There is a lot of talk about frivolous lawsuits and over-burdened courts, but the laws are in place to protect your rights and allow you the opportunity to get compensation when you’ve been wronged. Some of these cases can be complex and difficult to win, but experience with the law can make all the difference. Here are five ways that the law works to help those who have been cheated or harmed through no fault of their own.
Medical Malpractice
Medical errors are rare today, but they do happen. Most doctors carry malpractice insurance to cover themselves for this reason. If a patient-doctor relationship existed, and the doctor caused you harm through errors such as incorrect prescriptions, botched operations, or failure to follow standard medical precautions, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Breach of Contract
There is a reason for litigation when one party fails to honor a legal agreement. It can occur from non-payment of monies owed, or failure to meet stipulated conditions such as quality of construction. Although oral agreements exist, they are much harder to prove than breaches of written contracts. Understanding binding agreements is an important skill to have in business careers.
Patents, Trademarks, and Royalties
Patents are legally registered ideas, which may be for ideas or formulas as well as physical designs. Trademarks are symbols or slogans registered to a business. Royalties are monies owed for use or sale of someone else’s image or work. Selling music or lyrics without permission is a common reason for suing over royalties. If someone uses or profits from your rightful property without your permission, you may be able to sue.
Inheritance
Being the heir to property from a deceased’s estate is not as cut-and-dried as you may think. Others can contest the will if they feel the deceased was not in their right mind, under another’s influence, or the will was improperly composed. Defending your rights to valuable property can sometimes involve a long battle in probate court.
Personal Injury
Whenever you’re injured through someone else’s negligence or failure to take reasonable caution, you may be able to collect for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Vehicle accidents are the most common source of personal injury claims. If you’ve been in a crash and are considering a lawsuit, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
Recovering damages isn’t always guaranteed, even if you’ve clearly been wronged. Legal success is often reliant on understanding the law and the court system.
Author information: Kare Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max. You can find Kara on Facebook and Twitter.
