According to tort law, a personal injury gives an individual the authority to file a civil lawsuit if they sustain an injury or any form of harm. The sole reason is to compensate for the damage, mainly after it occurred due to intentional conduct or negligence.
An injury can be a setback to your life, especially when it comes to medical costs. However, if you sustain an injury due to someone else’s action, you have the legal right to gain compensation. A group of skilled personal injury attorneys can help you navigate through the complexities that personal injuries entail.
Personal injuries take many forms. This article will give you an insight into the most common personal injury cases you should be aware of.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
According to statistics, an average of 4.5 million injuries were recorded in the year 2019. The total cost of motor-vehicle injuries is estimated to be $463 billion if you are involved in a car accident; whether as a passenger, pedestrian or driver, a competent personal injury attorney will be your best bet in gaining compensation.
Motorcar incidents increasingly result in serious injuries or, worse, death. For this reason, every state requires each car to have liability insurance for shielding the driver from out-of-pocket compensation costs.
Wrongful Death
A case of wrongful death refers to a situation where the death of an individual is a result of someone else’s negligence. A lawsuit that involves wrongful death may call for different terms other than those given in other personal injury cases or those that sustain non-fatal injuries.
Examples of wrongful death instances are medical malpractices, neglect by caregivers in nursing homes, airplane accidents, or construction accidents.
Workplace Accident
Every employer has the duty of ensuring that their premises are safe and free from any hazards that may pose a risk to their employees. An injured employee, however, cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. Instead, the worker should file a claim under the respective state’s Workers Compensation Act.
As a rule, the Act requires employers to provide medical treatment costs and a permanent partial disability payment to the injured employee.
Premises Liability
Premises liability implies an incident where a public premise such as a restaurant, grocery, or mall leads to an injury due to a dangerous or defective condition. For example, if you sustain an injury after using a broken staircase, you can file for a premises liability claim.
It is essential to immediately keep a record of the incident after it takes place. Photographic evidence will go a long way in providing solid evidence to support your claim.
Product Liability
Every manufacturer’s expectation is proper documentation and provision of manual instruction for their products. A defective or malfunctioning product that results in an injury qualifies as a personal injury suit that requires compensation.
Products such as defective vehicle spare parts, toxic chemicals, or dangerous food can cause a severe injury upon use. Therefore, it is essential to contract the services of a reputable attorney to help you identify the harmful product, track down the manufacturer, and file a civil lawsuit against them.
When scouting for a personal injury attorney to represent you, it is essential always to pick on the best and most reliable. An independent search on the internet can uncover many law firms and personal injury attorneys. However, only a handful can competently represent you. Make use of third-party independent review sites for client feedback. This will help narrow down the correct legal representation for you.
