Millions of people suffer injuries each year. While most injuries are relatively minor, some affect the individual for the rest of their life. Beyond just the long-term impact of the injury, there is also the issue of the high costs that come with medical care.
If your injury was partially or entirely the fault of another party, you might be entitled to compensation. However, there are many different types of personal injury claims. In some cases, it might be useful to hire an attorney with experience handling claims like yours.
In this post, we will look at some of the common types of personal injury claims.
Automobile Accidents
Personal injury claims resulting from car accidents are some of the most common. This is mostly due to two factors: the extreme forces involved in car accidents and the frequency with which accidents occur. On average, there are about 13 traffic accidents every minute. While most do not involve injuries, the potential for serious injury is always there.
These accidents can have many causes. It could be an intoxicated driver, speeding, carelessness, or distracted driving. There can also be issues with improper maintenance or faulty vehicle designs. If there is any level of negligence that caused the accident, injured parties might be able to file claims for compensation.
Product Liability
This type of claim can stem from an injury that occurs while using a defective product. Most businesses go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their products, but poor designs and manufacturing mistakes can happen. However, being injured using a product isn’t always enough. You have to be using the product for its intended purpose or in a way the manufacturer could have reasonably foresaw. In these cases, you could potentially have claims against manufacturers, distributors, or retailers.
Premises Liability
Premises liability claims occur when a person is injured on the property of another person or an organization. Some of the most common causes of premises liability injuries are slips, trips, and falls. If you slip on ice on someone’s walkway, you might have a claim. A person might trip on loose flooring or fall down faulty stairs. It could be any number of things.
According to a lawyer from Goidel and Siegel, “Being injured on the property of another person or entity is not enough for a lawsuit. First, you need to demonstrate that the property owner owed you a duty of care. That means they had a responsibility for your safety. Even beyond that, the claimant needs to show that the property owner was negligent in some way or that reasonable action would have prevented the incident.”
Assault
An assault or physical attack can also be grounds for a lawsuit. If another person attacks you and you suffer injuries, you can file a claim to collect compensation. This type of claim is unique when compared to most other personal injury claims in that it is an intentional tort.
The legal question can shift depending on the injured person’s role in the incident. If they started a physical altercation and were injured as a result of the other person defending their safety or the safety of others, they might not have a claim. The question would hinge on whether the defensive action was reasonable and proportionate.
Animal Attacks
Being attacked by an animal can be grounds for a lawsuit. If the animal’s owner did not take sufficient care to prevent the injury, there is a good chance you have a legitimate claim. Most animal attacks are dog bites. Along with the bite, you might be able to seek compensation for other injuries. For example, if you fell and broke your arm during the attack, you would include that in the claim as well.
However, the laws around animal attacks can be tricky. For example, some states have some variation of a one-bite rule. In these states, the dog’s owner might not be liable if the dog had never shown aggression in the past. There are also exceptions for situations where the dog is protecting itself or its owner.
Medical Malpractice
This type of claim involves the negligence of a doctor or some other healthcare professional. There are many potential causes of medical malpractice. It could be anything from a missed diagnosis or incorrect prescription to negligence during surgery. The injuries that come with medical malpractice claims are often severe. These are often some of the most complex personal injury claims.
While most people go their entire life avoiding serious injuries, it could happen to any person at any time. The issues outlined in this post are more common than you may think. If you are injured and it is someone else’s fault, you should seek compensation.