Around 64 million Americans seek medical care for accidental injuries every year. Many of these injuries eventually lead to the filing of a personal injury lawsuit. But not all lawsuits are the same.
How the injury happened and who is responsible plays a key role in which kind of lawsuit injured parties can bring. Here are the top four types of personal injury cases every American should know about.
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Vehicle Accidents
When people think of a personal injury lawsuit, auto accidents are often the first thing that comes to mind. This is understandable, as they are among the most common. They also relatively easy to secure settlements from since:
- Every driver is required to carry auto insurance
- There tend to be police reports and other hard documentation to work with
- Liability laws are fairly clear-cut
That is not to say that one can expect to get the full amount one is owed without fighting for it, however. Hiring a capable personal injury attorney is essential to a successful case.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice personal injury cases can be emotional and challenging for everyone involved. These are cases where injured parties allege that they suffered harm because a doctor or other medical care provider:
- Provided wrong or inappropriate treatment
- Provided sub-standard or ineffective care
- Made a serious mistake or error
These cases are tricky because many medical procedures come with inherent risk and suffering an injury or negative side-effect does not prove malpractice. Hiring an established law firm with experience in this area is a must for patients.
Product or Premises Liability
When personal injuries result from a defective or dangerous product or an improperly maintained commercial premises, injured parties may have a liability case. These cases can be high-profile and most consumers have heard of the country’s biggest examples.
Proving liability can be far from straightforward, however. Claims can be weakened by common actions such as:
- Improperly installing an item in one’s home
- Using a product for an off-label application
- Failing to comply with manufacturers’ use instructions
They can also become convoluted and time-consuming when manufacturers attempt to foist responsibility on third parties. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help injured parties cut through this red tape to demand justice.
Wrongful Death Claims
Families can make wrongful death claims when any case that might have qualified for a personal injury lawsuit leads to the death of the involved party instead of just injury. In a wrongful death claim, the inciting incident can result from negligence or intentional action.
Wrongful death claims are civil suits and therefore wholly separate from any criminal charges or cases that might stem from the same incident or death. Since the wronged individual is deceased, any settlements from such cases go to the victim’s estate or family.
Beyond Types of Personal Injury Cases
Knowing the different types of personal injury cases is the first step to exercising your rights if you or a loved one is ever injured. Learn more about your rights and how to protect them in our Lifestyle section today!
