Common Defenses Used In Personal Injury Cases
If you have suffered severe injuries in an accident caused by someone else, it only seems fitting that the person or business should be held liable for your losses. Unfortunately, personal injury cases are not always as straightforward as most people think. While the victim has to prove that the other party was negligent, it is not uncommon to see the insurance adjusters or defense lawyers raise defenses. When certain defenses are successfully demonstrated, at-fault individuals may be able to wholly or partially avoid legal responsibility.
Affirmative Defenses
Defense lawyers often try to do everything possible to minimize or even eliminate the amount of compensation that a plaintiff rightfully deserves. When an affirmative defense is brought up, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to demonstrate it. If the defendant successfully proves a defense, the plaintiff can try to disprove it. Defenses commonly asserted in injury lawsuits include: