Who Pays Court Costs in a Personal Injury Case?
When it comes to personal injury cases, the general rule is that the ‘losing’ party pays the ‘winning’ party’s costs. This means that if you are the plaintiff (the person who has been injured) and you win your case, the defendant (the person or company you are suing) will be responsible for paying your court costs.
In a personal injury case, court costs can include filing fees, witness fees, expert witness fees, court reporter fees, and other costs associated with the case. Depending on the jurisdiction, the court may also award attorney’s fees to the plaintiff if they win their case.
In some cases, the defendant may be required to pay the plaintiff’s court costs even if they win the case. This is known as a “costs award” and is usually awarded when the defendant has acted in bad faith or has acted in a manner that is deemed to be unreasonable.
In addition to court costs, the defendant may also be responsible for paying the plaintiff’s medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that were caused by the defendant’s negligence. The amount of money that the defendant is responsible for paying will depend on the specifics of the case and the damages that were incurred.
In some cases, the defendant may be required to pay the plaintiff’s court costs even if they win the case. This is known as a “costs award” and is usually awarded when the defendant has acted in bad faith or has acted in a manner that is deemed to be unreasonable.
It is important to note that the court costs in a personal injury case can be quite substantial. Therefore, it is important to discuss the costs of the case with your attorney before filing a lawsuit. Your attorney can provide you with an estimate of the costs that you may be responsible for and can help you decide if filing a lawsuit is the best course of action.
In conclusion, the general rule in personal injury claims in relation to payment of costs is that the ‘losing’ party pays the ‘winning’ party’s costs. Depending on the specifics of the case, the defendant may also be responsible for paying the plaintiff’s medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that were caused by the defendant’s negligence. It is important to discuss the costs of the case with your attorney before filing a lawsuit. Dec 17, 2018.
