The day you suffered injuries while someone else committed a crime may have started out like any other. You could have been walking to meet friends when someone tried to steal your purse, or you may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time and became injured when someone tried to rob a convenience store. The injuries could even have occurred in your own home if someone broke in with the intent to harm you or ransack your home. You’ve become a crime victim.
Regardless of how the situation occurred, you likely never expected it or the trauma that followed. You may have instinctively tried to hold on to your purse only to have the thief strike you, or you may have tried to intervene to help someone else only to have the robber or attacker turn on you. Now, you are left with the physical injuries and mental scars of the event.
Did you know you have legal options?
When authorities apprehended the person who carried out the crime and caused you harm, you may have felt a sense of relief. In fact, you may have believed that justice would prevail as he or she faced criminal charges for the acts committed. However, something inside you may still have felt unsettled.
Though criminal charges are an important aspect of addressing any crime, did you know that as a crime victim you could also have reason to file a civil claim? Because the person’s actions caused you harm, you may have cause to file a personal injury claim against that person in efforts to seek compensation for the resulting damages.
Trial or settlement?
If you do choose to bring a lawsuit against the other party, it could go one of two ways. You could choose to file a formal lawsuit that would result in the case going to trial, likely for a jury to hear and rule on. On the other hand, you could come to an informal settlement with the other party in which you work to negotiate terms for what you believe is an adequate settlement amount.
Moving forward with a personal injury claim is not easy. Your situation may prove particularly complex when your injuries resulted because someone else committed a crime. Fortunately, you can obtain an assessment of your circumstances and assistance with your legal affairs by speaking with a New Mexico attorney about your options.
Get help today from the attorneys at McGraw Law, LLC. They have garnered a reputation for being skilled at trial. They are passionate and tenacious advocates for their clients. Their offices are conveniently located in downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico. Call McGraw Law, LLC, in Las Cruces at 575-523-4321 for a consultation.