Can An Illegal Immigrant File A Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Friday, November 8th, 2019
A personal injury caused by someone else’s negligence can happen to anyone. These accidents can occur in the workplace, when you are driving your car, in a construction zone, and even at the doctor or hospital. If you are an illegal immigrant, you may wonder if you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Because illegal immigrants do not have the proper paperwork, they may fear filing a case, even if someone else is clearly to blame. If you are in this situation, it is important to know that you can file a lawsuit if someone has caused you personal harm.
Why you can file a lawsuit as an illegal immigrant
In their most recent poll focusing on the population of illegal immigrants, the Pew Research Center found that 1,650,000 lived in the state of Texas as of 2014. The United States court system is available to this group of people if someone else caused them harm due to negligence. The system can do this because of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment grants equal protection of the law and due process, even to non-citizens.
If you are an illegal immigrant who has been injured by someone, you do not have to fear deportation from filing a personal injury lawsuit. Sometimes, the defending party in a lawsuit will attempt to make threats about deportation. If the lawyer for the other party is threatening to deport you, they have no basis in the fact that you filed a claim and are acting unethically.
Types of damages you can receive from a personal injury lawsuit
The types of damages available to you after winning a personal injury lawsuit include costs for medical expenses, mental pain, and even lost wages. Some have argued that providing back pay does not actually follow the law. However, Texas courts have upheld granting back pay for the loss of being able to work.
One example of a legitimate personal injury case is if you slip and fall in a puddle of water in a grocery store aisle. Another example is if a company driver hits your car with their semi-truck, hurting you and your vehicle. If you have to go to the hospital for injuries received, you may have a case. Remember, even if you are an illegal immigrant, you still have the right to seek damages for your pain and suffering.
Finding a personal injury lawyer who can help you
If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer who can help you after an accident, contact Attorney Dean Boyd The Strong Arm (Abogado Dean Boyd-El Brazo Fuerte) today. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will help you navigate the legal process safely and efficiently. You can call us at (806) 242-3333 or Contact Us by email to learn more about our Services. We have locations at 4423 SW 45th Ave, in Amarillo, Texas and 10623 Quaker Ave #102 in Lubbock, Texas to better serve our clients.