In the U.S., around 700,000 personal injury claims are filed every year. A personal injury claim is made by a victim who has been injured or harmed because of the negligence of others. In submitting this claim, a victim aims to receive compensation for their injuries, trauma, lost wages, mental anguish, and other adverse effects of the incident. For most of these cases, a personal injury lawyer is hired to help the victim receive proper compensation.
You will have no trouble finding a personal injury or wrongful death attorney in Los Angeles, as they deal with different types of personal injury claims, such as:
1. Vehicular accidents
The majority of personal injury claims stem from motor vehicle accidents. If you have been injured in a vehicular accident because of another driver’s fault (distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, etc.), you may be eligible for monetary compensation if you file a personal injury claim. When it is proven that the other driver was at fault, they will be held responsible for the injuries and damages they have caused.
2. Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is an umbrella term for many types of occurrences that can cause harm to patients, including but not limited to, misdiagnosis, wrong prescriptions, birth injury, improper treatment, delayed diagnosis, failure to treat, and surgical errors. If you sustain an injury or an illness due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or any other medical professional, speak with a lawyer so you can hold them accountable for their actions.
3. Wrongful death
If a person died because of another’s carelessness or negligence, the person at fault may be sued for wrongful death. Common types of wrongful death cases are caused by vehicular accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, dangerous products, and more. If someone dies because of someone else’s negligence, the surviving loved ones may file a wrongful death claim.
4. Premises liability
If you own or rent a property, you are legally obligated to keep the premises safe to prevent people from getting injured. You can be sued for personal injury if the accident is caused by your negligence (due to a missing handrail, slippery floors, tripping hazards, etc). On the other hand, if you sustain an injury because of say, a wet floor with no ‘wet floor’ sign, you can file for a personal injury claim against the owner of the property.
5. Dangerous or defective products
Manufacturers and sellers are legally required to meet the standards of product safety. Dangerous or defective products that cause harm to users can lead to product liability claims against the manufacturer and/or seller. Seek legal help if you come across a product that has harmed you (e.g. electronics that overheat and catch fire or makeup products with no warning label) to see how you can be compensated for your losses.
These are the most common types of personal injury cases known today, but there’s a lot more that you may come across in the future. Consult a lawyer if you want to know more about personal injury law and the many other causes of personal injury claims.
