Personal injury law, also known as tort law, is there to protect people who have suffered injuries due to other people’s negligence. Since fault is not always easy to demonstrate, these cases can get very complex and there are many different types of personal injuries someone can suffer. Depending on the type of injury, you might be able to sue more than one party. Other cases are much more straightforward but still have some particularities you should be aware of. Here are some of the most common types of personal injury cases.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are the number one cause of personal injury claims in the country. They might be caused by someone driving recklessly or ignoring road rules. There are some cases when both parties may share part of the blame too, and this is when things can get complicated. There are also a few no-fault states that make it difficult to sue the other party. In these states, victims have to collect from their insurers except when there’s a serious injury.
Slip and Fall
This is another very common kind of personal injury case in the country. Property owners, which includes businesses, have a responsibility to keep their premises safe. While not all slip and fall cases will lead to a suit, if it can be shown that the owner was negligent in his duty of care, then you can and should get compensation. The owner’s legal duty will largely depend on the situation and the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the country. This is when a doctor fails to provide the appropriate standard of care to patients. It could be by prescribing the wrong medicine, misdiagnosis due to gross negligence, or mistakes during surgery, among other things.
Defamation
You might think that personal injury cases are only limited to physical injuries, but an attack on someone’s reputation can also be considered an injury as well. Libel and defamation are when someone makes an untrue statement in public about a person or a business. The plaintiff will have to prove that their reputation was tarnished by this false statement and that they suffered financial loss as a result.
Assault and Battery
Assault and battery cases can lead to criminal charges, but the victims can file personal injury claims as well. These and intentional torts are different from other personal injury cases because they aren’t caused by negligence.
Dog Bites
Dog bite cases are also very common and can be very serious. If it can be shown that an owner was negligent or ignored rules and it led to a dog bite, you may have grounds to sue.
If you hear about personal injury cases, chances are they’ll fall under one of these categories. If you were recently injured due to someone else’s actions, we suggest you speak with a legal team who knows these cases in and out and be ready to fight until the end for you.
