Although we all hope we can stay safe on the road, at work, and in personal interactions with others, the reality is that there are instances where the people who are supposed to safeguard our well-being do not do their due diligence. Personal injury cases may be filed in situations where someone else’s negligence or intentional act of wrongdoing results in harm to another individual. But what kinds of cases do personal injury lawyers handle most often? In today’s post, we’ll be outlining a few of the most common kinds of personal injury claims.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most prevalent reasons for filing personal injury cases in the United States, which isn’t surprising when you consider that 112,000 drivers are ticketed for speeding alone on a daily basis. Although not every car accident warrants a personal injury filing, incidents that involve reckless driving may prompt such a claim. A motorist who ignores the rules of the road or fails to drive as carefully as they should may be held responsible in a court of law for any injuries or damages that result from that person’s carelessness.
Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents occur when a property owner fails in their duty to properly maintain the areas in their care. If an owner does not keep their property safe and free of hazards and someone on the property becomes injured as a direct result of their negligence, it may be possible to file a claim. In most cases, these accidents happen in public locations, but there are exceptions; depending on the circumstances, a business, organization, government agency, or private homeowner could be held responsible.
Medical Malpractice
We’d all love to believe that our doctors are perfect, but that’s sadly not the truth. Doctors are human beings who are prone to making mistakes — just like the rest of us. However, there can be consequences for mistakes when a doctor or other medical staff member does not provide competent and skilled care that patients require. If a patient is injured as a result of a misdiagnosis, surgical error, or medication mishap, the doctor or even the medical facility may be subject to a claim.
Dog Bites
Although we love our four-legged friends, not every dog is a good boy. Dog bites are a surprisingly common cause of personal injury case filings, as personal injury lawyers will tell you. Dog owners are typically held responsible for any damage their dog does to another person, but the laws vary quite a bit from state to state. Even if a given dog has had no history of aggression, you may be held accountable (though in some states, there must be a history of aggressive behavior in order to an owner to be liable for damages).
Work-Related Injuries
Although many people who become injured on the job may choose to pursue a worker’s compensation claim, you may also be able to file a personal injury suit against your employer. Personal injury attorneys may take on a job injury case if the employer was clearly negligent in their duty to provide a safe and clean working environment and that negligence resulted in harm to an employee, for example. It may also be appropriate to file a personal injury case for a work-related injury if worker’s compensation is not a viable option for a particular injury or if pain and suffering can be proven in a court of law.
Personal injury lawyers take on a wide variety of claim types, but they all typically have one thing in common: the harm experienced by an individual was caused by another’s disregard for their safety. We can help you get the outcome you deserve. Call us today at 719-301-7500 for a free one-hour consultation on your case.