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Personal injury law involves civil claims in which an individual is injured through the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of another person, a company, or property owner. A personal injury lawsuit may arise from physical or emotional injuries. Personal injury law compensates individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Personal injury laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in Vermont to evaluate your claim.
Vermont follows a system using the modified comparative negligence – 51% rule. In states following a modified comparative fault – 51% rule, an injured party can only recover if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury does not reach 51%. If the injured party was 50% or less at fault, he or she may still recover damages. However, if a plaintiff’s fault reaches 51%, he or she recovers nothing. In other words, a plaintiff may have caused half of the accident and still recover damages from the court, but if it is found that the plaintiff’s fault was responsible for more than half of the accident, that plaintiff is barred from receiving any damages determined by the court. Here, as in a pure comparative negligence state, a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the degree of his or her fault. For example, if Debbie sued Dave for damages she suffered in a car accident involving their vehicles, and Debbie was 51% at fault, Debbie would not recover anything from Dave. If, however, Debbie was 40% at fault, she could recover damages, but the damage award would be reduced by her portion of the fault in causing the injury. Therefore, a finding that Debbie suffered $10,000 in damages would result in Debbie receiving an award reduced by 40%, or a final award of $6,000.
Click here to read about contributory vs. comparative negligence.
A statute of limitations is a type of law that restricts the period of time that a person may initiate legal proceedings. Time limits can vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. To learn more about statutes of limitations, read our Statute of Limitations page. To see a state by state comparison chart for the personal injury statute of limitations for each state, read our Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions page.
Vermont Statutes of Limitations
In Vermont, the courts follow a pure several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. Here, the amount for which each defendant is financially liable is proportionate to his or her share of the fault. In other words, a defendant that caused the majority of the damages will be responsible for a majority of the financial judgment.
Click here for more on Joint and Several Liability
One of the best ways to research personal injury lawyers in Vermont is to contact courts in VT and ask them for information about the personal injury attorneys who utilize their legal facilities when they bring personal injury cases to court. We have compiled a list below of some courts in Vermont to get you started:
Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Vermont
111 State St., Drawer 9
Montpelier, VT 05609
802-828-3278
Superior Courts
Addison Superior Court
7 Mahady Court
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-388-7741
Bennington Superior Court
P.O. Box 4157
Bennington, VT 05201
802-447-2700
Caledonia Superior County
1126 Main Street, Suite 1
St. Johnsbury, VT 05189
802-748-6600
Chittenden Superior Court
P.O. Box 187
175 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05402
802-863-3467
Essex Superior Court
P.O. Box 75
Guildhall, VT 05905
802-676-3910
Franklin Superior Court
Church St, PO Box C 808
St Albans, VT 05478
802-524-7993
Grand Isle Superior Court
Grand Isle County Courthouse
PO Box 7
North Hero, VT 05474
802-372-8350
Lamoille Superior Court
Main St.
Hyde Park, VT 05655
802-888-2207
Orange Superior Court
5 Court St.
Chelsea, VT 05038
802-685-4610
Orleans Superior Court
247 Main Street
Newport, VT 05855
802-334-3344
Rutland Superior Court
83 Center Street
Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-4394
Washington Superior Court
65 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-828-2091
Windham Superior Court
P.O. Box 207
Newfane, VT 05345
802-365-7979
Windsor Superior Court
PO Box 458
12 The Green
Woodstock, VT 05091
802-457-212
District Courts
Addison District Court
7 Mahady Court
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-388-4237
Bennington District Court
200 Veterans Memorial Dr.
Bennington, VT 05201
802-447-2727
Caledonia District Court
1126 Main Street, Suite 1
St. Johnsbury, VT 05189
802-748-6600
Chittenden District Court
32 Cherry Street, Suite 300
Burlington, VT 05401
802-651-1950
Essex District Court
P.O. Box 75
Guildhall, VT 05905
802-676-3910
Franklin District Court
36 Lake Street
St. Albans, VT 05478
802-524-7997
Grand Isle District Court
Grand Isle Courthouse
P.O. Box 7
North Hero, VT 05474
802-372-8350
Lamoille District Court
Lamoille County Courthouse
PO Box 489
Hyde Park, VT 05655
802-888-3887
Orange District Court
5 Court Street
Chelsea, VT 05038
802-685-4610
Orleans District Court
217 Main St.
Newport, VT 05855
802-334-3325
Rutland District Court
9 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
802-786-5880
Washington District Court
255 North Main Street
Barre, VT 05641
802-479-4252
Windham District Court
30 Putney Rd (2nd floor)
Brattleboro, VT 05301
802-257-2800
Windsor District Court
82 Railroad Row
White River Jct, VT 05001
802-295-8865
