Defamation Is a Personal Injury
Personal injury lawsuits often stem from defamation cases. Defamation cases are incredibly serious, especially because defamation can ruin somebody's reputation and impact their business.
If you are pursuing a defamation personal injury case, there are a few things you need to know.
What Is Defamation?
Defamation occurs when somebody intentionally makes a false statement that harms the reputation of another person or their business. Slander is a common form of defamation in which the statements are spoken. Libel occurs when the statements are written, which includes being posted online.
Keep in mind that defamation is not a criminal charge. If you pursue a defamation claim against somebody else, you can pursue a civil case against this individual in court.
What Can Result From a Defamation Case?
If you sue somebody for defamation, there are a few types of damages you can sue for. These damages are called losses. The losses you must prove are related to the harm to one's reputation. This can lead to economic losses, especially because one's reputation can lead to people no longer visiting their business or perhaps encouraging others not to use this person's services.
In order to prove defamation, you need to have evidence. This evidence may involve screenshots of defamatory statements from the web, witness statements, and audio recordings. Evidence is also needed to prove how much your damages are and how much of the economic loss can be traced back to the defamatory statements.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
While defamation is considered a personal injury, you may consider defamation different from other types of personal injuries because there are no physical injuries. Still, the civil court considers defamation a personal injury case because it can lead to economic losses.
What Should You Do Next?
Your next step is to speak with a personal injury attorney. An attorney will help you determine the sum of your personal injury damages. Your attorney will assess your case and determine how strong it is.
Some personal injury attorneys do not charge you until your case is successful. This means you don't have to pay anything if your case is not successful.
Your attorney will work hard on your behalf, analyzing the evidence in your case to ensure that you have a successful strategy before going to court. Want to learn more? Contact a personal injury attorney near you today to get started on your case.