A lawsuit is a formal legal action filed in court where one person (the plaintiff) claims that another person or entity (the defendant) has caused them harm and seeks compensation or other relief from a judge or jury. Think of it as officially asking the court system to settle a dispute when the parties cannot reach an agreement on their own. The person filing the lawsuit must present evidence to prove their case, while the defendant has the opportunity to defend themselves and dispute the claims being made against them.
In personal injury cases, a lawsuit is typically filed when settlement negotiations with insurance companies fail to produce fair compensation for the injured person's medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. The lawsuit process involves formal procedures like exchanging evidence, taking depositions, and potentially going to trial where a judge or jury makes the final decision about fault and compensation. While many personal injury cases are settled out of court before trial, filing a lawsuit gives the injured person legal tools to force the other side to take their claim seriously and provides leverage during settlement negotiations.
