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The Most Common Personal Injury Cases

Tuesday May 24, 2022

Personal injury is a type of tort lawsuit that allows a plaintiff to sue a defendant for physical, emotional, or financial harm they've suffered due to the defendant's actions or omissions.

Negligence is the most common cause that leads to personal injury claims. This ranges from gross negligence to intentional misconduct, and reckless conduct to strict liability.

Typically, every personal injury claim revolves around two fundamental issues: financial compensation and liability. The financial losses that plaintiffs can recover in a personal injury lawsuit are known as damages, which typically cover the victim's medical expenses, lost income, diminished quality of life, and pain and suffering.

What Are the Most Common Personal Injury Cases?

Every year, roughly 37.9 million people visit emergency departments to seek medical attention for their injuries. 

There are many types of injuries you can sustain while you go about your daily life. Such personal injuries may leave a long-lasting impact on your life or that of your loved one, which is why you may want to consider beginning a personal injury claim. 

Here are some of the most common personal injury cases.

Workplace Injuries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private industry employers reported  2.7 million nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries in 2020. The BLS also reported 4,764 fatal work injuries in the same year. A worker died every 111 minutes due to a work-related injury in 2020, with transportation incidents being the most frequent cause of death.

Today, insurance for work injuries is mandatory for most employers. If you are injured while at work, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to receive compensation for your injuries. Workers' compensation insurance may cover your medical bills, lost income, and other damages you sustain after a workplace injury.

It's important to notify your supervisor about your injury — verbally and in writing. Remember, any delay in reporting your injury increases the chance of disputes. You should also seek medical attention from approved medical professionals under your employer's workers' compensation coverage. 

Workplace personal injury claims may be complicated. Your employer and their insurance company may make it hard for you to recover damages. For this reason, you should enlist the help of a workers compensation attorney to help you get maximum compensation for your injuries.

Auto Accident Personal Injury Claims

Auto accident claims are the most common type of personal injury claims. Every day, many Americans are involved in traffic collisions. Yet most of these accidents are preventable.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 38,824 people were killed, while 2.28 million sustained injuries in motor vehicle accidents in 2020.

If you have been involved in a car wreck and you believe the other driver is to blame for the crash, contact a personal injury attorney with vast experience in auto accidents. A lawyer can help you prove that the other driver's actions, be it speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, or reckless driving, are to blame for your injuries. 

There are various types of personal injury cases that fall under auto-related accidents, including:

  • Car accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Bus accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Boating accidents

Medical Malpractice Claims

A medical malpractice claim arises when a medical professional harms their patient by failing to offer appropriate standards of medical treatment. These claims aren't limited to doctors. Personal injury law also holds nurses, anesthesiologists, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies to the same standards.

Injuries from medical malpractice can be life-altering. They may worsen your condition or even lead to the death of your loved one. 

Medical malpractice lawyers can help you recover damages caused by the negligence of medical professionals. Common mistakes that lead to medical malpractice cases include:

  • Failure to diagnose
  • Wrong diagnosis
  • Premature discharge
  • Poor follow-up care
  • Surgical errors, like unnecessary surgery or wrong-site surgery
  • Improper medication or dosage
  • Wrong interpretation of laboratory results

Wrongful Death Claims

Approximately 200,955 preventable deaths occurred all over the U.S. in 2020.

A wrongful death claim is a civil action that surviving family members of the decedent bring forward following the death of their loved one. As a survivor, you can file such a claim when your loved one passes away prematurely due to another party's negligent actions.

For example, if your spouse dies after being hit by a speeding driver, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. However, it's important to speak to a wrongful death lawyer to find out if you are qualified to begin a personal injury case. Not everyone is allowed to file wrongful death claims.

Premises Liability Claims Against a Property Owner

These types of personal injury cases happen on other people's properties. Accidents such as slip and fall accidents, dog bites, elevator accidents, swimming pool accidents, and amusement park accidents can result in premises liability claims. 

To prove that the property owner was liable for your injuries, a premises liability lawyer should prove that the defendant didn't take the necessary measures to safeguard visitors on their property. 

Liability is based on foreseeability and reasonableness. Was the accident foreseeable? Did the owner warn visitors about the dangerous conditions? For example, a construction company should warn passers-by about hazardous conditions, like falling debris, during construction.

Product Liability Claims for Defective Products

A defective or unsafe product, be it a toy, a vehicle part, or a medical device, can lead to an injury. If a product fails to include proper instructions or warnings, or it has design or manufacturing defects, you may be eligible to file a product liability claim. Manufacturers and suppliers can be held liable if their defective products cause harm. 

A lawyer for personal injury can help you prove that the dangerous conditions of a defective product led to your severe injuries. You can file a claim against the distributor or manufacturer to recover compensation for losses.

Hire an Experienced Attorney for Your Personal Injury Claim

Personal injury lawsuits can get very complicated. These types of injuries can happen to just about anyone. If you sustain any injuries, it's ill-advised to deal with an insurance company on your own. You need a team of reputable personal injury lawyers on your side.

At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge we handle many types of personal injury cases. Our team is ready to offer you legal guidance and help you recover the best possible settlement for your injury.

Get in touch with our experienced lawyers who handle all types of personal injury claims.

Get in Touch

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation

At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., we handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid unless and until you receive a settlement or a jury award.

Schedule a free, confidential consultation with a skilled Connecticut personal injury lawyer today.

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