The reasons for a personal injury lawsuit are varied. If another person is partially or completely responsible for an injury you sustained, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit to court because of it. However, there are some more common reasons that you may end up bringing a personal injury lawsuit. Here are the top reasons.
Vehicle Accidents
Of all the reasons to need to file a personal injury lawsuit, vehicle accidents probably take the top spot. Not only are vehicle accidents relatively common, but they can also be incredibly deadly. According to Boohoff Law, there were 111 fatalities and 580 serious injuries on roads in King County, WA in 2018 alone. All of these and even many more crashes that result in minor injuries may be eligible for personal injury lawsuits.
Slip and Fall Incidents
These incidents, also called “premises liability” incidents, occur when a property owner doesn’t maintain their property appropriately. Just the fact that you sustained an injury on another person’s property doesn’t inherently make it grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. However, if it was because of negligence, the property owner may be liable for the injury.
Workplace Accidents
Employers have a responsibility to keep their workers safe. If you’re working on an employer’s premises, you have an expectation that they’ll take the necessary precautions to maintain your workplace and make it safe to use. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting over a million occupational injury and illness cases every year, it’s important to remember that some of those cases may be grounds for a lawsuit.
Defective Products
A product is supposed to go through lots of testing before it reaches the general public. However, if a product doesn’t go through enough testing or has a release to the general public after showcasing potentially harmful effects, it may then lead to harmful effects in members of the public. If you’re the victim of a defective product, you may be able to bring a defective product manufacturer to court as a personal injury case.
Medical Malpractice
The concept of “medical malpractice” spans a variety of problems you might experience throughout your life. At its core is the practice of medicine where the doctor in some way did not do their due diligence to protect you. That may include prescribing risky medication without telling you the side effects, not disclosing important test results, or performing a procedure poorly. Medical malpractice can be difficult to win, however, with as few as a third of claims receiving compensation. Anyone seeking compensation for a medical care related issue should speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
Conclusion
Any time you receive an injury that someone else had a hand in, whether directly or indirectly, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, proving fault in these claims can sometimes be a tricky process. It’s important that you’re able to exercise your rights, no matter the reason for your injury. If you have any questions about your lawsuit, you may want to talk to a lawyer to understand the process.