When someone is injured due to the negligence of another person, the injured party may be able to recover financial compensation for the injuries incurred. To accomplish this it is necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit against the alleged negligent party. If a lawsuit is successful, damages may be recovered for a variety of things such as medical bills and lost wages.

A Pennsylvania man, who was injured while assisting in a rescue in his capacity as a firefighter, recently attempted to obtain such compensation. The man filed a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages totaling more than $1 million against a priest and St. Gregory's Academy.

The former firefighter sustained the injuries after a young man on a hike supervised by the priest fell off a cliff. During the teen's rescue, a rock was dislodged and hit the firefighter on his head. After being struck by the rock, the man fell around 15 feet. Among other things the injuries resulting from the accident caused the man to have to undergo several surgeries. He reportedly has ongoing back pain and was forced to leave his job.

In addition to accruing more than $250,000 in medical bills, the man reportedly accumulated debt totaling close to $390,000 as a result of the accident. The lawsuit alleged that the priest who was supervising the hike did not properly do so which made it possible for the teen to fall. Had the young man not fallen, the firefighter would not have been called to the scene and thus would not have been injured.

The defense asserted that the firefighter was he himself at fault for standing under the stretcher that dislodged the rock that struck him. Apparently this line of argument was enough for sadly the firefighter's lost the lawsuit.

Personal injury lawsuits are complicated. Accordingly, it is probably in the best interest of anyone considering filing one to consult an attorney with experience in the area of law as soon as possible.

Source: FireRescue1, "Former Pa. firefighter loses lawsuit against priest," Oct. 19, 2011