life’s most difficult challenges. When someone else causes your injury, they should be responsible for compensating you for your losses. That’s where we come in.

Our legal team is standing by and ready to advocate for your rights. Contact us today by phone or email to book a free consultation and learn how Mann Law can help you.