In the legal definition, what is an action for personal injury intended to seek?

An action for personal injury is primarily intended to seek compensation for physical harm or wrongful death. This type of legal action arises when an individual suffers injuries due to another party's negligence or intentional misconduct. The scope of recovery in such cases typically includes not just medical expenses and lost wages, but also compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other related damages.

The focus on compensatory damages highlights that these legal claims are designed to remedy the harm suffered by the injured party rather than to punish the wrongdoer, which is the realm of criminal law. In personal injury cases, the injured party seeks redress to restore them as closely as possible to their condition prior to the injury, rather than seeking punitive measures. Thus, compensation serves to address the financial impact of the injury, making the pursuit of financial restitution a fundamental aspect of personal injury law.