Have you recently sustained an injury in an accident? Are you seeking compensation for your personal injuries from an at-fault individual or organization?
Only about 4-5 percent of cases does a personal injury lawsuit go to trial. The majority of the time, the suit gets settled out of court with the help of a lawyer or mediator. If you’ve been thinking about filing for personal injury compensation claims, and want to ensure you receive a fair settlement, keep reading.
A good starting point is to understand the most common types of personal injury cases. This information will help you know what kind of legal support is available to you if you need to file injury claims.
Assault and Battery
Many types of personal injury claims involve an accident. If someone harms you intentionally, though, you can still file a personal injury claim against them in the form of an assault and battery lawsuit.
In the case of an assault and battery claim, the person responsible for a physical attack can face both civil charges and criminal charges. If you’re able to prove that they hurt you intentionally, you can collect compensation for your injuries. The person may also go to jail or face other penalties for committing a crime against you.
Defamation
Many people are surprised to learn that defamation cases actually count as personal injury claims. It makes sense when you stop and think about it, though. You might not have been physically harmed, but if someone is saying things about you that are untrue, that still harms you, doesn’t it?
If someone is spreading lies and hurting your reputation, you can force them to pay for the damage they’ve caused. Of course, it can be hard to prove defamation cases in court. With the right personal injury lawyer on your side, though, you can get the compensation you deserve for the defamation you’ve faced, especially if it has had a negative effect on your job and ability to earn a living.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice cases are some of the most common examples of personal injury claims. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people die or are injured due to medical errors made by doctors and other healthcare workers.
If a doctor makes an error during a procedure that causes death or leads to another type of health complication, the patient or their family can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against them. Medical malpractice lawsuits are complicated, but they can yield significant payouts if they’re handled well.
Motor Vehicle Accident
Motor vehicle accidents are another common cause of personal injuries and personal injury claims. It’s important to note that you don’t necessarily have to be driving a car when you’re involved in an accident to file a personal injury claim.
If you get hurt as a passenger, for instance, you might be entitled to compensation. The same goes for pedestrians who are injured by drivers while out walking or riding their bicycles.
Despite what the law mandates, there are still plenty of car owners who, for whatever reason, opt out of carrying insurance coverage. If the motorist you get into an accident with lacks insurance and substantial assets, it is worthwhile taking them to court with the help of an attorney from a firm like Thomas Law Offices in order to secure adequate compensation. But, of course, there are options to pursue even if suing an uninsured driver is not an option.
Premises Liability
The term “premises liability” refers to an accident that occurred because of something defective or dangerous on another person’s land. You could file a premises liability lawsuit if you got hurt while at someone’s house or in a public place like a grocery store, a restaurant, or a public swimming pool.
Whether you fell down the stairs or slipped on a puddle that wasn’t cleaned up right away, you might be entitled to compensation. Dog bites can also count as grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.
Products Liability
If you purchased a product that was defective or malfunctioned and caused you harm, you can likely file a product liability lawsuit. You can also file this type of lawsuit if the product was not properly labeled and included harmful parts or substances.
There are many different entities against which you can file a product liability lawsuit, too. You can file it against the business that manufactured the product, or course, but you can also file against the government organizations that approved it or individuals who marketed it.
Workplace Accident
If you get hurt on the job, you might not be able to file a lawsuit against your employer. However, there are workers compensation laws in place throughout the country that allow you to collect compensation for your injuries. This includes payments to reimburse you for your medical bills, as well as payment to make up for potential financial losses associated with your injury (lost promotions, lost bonuses, etc.).
Wrongful Death
If someone dies because another party was careless, their family might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the careless individual (or individuals). Many wrongful death lawsuits are the result of car accidents, medical malpractice, and construction accidents. You could also file one if someone you love died due to nursing home neglect or because of a defective product.
Other Personal Injury Cases
The types of personal injury cases listed above are the most common ones that a person might have to file. According to the experts at Preszler Law of Nova Scotia, though, there are plenty of other less common, but still noteworthy, examples to keep in mind. This includes the following:
- Aviation accidents
- Boating accidents
- Birth injuries
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
- Catastrophic injuries and accidents
- Food poisoning
- Asbestos exposure
You can also file a personal injury lawsuit for legal malpractice. If a lawyer takes advantage of you, you can work with another lawyer to file a suit against them.
Do You Need Help with One of These Types of Personal Injury Cases?
As you can see, there are many different types of personal injury cases that you might need to file at some point in your life. If you keep these personal injury cases examples in mind, you’ll have an easier time knowing when to hire a lawyer and figuring out what kind of lawyer you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Do you want to learn more about hiring a lawyer or handling other types of legal issues? If so, check out some of the other legal articles on our site today for additional information.
