Personal injury claims can arise when someone has been injured due to the fault or negligence of another person. Typical cases can include slip and fall injuries, traffic accidents, product liability, wrongful death, and premises liability. Injuries resulting from different causes, such as boating accidents or medical malpractice can also lead to personal injury claims. If you or anyone you know might have a personal injury claim, the first step is to consult an experienced accident attorney to determine if you have a case. Having a personal injury lawyer file your case greatly improves your chances of success and of getting the just award owed to you.
What is a personal injury claim?
A personal injury claim can arise in different ways, due to an injury caused by the fault or negligence of another person or organization. Traffic accidents, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, and commercial truck negligence are all examples of personal injury cases. In extreme cases, wrongful death can result and in that event, the family or heirs of the deceased person would file a claim.
Medical malpractice can also result in personal injury claims. Different states have different laws, and to ensure that you have a valid case that will succeed in winning an award, it’s best to consult with a personal injury law firm or accident attorney.
What are the different types of personal injury claims?
Thousands of accidents happen each year. They result in injuries or even death. The injured person can suffer from loss of work and income, while facing medical bills and other costs. Personal injury claims provide compensation for such losses, when they are due to the fault or negligence of another person.
Personal injuries take a serious toll on individuals, their families, and workplaces. The most frequent causes of personal injury cases, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, are motor vehicle accidents, which account for 52% of all cases. These are followed by medical malpractice cases, which account for 15%, while and product liability cases account for 5%. Consider some of these cases:
- Every year, 6 million traffic accidents occur across the U.S. They can cause serious injuries and even be fatal. As many as 3 million people die in traffic accidents each year, leaving behind grieving families, friends, and neighbors.
- Medical malpractice is another very frequent cause of injury and worse. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 225,000 deaths are caused each year due to medical malpractice.
- Boating accidents result in thousands of injuries every year, as well as property damage. According to U.S. Coast Guard figures for 2016, there were 4,463 accidents in that year. They caused around $49 million dollars in property damage, and resulted in 2,903 injuries, and 701 fatalities.
Do you need a lawyer to file a personal injury claim?
An experienced personal injury lawyer or accident attorney can help you present the strongest case possible in order to obtain the compensation you deserve. The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court, and the negotiations can be complicated and difficult for anyone who does not have legal training.
When choosing an attorney to represent you, it’s a good idea to ask about their experience in the area and that specific type of case. It may also be a good idea to ask about successful cases they have handled in the past, to get an idea of how yours might proceed.
Personal injury claims arise from injuries and accidents due to another person. They can have a devastating impact on individuals and families, and it can be a good idea to get legal help in filing a claim. An experienced accident attorney can help you get the compensation you are entitled to under the law.