Dealing with a personal injury can be a frustrating ordeal. Aside from its financial impact, it can also cause physical, emotional, and mental toll on the injured victim and their family. Depending on the severity of the injury, they may also suffer temporary or permanent disability, resulting in their inability to go to work and earn a living. This is where the filing of personal injury cases enters the picture.
Legally speaking, personal injury refers to an area of law that allows injured individuals with the help of an attorney to file a claim to get compensated for the harm caused by another person’s negligence. However, it’s important to note that not all people who suffered injuries can have a legal cause of action to seek compensation for damages they sustained.
Before one can file a case, they should first hire a lawyer. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help a complainant build their case, gather evidence, and provide them legal representation and advice. They can use their knowledge in personal injury law to help the complainant get the compensation they deserve. The lawyer also handles the whole matter for the complainant so they can focus on their recovery.
Below are the five types of personal injury cases one should remember:
- Vehicular Accidents
One of the types of cases a personal injury attorney can handle is vehicular accidents. If someone has been injured in an automotive collision, they may be eligible to file an injury claim for all the physical, emotional, and financial damages.
Typically, being injured in a vehicular collision can be life-threatening and catastrophic. Depending on the impact, the injury may not appear right away. In such a case, the injured victim needs to ask for prompt medical attention to diagnose the injuries and avoid further medical complications. Doing so can make sure they get the proper treatment for their recovery.
Moreover, seeking medical assistance can increase their chances of getting compensated for their injuries. With the help of a lawyer, they can establish the negligent driver’s liability using valuable pieces of evidence. These can include medical records, police reports, photos of the accident scene and injury, and many more.
- Medical Malpractice
Another personal injury case that can be brought to court is medical malpractice. Generally, medical practitioners should exercise a reasonable standard of care for their patients. But, if a patient is injured due to the negligence of a healthcare professional, they may be entitled to compensation.
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional, through negligent acts, breaches the standards of care in their profession, which causes an injury to a patient. Some common examples of malpractice can include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and many more. For instance, if the doctor neglectfully treated a patient and required further treatment to correct the mistake, this could be considered as medical malpractice.
Hence, patients injured by a healthcare professional’s negligence can file a medical malpractice claim. All they need to do is hire a lawyer who specializes in handling personal injury to achieve a more favorable outcome. They can assess the situation and develop ways to prove the liability of the medical practitioner. That way, the injured patient can obtain compensation for the damages sustained to recover from the injury quickly.
- Product Liability Cases
Like drivers and healthcare professionals, product manufacturers and suppliers also owe a duty of care to the consumers. When an individual is injured due to a defective or dangerous product, they may be eligible to file a product liability claim against the at-fault manufacturer.
Whether the claim is based on a design defect, manufacturing defect, or warning/labeling defect, the injured party may seek compensation for the injury the product caused. However, like other personal injury cases, handling a liability claim can be a daunting process.
As such, it’s crucial to work with a personal injury attorney for solid legal assistance. They can help present evidence to prove the type of defect and that the manufacturer’s negligence caused the injury. Lastly, as the plaintiff focuses on their physical, emotional, and mental recovery, the legal professional will work hard to protect their rights and get the compensation they deserve.
- Workplace Accidents
If an injury happens in the workplace, the injured victim should seek prompt medical attention to avoid severe health conditions later on. Although an injury at work may seem minor, it may still turn out to be a serious condition, causing permanent disability and other life-changing conditions. For example, if a worker is involved in a slip and fall accident, it may result in a traumatic head injury.
When this happens, the worker may be unable to work or do the things they used to do. In such a case, they can file a personal injury claim to get compensation. This is especially true if they believe the accident happened due to another person’s negligence.
- Dog Bites
Being attacked by a dog can be a traumatic experience, especially if it causes an injury to an individual. Depending on the extent and severity, the injury can also result in a fatal medical condition. As such, the injured victim may also have the right to file a claim for compensation to cover all the damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and many more.
However, navigating a dog bite injury case can be challenging. That’s because the liability may depend on many essential factors. For instance, the complainant can’t receive any compensation if they were trespassing private property. The injury case can’t also proceed if the complainant provoked the dog that caused the bite.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with any personal injury case mentioned above can be terrifying. Individuals injured due to someone else’s negligence can experience emotional, financial, and physical trauma. That’s why they should hire an attorney who can handle their claim. In doing so, they can rest and take care of themselves until they fully recover and get back to their everyday lives without worrying about the medical bills, healthcare treatment, and other worries sustaining an injury can bring to a person.