One person suffers an accidental injury every second in the US, with one dying every three minutes. Road accidents are the most dangerous: they killed 38,680 people in 2021.
Personal injury claims refer to legal cases involving an individual claiming compensation for physical, emotional or psychological harm caused by the negligence or intentional actions of another party – more than 400k cases are filed each year, with 1,237% more cases filed in Florida than in any other state. Some of the most common cases personal injury lawyers handle are:
Contents
Vehicle Accidents
One of the most prevalent personal injury claims stems from car accidents. In Tennessee, crashes are a leading cause of death for kids aged 1-14. Car accidents can lead to injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and chronic pain. Factors like speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving and weather conditions often contribute to these crashes. Victims can file claims to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering from at-fault drivers and their insurance companies.
Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall claims arise when a person slips, trips or falls as a result of unsafe premises that property owners fail to maintain. Wet floors, uneven walking surfaces, poor lighting, and lack of railings are common causes, and slip and fall accidents caused 450,540 injuries in the workplace in 2022. These accidents often lead to injuries like fractured or broken bones, head trauma, back and neck injuries. Property owners can be held liable if negligence such as failure to fix hazards or provide adequate warnings contributed to the victim’s fall and subsequent injuries.
Dog Bites
Dog bite claims occur when a dog attack leads to injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dogs bite over 4.5 million people annually in the U.S. Dog bites can result in wounds, scarring, broken bones, nerve damage, traumatic brain injury and in rare cases, death. Bite victims can seek compensation from dog owners whose negligence or improper restraint of the dog led to the incident. Strict liability laws also apply when owners are aware of a dog’s aggressive tendencies.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice claims arise when a healthcare professional breaches their duty of care and injures a patient. This may involve negligent diagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, childbirth injuries and more. Patients can suffer additional medical expenses, lost wages, reduced quality of life and other damages. They can file claims against doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists or other negligent medical staff and hospitals or clinics who employ them.
Importance of Hiring a Lawyer
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is crucial for several reasons:
- They have expertise in personal injury law, legal procedures and determining liability and damages that laypersons lack. This helps strengthen claims and maximize compensation.
- They can objectively evaluate claims and estimate approximate value based on factors like injuries, medical bills, lost income, etc.
- Lawyers manage the legal process including communicating with insurance companies, gathering evidence, negotiating fair settlements and filing lawsuits if needed. This reduces stress for the injured victim.
By shouldering the legal and procedural aspects of a claim, personal injury lawyers allow victims to focus on recovery while working toward maximum compensation for their damages. With the right representation, most viable personal injury claims lead to some level of financial recovery for the harmed individual.
