Personal injury lawyers work with people who have been injured or killed due to someone else’s actions. According to LV Accident, negligence is the key concept in personal injury cases. These attorneys want to prove that the injury was caused by negligence and that it has resulted in pain, lost wages, emotional suffering, and other hardships. Here are some of the most common types of cases handled by personal injury lawyers:
1. Premises Injury – Slip and Fall
A slip-and-fall accident happens when a person is injured on a business’s property. The personal injury lawyer must prove the injury occurred because of hazardous conditions (such as a torn carpet, a bad electrical connection, a poorly constructed floor, or failure to clear an icy store entrance during winter. The lawyer must prove that the dangerous conditions caused the injury and that the injured person took every reasonable precaution against injury. In order to get compensation, both of those elements must be proved.
2. Vehicle Injury – Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Injuries
Cars and other motor vehicles can cause serious injuries, and a personal injury attorney can help accident victims get funds to pay their medical bills. People involved in these accidents can use the police report to document the facts of the accident. There are time limits on accident reporting imposed by the law. For example, most claims for an injury from a motorcycle accident must be filed within three years of the accident.
3. Product Liability – Harm from Products or Services
Product liability cases are based on the premise that companies must be sure their products are safe. Consumers who buy products have the right to expect those products to be safe and effective. For example, someone purchasing a toaster expects it to toast their bread – but not to cause a kitchen fire. The lawyers for these cases must prove that the company’s product caused the injury and then confirm the compensation for the injured party.
4. Nursing Home Injuries – Mistreatment or Abuse
Nursing homes must care for their residents and keep them safe from injury. If a nursing home employee abuses a resident or an unintentional action at the facility harms them, they may be entitled to compensation. The harm can come from a fall, from abusive action, or from an action that should have been taken. For example, statistics show that improperly washed hands spread 80% of the germs that cause illness.
5. Medical Malpractice – Injury by Doctors
When a doctor or other medical professional injures you or worsens your condition by their actions, this is considered malpractice. In these cases, the lawyer would prove that the healthcare professional’s actions did not meet the standard of what a reasonable healthcare professional would do. Once that is established, the attorney will show the degree of damage this action has caused to place a monetary value on the harm caused by the doctor.
6. Injuries from Natural Disasters – Hurt by Storms or Floods
According to ABC News, over 14.5 million U.S. properties are at risk of floods. If your home is one of them or a natural disaster has impacted you, a personal injury attorney can provide access to resources that can provide housing, food, and medical care. If you have flood or homeowners insurance, and you’re having challenges with an insurance case, a personal injury lawyer can help you.
Personal injury lawyers must be well-versed in the laws of the states where they practice. When you meet with a personal injury attorney, they will review your circumstances and let you know your legal options. In most personal injury cases, the attorney is paid contingently: the lawyer gets paid a percentage of your court winnings.
Best wishes to you for your personal injury case.