When an unintentional injury or another person’s negligence affects the quality of your life, a personal injury lawyer can help you receive compensation for the suffering you endured.
It’s important to find a lawyer who practices personal injury law in the state where the accident or injury occurred, as they’ll be familiar with the local legal community and local courtroom practices and have established connections with other key players such as insurance companies and local police. If your personal injury occurred in the Washington DC area, for instance, seek out a Washington DC personal injury lawyer. Besides being easily accessible to update you on the details of your case, a DC area personal injury attorney will also be easier to vet.
Once you have a list of prospective personal injury lawyers, schedule an initial consultation. As most injury lawyers offer free consultations, use this consultation to interview the attorney. As you get to know the attorney, inquiring on the types of personal injury cases they’ve litigated, their years of experience, attorney’s fees, and the legal services they offer can help you know if they’ll be a good fit.
There are different types of personal injury cases, so keep reading to understand some of the most common ones.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals are expected to uphold the duty of care to their patients. However, if a patient suffered a catastrophic injury due to the medical provider’s negligence or failure to provide the expected standard of care, this is considered medical malpractice.
Some medical errors that could qualify you to file a medical negligence lawsuit include the wrongful death of a loved one, birth injuries that resulted in spinal cord injuries or brain injuries such as cerebral palsy, a misdiagnosis, and surgical errors, to mention a few. Injuries from negligent medical care can have life-changing consequences, and a personal injury attorney with decades of experience litigating medical malpractice cases can help you secure compensation following these damages.
Product Liability
Product liability refers to a manufacturer, distributor, or marketer being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer. For you to have a strong case, your legal counsel should be able to prove that the manner in which the product was designed, marketed, or manufactured made it seriously dangerous. While liability claims aren’t as common as other types of personal injury cases, they tend to have multiple victims.
A common example of a product liability lawsuit includes the class action filed by several attorneys after their clients developed respiratory problems after using defective Philips CPAP medical devices. If you’ve developed a health condition or suffered a serious injury after using a defective product, an attorney experienced in product liability law can help you win a fair settlement.
Premises Liability
When property owners fail to maintain their premises, they may be held liable for any accidents that occur on their property. A common example of a personal injury that could result in a premises liability case is animal attacks such as those inflicted by dog bites. Other instances where a property owner could be held liable for injuries include swimming pool accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, inadequate building security, wet floors, dimly lit sidewalks, and uneven steps.
Auto Accidents
Each year, millions of motorists in the United States suffer life-threatening injuries as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Most car crash accidents result from the negligence of another person. If you’ve suffered severe injuries either as a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, or pedestrian, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your personal injuries, medical treatment, loss of wages, loss of consortium, future pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish. An experienced car accident attorney can help you understand your legal options and offer legal representation.
When looking for a personal injury attorney, friends and family members who’ve recently filed personal injury claims of their own can offer helpful referrals. Alternatively, consider visiting your local legal aid office or state bar association to get help finding an experienced personal injury lawyer.
