Personal Injury for Paralegals Online
Overview
Within this fast-paced class you will learn many of the legal terms, causes of action, and remedies available to victims of personal injury accidents. Students will review the negligence theory of torts upon which many personal injury claims are based. Students will discuss interviewing, investigating, and other case building techniques vital to a personal injury paralegal's success in the law office.
Class discussions and lesson materials will include the different kinds of personal injury claims, including (but not limited to): car accidents, slip and falls, medical negligence and malpractice, manufacturer product defects, and class-action lawsuits. Students will also discover the basic categories of damages recovery, statutes of limitations, and schemes for liability.
George Mason University offers Personal Injury for Paralegals Certificate Online in collaboration with The Center for Legal Studies.
+ Features
Course Outline
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Torts and the Elements of Negligence
- Lesson 2: Defenses to Negligence
- Lesson 3: Medical Malpractice and Reviewing Medical Records
- Lesson 4: Intentional Torts and their Defenses
- Lesson 5: Strict Liability, Product Liability, Nuisance and Worker’s Comp
- Lesson 6: The Personal Injury Trial
Course Objectives
- Interview clients with a narrative of the injury.
- Review medical records and nurses' notes.
- Prepare summaries of depositions.
- Interview medical witnesses.
- Observe and identify possible areas of negligence.
- Keep and organize a trial notebook.
- Understand the concept of products liability.
- Be familiar with the concept of duty toward the victim.
- Distinguish personal injury from torts to property or reputation.
- Distinguish private torts from governmental torts under the Federal Torts Claims Act.
+ Requirements
To receive a Certificate of Completion from George Mason University, students are expected to complete the following:
- Six quizzes
- Writing assignments
- Six online bulletin board participation assignments
Students are expected to spend an average of at least 12 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments. This course is the equivalent of at least 50 clock hours of study. 70 percent is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.
Textbooks are not included in the course registration fee.
Required Textbook for this Course:
Personal Injury and the Law of Torts for Paralegals, most recent edition, by Emily Lynch Morissette, Aspen Publishers