Common Causes for Personal Injury Cases
November 15, 2017
Personal injury cases are legal proceedings in which an injured party (be it physical, emotional, or mental) sues the person or persons responsible for the injury for compensation. These are some of the more common reasons that people pursue a personal injury claim.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
With close to 300 million registered automobiles in the United States, automobile accidents are an unfortunate reality of life. Statistics indicate that more than 3 million people are injured annually in automobile accidents, with more than 2 million of these injuries being permanent. While traffic fatalities have decreased in recent years, statistics from the U.S Census Bureau reflect average traffic related fatalities in excess of 40,000 per year.Of course, not every car accident is eligible for compensation. But, if you’ve been injured due to a neglectful or careless driver, you may be.
Slip and Fall
Regarding property and safety, it is usually the owner’s duty to ensure that any dangerous conditions are cleaned or repaired, or that proper warning is given to prevent injuries from those conditions.However, whether by accident or pure neglect, slip and fall injuries are a fairly common occurrence. Depending on the situation, a person who suffers such an injury may be entitled to compensation. Of course, there are certain factors that have to be met. Primarily, you’ll have to prove that the property owner is, in fact, liable for the injury—which can sometimes be a difficult task.
Wrongful Death
The sudden death of a loved one is hard to bear, especially when that death is caused by the negligence or misconduct of another person. Common examples could be:- Car wreck deaths
- Accidents with firearms
- Criminal behavior
- Occupational exposure to dangerous conditions or substances
- Preventable deaths during a supposedly supervised activity
With wrongful death suits, it is crucial that all factors are considered in order to obtain the maximum recovery to allow the survivors to move forward. Calculating the cost of a death requires vocational and economic experts to determine the economic contribution of the decedent to the family with whom he or she lived. There are also losses that are much more difficult to quantify, such as the emotional support, attendance at children’s sporting events, helping with household chores, and other non-economic contributions by the decedent.
Dog Bites
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with half of those victims being children. Almost 20% of those bites require medical attention, up to and including reconstructive surgery. Dogs are wonderful companions, but the reality is that dog bites do happen and can result in serious injuries. When they do, the victim may be entitled to compensation.
Product Liability
When you buy a product, you have certain rights as a consumer. Whether it is an artificial knee, a kitchen blender, or your new automobile, you have the right to a safe and reliable product. Companies have a duty to design and manufacture products that are safe to use. So, in situations where you are injured due to a product malfunction, you may be able to seek compensation from that company.That said, defective product cases are complicated, and different product fields have unique features and procedures. This is why you need an experienced attorney to help navigate the claim.
Medical Malpractice
Healthcare professionals are expected and required by law to provide a certain standard of care. Even the best physicians and nurses, however, can make mistakes. Malpractice mistakes include:- Failure to properly diagnose or treat a disease
- Detrimental use of a medical device
- Neglect during surgery
- Over prescribing medication
While the above examples tend to be some of the more common personal injury cases, they are not the only ones. If you have been injured due to neglect, abuse, or something else, call the lawyers at Pruitt, Tudisco and Richardson, P.C., today.
