Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions. A personal injury lawsuit refers to a type of tort lawsuit alleging that the plaintiff's injury has been caused by the negligence of another. New York personal injury lawyers help the injured party pursue their legal claims in court. Personal injury lawsuits can be complex affairs, and it is a good idea to have representation in such cases.

The most common types of personal injury claims are road traffic accidents, accidents at work, tripping accidents, assault claims, accidents in the home, product defect accidents (product liability) and holiday accidents. However, medical malpractice may also fall under the category of personal injury. Medical malpractice is an act of professional negligence by a health care provider. In most cases it involves treatment which falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient.

New York medical malpractice attorneys can help victims of medical malpractice pursue their legal claims for compensation. There are two main kinds of malpractice compensation: economic and non-economic. Economic damages from such a case may include lost wages, medical expenses and life care expenses. These damages may be assessed for past and future losses. Non-economic damages are based on the physical and psychological harm done, which may include loss of vision, loss of a limb or organ, or severe pain and emotional distress.

Of course, personal injury and medical malpractice are not the only things that involve the protection of individual rights. As New York City residents know, the police exist to serve and protect the citizenry. Unfortunately, this covenant is breached when officers turn to brutal and illegal tactics. Police brutality is the wanton use of excessive force by a police officer; it involves any form of force, including verbal attacks and psychological intimidation.

Now, most of the public accept that police officers must use force on certain occasions. However, this use of force is kept in check in many jurisdictions by the issuance of a use of force continuum. A use of force continuum sets levels of force considered appropriate in direct response to a subject's behavior. This power is granted by the civil government, with limits set out in statutory law as well as common law. When police exceed the strictures that have been placed on their use of force, it is the job of a New York Police Brutality Lawyer to ensure that the officers responsible are held to account.

New York City is a teeming metropolis, filled with energetic and creative people. But amid the city's vibrancy there is also a good deal of conflict over individual and civic rights. New York City lawyers help persons resolve such matters; they help New York City residents protect their rights in a peaceful and civil manner. New York City personal injury lawyers, medical malpractice lawyers, and police brutality lawyers serve a vital role in assisting the ordinary citizens of the city preserve their legal rights and pursue their legal claims.