Injuries can happen at any time and through no fault of your own. Whether you get hurt in an accident or while working, the resulting pain, suffering, and disruption to your life can be devastating. Fortunately, there are several legal options that you can pursue when this happens, including filing a personal injury lawsuit against whoever was responsible for the accident or negligence that caused your injuries. Here’s a look at the most common types of personal injury lawsuits and how they work.
Medical Negligence Lawsuits
The most common type of lawsuit pursued by plaintiffs is a medical negligence lawsuit. These types of lawsuits involve negligent acts committed by healthcare providers that result in injury to the plaintiff. Medical malpractice can occur in a number of ways including, but not limited to, hospital errors, surgical errors and prescription drug mistakes. Unlike other types of personal injury suits, a successful medical malpractice lawsuit is unlikely to win your case without strong supporting evidence such as testimony from an expert witness.
Motor Vehicle Accident Lawsuits
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are several types of personal injury suits you may pursue. If the accident was caused by a negligent driver, and the driver either lacks insurance or has insufficient coverage to cover your medical bills, you may be able to sue them for property damage and/or physical injuries. If the driver was negligent but had enough coverage to cover your expenses, you can sue them for your pain and suffering.
Premises Liability Lawsuits
Premises liability cases are lawsuits that arise from injuries that happen on someone else's property. This can include a slip and fall at a store, or a dangerous staircase. These types of cases can be difficult to prove, because the plaintiff has to prove not only that the defendant owed them a duty of care and breached it, but also that they were in violation of an OSHA safety law.
Dangerous Product Lawsuits
The most common type of personal injury suit is a product liability lawsuit, which might be pursued if you are injured by a dangerous or defective product. There are many different types of defects that can lead to a dangerous product lawsuit, including design defects and manufacturing defects. For example, say you buy a new car and while driving it on the highway one day it explodes because there was an engine defect.
Workplace Accidents/Injuries
Since many workplace accidents can result in injuries, such as a back injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, or a spinal cord injury, it's important to know your options when it comes to legal recourse. For example, if you were hurt at work and the employer was negligent in some way that led to the accident and subsequent injury, you may be entitled to compensation. This could include damages for pain and suffering as well as lost wages.
Slips and Falls in Public Places
One of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits is a slip and fall in a public place. If you have been injured as a result, you may pursue damages such as medical expenses, lost wages and/or pain and suffering. To find out if you have a valid claim, speak with an attorney who specialises in personal injury law. They will review your case to see whether or not it has merit. Once they make that determination, they can help you decide how to proceed.
This article was written in cooperation with Craig Lebrau