Many people think that if they slip and fall in business or experience some other type of injury, they will automatically prevail in a lawsuit for damages.  The same misunderstanding can also occur in motor vehicle accidents, where an injured party imagines a large settlement for a relatively minor collision.  These types of incidents do often produce monetary damages for injured parties, but certain elements must be proven first.  Negligence (knowing of an existing risk and ignoring it in such a way that a person was injured), causation (the negligence caused the injury and nothing else), and damages (that can be demonstrated by more than just the injured person’s testimony) must be proven before a plaintiff can prevail.  When one or more of these elements is not there, a claim for personal injury can fail, even when the injury is serious.

As a judge, Matthew E.P. Thornhill presided over numerous trials, including juries, in which personal injury was litigated.  He gained an extensive knowledge of the legal requirements needed to prevail, as well as an understanding of how insurance companies and juries viewed the claims of injured parties.  If you have been injured, he is equipped to evaluate your case and assist you in making a claim or prosecuting a lawsuit for damages.  Call him today and put his knowledge and experience to work for you.