When you go to court over any sort of legal battle, you usually expect there to be two parties: the defendant, and the plaintiff. The plaintiff is the person accusing someone else of harming them in some way, and the defendant is the person who is being accused. However, in a personal injury case, there are three parties involved, and that doesn’t count your personal injury lawyer! Here’s what you need to know.
The Plaintiff in a Personal Injury Case
The plaintiff in this type of case is the person who was injured. This person is responsible for proving that the other party really was at fault and acted negligently, not just by accident. This person is usually trying to get money from the other party to pay for medical bills, property damage, and other trauma suffered as a result of the injury. This is the person who will have a personal injury lawyer representing them.
The Defendant in a Personal Injury Case
The second party is the defendant, who is the person accused of causing harm. This person (or entity, in the case of a workers’ compensation case against a company) has to be shown to be at fault, and not just a fellow victim of circumstance. This person will generally have a defending lawyer representing them. They may plead innocent, or they may plead liable to the injury – but that doesn’t mean they’ll have to pay what the plaintiff asks. It is up to the plaintiff to prove they are owed the amount they are asking the courts to award.
The Insurance Company in a Personal Injury Case
The third party in this type of case is the insurance company. This is the party that is usually paying the medical bills, so they’ll be involved in the court processes. For example, the plaintiff’s insurance company wants the defendant to be charged so that they don’t have to pay as much towards medical bills. The defendant’s insurance company wants the defendant to be found not guilty so that they don’t have to pay out a lot of money.
As a personal injury lawyer office in North Chicago, we’ve dealt with these three parties again and again in cases. If you need experienced help after an injury, contact the Robert T. Edens Law Office. We operate all over the Chicago area and can provide you with excellent representation to get the outcome that is best for you.
