1. CARL CEDERPERSONAL INJURY LAW 2. Please note: This slideshow post does not constitute legaladvice. For legal advice, please do contact a licensedattorney. I can be reached for a free consultation at 214-702-CARL(2275) or 469.2000(DWI). Thanks, Carl Ceder. 3. What is a "Personal Injury" Case?"PERSONAL INJURY" CASES ARE DEF INED AS LEGALDISPUTES THAT MAY ARISE WHEN ONE PERSONSUF FERS FROM HARM FROM AN INJURY ORACCIDENT , AND SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE LEGAL LYRESPONSIBLE FOR THAT HARM.A PERSONAL INJURY CASE IS FORMAL I ZED THROUGHACT ION DURING CIVI L COURT PROCEEDINGS THATLOOK TO F IND OTHERS LEGAL LY AT FAUL T OR SUCHDISPUTES MAY BE RESOLVED THROUGH INFORMALSET T LEMENT BEFORE ANY LAWSUI T IS F I LED: 4. Formal "Lawsuit"DISSIMI LAR FROM CRIMINAL CASES, WHICH AREUSUAL LY INI T IATED BY THE GOVERNMENT , A FORMALPERSONAL INJURY SUI T TYPICAL LY STARTS WHEN ANINDIVIDUAL (AKA THE "PLAINT I F F " ) F I LES A CIVI L"COMPLAINT " AGAINST ANOTHER BUSINESS, PERSON,CORPORAT ION, OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY (AKA"DEFENDANT " ) , PURPORT ING THAT THEY ACTEDIRRESPONSIBLY OR CARELESSLY IN CONNECT IONWI TH AN INJURY OR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSES HARM.THIS IS KNOWN AS " F I L ING A LAWSUI T " . 5. Informal SettlementIN REAL I TY, MOST DISPUTES FOR AN INJURY ORACCIDENT ARE RESOLVED THROUGH INFORMALSET T LEMENT , USUAL LY THOSE INVOLVED IN THISSI TUAT IONS, THEIR AT TORNEYS AND INSURERSREPRESENTING BOTH S IDES. A SETTLEMENT TAKESTHE FORM OF NEGOT IAT ION, WHICH IS FOL LOWED BYA WRI T TEN AGREEMENT WHERE BOTH SIDES STOPANY FURTHER ACT ION, AND THEY CHOOSE TOINSTEAD TO RESOLVE THE MAT TER THROUGHPAYMENT OF AN AGREEABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY. 6. What is a Statute of Limitations?PLAINT I F FS HAVE A VERY L IMI TED T IME TO F I LE ALAWSUI T , WHICH IS CAL LED A "STATUTE OFL IMI TAT IONS. " THE PERIOD OF T IME FOR THESTATUTE OF L IMI TAT IONS BEGINS WHEN THEPLAINT I F F BECOMES INJURED OR DISCOVERS THEINJURY.STATUTES OF L IMI TAT IONS ARE DETERMINED BYSTATE LAW AND VARY BY TYPE OF INJURY. THESTATUTE OF L IMI TAT IONS FOR AN INJURY TO ANINDIVIDUAL IN TEXAS IS 2 YEARS, BUT 5 YEARS FORSEX CRIMES AND ONE YEAR FOR L IBEL OR SLANDER. 7. Do I Have a Viable Personal Injury Case?A POTENT IAL PERSONAL INJURY CASE NEEDSDETAI LED UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW FACTS, THEPROCESSES, AND THE FACTS.I F AN ACCIDENT IMPACTED YOUR L I FE, YOU WOULDWANT TO CONSUL T AN EXPERIENCED AT TORNEY TOSEE I F YOU SHOULD PURSUE A LAWSUI T .