We have often heard the term personal injury case or claim thrown around without much meaning or knowledge behind it. The term actually encompasses a wide range of legal cases and should you find yourself in one of these, you could be entitled to some form of compensation.
How do you know if you are eligible? A Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer mentions you can talk to a law firm with any questions and they will work from there to help you out. If you are eligible, it is then up to you to hire a lawyer to represent you so you can better your chances of winning your case. Even though we recommend that you contact a law firm for a consultation, it is important that you have a general idea of what constitutes you being able to open a personal injury case. Knowing what is eligible can help save you in the future financially and allow you to be compensated for an injury that you incurred. Here are some of the different types of personal injury cases you need to know about.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are the most common form of personal injury and if it was caused due to driver’s negligence, you definitely have the right to open up a claim and sue the other person. With car accidents, there are a few things you need to know about if you want to bolster your chance at winning your case.
First, you must collect as much evidence as possible at the scene. This means getting all the information of the other driver along with the information of anyone in the area that can serve as a witness. Once that has been done, get your phone out and start taking photos of both cars, license plates, etc. If you have been rendered unconscious or are severely injured to the point of not being able to do this, you need not worry. In cases like that, 911 will be activated and they will be able to get all the information that you need.
It is also important that you call 911 yourself in the case of an accident. Legally speaking, the police have to be informed of every accident that occurs, whether it be minor or not. If you do not call 911 at the time of the accident, the defense will use that against you. Once the police arrive, simply follow their instructions from there and get medical attention once everything is done.
Premises-Liability Claims
These claims are often known as slip, fall, or trip claims. They are when someone slips on a walkway or falls down due to the negligence of the property owner. It is important to understand the difference between an accident and negligence in a case like this. For example, if you are walking down the stairs and simply fall, this is an accident and no one is liable for what has happened. On the other hand, if you are walking down the stairs and you slip because they are wet from cleaning, this is negligence on the property owner.
As a property owner, it is up to you to mark any hazards that might cause injury to someone who is on your premises. This means that you ice your area as well to ensure that no one slips on the outside. If you find yourself injured on someone’s premises, take a look at what caused it and see if the situation could have been avoided. It will be up to you and your lawyer to show that it was not a human error on your part but in fact negligence on the owner’s behalf.
Wrongful Death
Nothing can ever replace a loved one, however there are legal options that you can seek out to not only get justice but also resolve any financial strain that you might have been put under. Wrongful death is when someone passes away in an unexpected manner due to an accident or negligence caused by someone else. In these cases, you are allowed to open up a personal injury claim on their behalf. In these types of situations, it will be up to you to prove there was a party who is liable for the death and that you have sustained damages as a result. If you are able to do that, you will be able to win your wrongful death case.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is a lot more common than it might seem as often it gets swept under the rug. There is a blanket or protection that doctors have when they are working on a patient and evaluating them, however that blanket only extends so far. If a doctor is deemed to have acted in a way that is grossly incompetent or once again shows a great degree of negligence, you will have a personal injury case in the form of medical malpractice.
You will be required to prove that the doctor deviated from standard medical procedures and that the injuries sustained were a direct result of that happening. This can be a daunting case as it requires you to take on the medical field, however, it is something that you should definitely pursue if you have found yourself suffering because of this.
A Dog Bite
Believe it or not, if you are bitten or attacked by a dog, you can sue their owner for personal injury damages. An owner is legally responsible for the actions carried out by their dog and therefore is responsible for the medical expenses that you incur or more. With these injury claims, they are generally quite easy to win, just make sure you get the medical attention you need to prevent any serious infections or illnesses from forming.
These are a few of the personal injury cases that you should know about. Once again, if there is any point where you question if you are entitled to a case, consult a lawyer near you. Don’t let your financial security be thrown into jeopardy because of the negligence of someone else. How do you plan on resolving a personal injury claim?