Types of Personal Injury Cases
Car Accident Cases
Car accidents spur the most personal injury cases in the United States. When an accident happens, usually it’s because someone isn’t following the rules of the road or driving as carefully as he or she should be. A careless driver can usually be held financially responsible for injuries stemming from a car accident.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice claims can arise when a doctor or other health care professional fails to provide competent and reasonably skilled care, and a patient is injured as a result. Medical malpractice cases are some of the most complex and expensive types of cases to bring in court.
Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases are another very common type of personal injury case. Property owners and businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and free of hazards, so that people who are on the property do not become injured. Of course, not all injuries that occur on the property will lead to liability. The exact nature of a landowner’s legal duty varies depending on the situation and according to the law in place in the state where the injury occurred.
Dog Bites
In most cases, the owners of a dog are financially responsible for bites and other injuries caused by the dog. The exact laws on owner responsibility do vary from state to state, though. In some cases, strict liability rules exist, and the dog owner is going to be liable for dog bite damages even if the dog has never shown any aggression or propensity to bite in the past. In other states, “one bite” rules exist, in which owners only become responsible for personal injury damages once there is a reason for those owners to know their dog is aggressive or prone to biting (like a previous history of bites.)
Assault, Battery and Other Intentional Torts
Unlike most other types of personal injury claims, intentional torts are not based on accidents caused by negligence or carelessness, but rather when one-person harms or injures another with intent. These cases almost always involve the added aspect of a criminal case against the perpetrator. For example, when one person physically attacks another, he or she will probably face criminal charges. Additionally, the victim can file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court and demand compensation for the injuries not only against the perpetrator but also against the business where the attack occurred if the business failed to take reasonable steps to protect the injured person.
Over the next few weeks, I will go into further detail about each type of Personal Injury case. Check in every day to learn more!
If you or a loved one have suffered a personal injury, call Personal Injury Attorney Chelsie M. Lamie at 727-501-3464 for a free consultation. You can also learn more about Attorney Lamie by visiting www.chelsielamie.com.