If you are facing a personal injury, you may have questions about whether or not you have grounds for a personal injury claim due to someone else’s negligence. While the best bet is to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer, there are a few instances where it is clear that someone else is at fault for your injury. Let’s take a look at the most common types of personal injury cases in Birmingham.
Car Accidents
Car accidents where the other person is at fault can easily be a personal injury case. While every accident naturally has someone to blame for the collision, there are times when the case needs legal counsel beyond letting the insurance companies deal with the aftermath. For example, if there are considerable physical damages to the victim who was not at fault, you may have enough for a personal injury case beyond the insurance of the liable person covering medical bills. You may be able to ask for additional damages in a larger settlement with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Dog Bites
Another common case for a personal injury claim is when someone else’s dog bites you or your child. A dog bite can be the kind of bite that doesn’t even break the skin, but it can also be much worse in some cases. If a person suffers deep lacerations, multiple lacerations, muscular or tissue damage, physical scarring, or other serious outcomes from a dog bite, that is enough for a personal injury case against the owner of the dog. In addition to physical suffering, there is also the emotional suffering that comes with a dog attack, recovering from the attack, and the lifelong consequences.
Premises Liability
Whether a business or a personal home, there is a general expectation of reasonable safety. Slips and falls are one of the most common personal injuries related to premises, but other areas may include falling debris, faulty railings, and other safety concerns that lead to a personal injury. From a business not fixing a broken stair resulting in a fall or a neighbor’s patio roof collapsing due to a known code violation, there are many ways for a person to become injured as a result of premises liability. While some accidents may truly just be unlucky events where no one is to blame, the majority of accidents have a root cause worth investigating to determine liability.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can easily be a personal injury case. There is always the possibility of complications with any type of medical procedure, but when that complication arises due to negligence on the part of the medical staff and results in a personal injury, you may have grounds for a personal injury case. Medical workers are human, and humans make mistakes. If you have been forced to pay for that mistake with additional physical pain, emotional suffering, or lifelong complications, a personal injury case may help recuperate some of the damages for this type of troubling injury.
Products Liability
When a product made for consumers creates adverse side effects to the point of a personal injury, victims have certain legal rights to compensation and justice. Some products list possible side effects as a warning to consumers and as a means of limiting liability. However, when a product does not list side effects and is marketed as safe to the public, experiencing a personal injury as a result of using the product may be grounds for a personal injury case against the manufacturer of the product. There may also be instances when the potential dangers or side effects of a product are listed but downplayed in severity, which can also be grounds for a legal case, depending on the situation and severity of the injury sustained.
Wrongful Death
In some unfortunate personal injuries, the victim dies as a result of their injuries. If someone you love has died from a personal injury, there may be a case for a wrongful death suit if someone else was at fault. In this instance, a lawyer will work with you to receive the maximum compensation possible from the liable party while also seeking justice for the deceased. In accidents where the liable party created the conditions of the accident with malice or intent, justice may also be served by a jail sentence for the wrongful death. It is best to speak with a personal injury attorney regarding a wrongful death case. They will be able to guide you through the logistics of compiling this sort of case.
What Should You Do If You Have a Personal Injury?
Facing a personal injury can be upsetting, overwhelming, and even traumatic. If you have suffered a personal injury, either one of the types listed or another type, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible following the accident. Speaking with an experienced lawyer will help you determine if your accident was a result of someone else’s negligence. A lawyer will be able to discuss your options moving forward as you seek compensation for your pain and suffering.
