Hundreds of thousands of personal injury cases are filed yearly in state and federal courts. Each case tells a unique story about how a person suffered harm and is deserving of compensation. However, all of these personal injury cases share one common element: alleging that someone’s careless acts caused injury to another person.
If you are hurt by someone's negligent behavior, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Take a closer look at common personal injury claims filed in the state and why hiring a personal injury lawyer to assist you with them is vital.
9 Common Personal Injury Claims
A personal injury lawsuit can enable you to recover financial damages if you or a loved one has been injured because another person acted carelessly. These damages can compensate you for any medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses you experience.
Nine of the most frequently filed personal injury claims include:
1. Car Accident Lawsuit
A car wreck in which a careless driver hits you with their vehicle is one of the most common types of lawsuits filed in the United States. Negligent driving behavior, such as speeding or failing to yield the right of way, can create liability if it results in a crash.
2. Trucking Accident Claim
Truck drivers are human and can make mistakes behind the wheel of their rigs despite their greater training and more stringent rules. There can be multiple parties at fault in these collisions, including the driver, their employer, and those responsible for loading cargo onto the truck.
3. Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit
Property owners who invite others to shop at their stores or visit their properties must clean up spills and other hazards that can cause guests to slip and fall. Those who fail to take these basic precautions can find themselves facing lawsuits from individuals who hit their heads, injured their backs, or suffered other injuries.
4. Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are potentially life-altering injuries resulting from falls, acts of violence, car accidents, and sports injuries. When another’s careless actions lead to a diagnosis of a concussion or other TBI, a lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit against that negligent individual, as your present and future costs are likely significant.
5. Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Doctors, nurses, and hospitals cannot guarantee that every patient will experience a full recovery or successful outcome. However, these individuals and entities are responsible for giving every patient competent and reasonably professional care. Medical malpractice suits can be filed against healthcare providers who do not fulfill this obligation.
6. Nursing Home Abuse Claim
Similarly, nursing homes and their staff must provide residents with competent care and refrain from abusing or neglecting the patients under their care. Nursing homes must not only avoid causing harm to their patients, but they must also take reasonable steps to promote their welfare.
Employees, supervisors, and the companies that operate nursing home facilities can all be liable in a nursing home lawsuit.
7. Product Liability Claim
A product liability claim alleges that a manufacturer allowed a defective product to reach the consumer market, where it caused injury to you and others. A manufacturer is liable for damages if there was a safer way to make the product or if the manufacturer did not do enough to warn consumers about the dangers of its products.
8. Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit
Catastrophic injuries can generally be regarded as those that result in the loss of a limb, permanent scarring, or other long-term consequences. Such injuries can come about as a result of a fall, motor vehicle accident, or other type of personal injury event.
9. Act of Violence Personal Injury Claim
Personal injury claims are not just reserved for those who are the victims of negligent behavior. Someone who is hurt because another person intentionally or recklessly caused them harm may also be entitled to pursue compensation. Such compensation could include punitive damages to punish the at-fault party for their egregious behavior.
Why You Need an Attorney for Your Personal Injury Case
No matter the type of personal injury claim you have, it is critical that you hire a lawyer to represent you. A skilled personal injury lawyer can assist you in several ways, including:
Investigating Your Claim
First, you will need evidence and witness testimony to support your claim. Investigating your case takes time and resources, and you may not have much of either following an injury accident. An attorney can take over this vital task and conduct a thorough investigation while you focus on other, more pressing matters.
Preparing and Filing Your Claim
Your personal injury claim must be filed with the appropriate court within one year of the date of the accident. This does not give injury victims much time to organize their thoughts and evidence into a meaningful petition for compensation.
Your attorney will have the experience and knowledge to ensure your claim is properly filed within this one-year statutory period. This can help ensure you are free to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Pursuing Compensation for You
Your personal injury case may be resolved through a settlement, which gives you compensation without the need for a trial. A seasoned personal injury lawyer can lead negotiation efforts and fight for the best possible outcome for you.
If settlement is not possible, your lawyer will have the procedural and substantive know-how to present your case at trial competently and effectively.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer for Help with a Personal Injury Case
Personal injury claims serve to help provide accident victims with a way to secure much-needed compensation to help them recover and move forward with their lives. Although personal injury cases come in various types, having an attorney help you along the way with any claim can demystify the process and give you your best chance of success.
Joshua Michael Palmintier is a founding partner of Palmintier Law Group, a top-rated personal injury law firm based in Baton Rouge, LA. With over 85 years of combined legal experience, their attorneys have recovered over $1 billion in settlements on behalf of their clients. Contact his Baton Rouge office today for a free consultation.
