If you were hurt in an accident for which you bore no responsibility, you might be interested in filing a claim against the liable party. Doing so would allow you to seek the compensation needed to manage any resulting damages without incurring financial strain. Here are details Where Does Your Case Fall under the Personal Injury Umbrella?
The first step in this process is to secure the representation of a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Milwaukee. They will advocate on your behalf and handle all aspects of the proceedings. But before they can do that, they’ll need to determine where your case falls under the umbrella of personal injury law.
There are numerous types of accidents that can be considered part of personal injury law, and determining which kind applies to your situation will allow your lawyer to devise the most effective legal strategy possible. If you want to get a leg up before your first consultation, check out the outline of common personal injury cases below.
Table of Contents
Four Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Trucking Accidents
If you’ve ever shared the road with a semi-truck, you know how intimidating this experience can be. With their incredible weight and sometimes high speeds, it’s no wonder that these vehicles are often responsible for dangerous collisions. They often occur when a driver is driving while fatigued or isn’t following proper protocol (such as following the speed limit or leaving proper distance between vehicles). In this case, the driver typically isn’t held liable; instead, your attorney will likely advocate going after their employer or the owner of the vehicle.
Medical Malpractice
If you were hurt while under the observation and care of a medical professional, your case likely falls under the umbrella of medical malpractice. The liable party in these kinds of cases can vary significantly, from the attending physician to a pharmacist and even an entire hospital. Common types of accidents that typically occur in this area of personal injury include equipment or instruments being left inside the body during surgery, the surgeon operating on the wrong body part, a doctor failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing a condition that another doctor reasonably would have tended to, pharmacists providing the wrong medication, and nurses injuring patients while taking blood.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
If you were legally visiting another person’s property, be it commercial or residential, and you fell down and got hurt, the other party could be held liable for your damages. This type of accident most often occurs due to a lack of property maintenance, such as failing to address uneven sidewalks, dilapidated stairways, or icy pavement. It might also occur if the property owner doesn’t provide reasonable notice that conditions might be dangerous—for example, if a restaurant owner doesn’t put out a “Caution: Wet” sign after mopping the floors.
Defective Products
If you purchase a product only to get ill or injured after using it, your case likely falls under the “defective products” umbrella of personal injury. In this case, you have a broad range of potential liable parties. These may include the store from which you purchased the product, the manufacturer of the product, or the manufacturer of one of the product’s parts. This kind of accident most often occurs with children’s toys, medications, and cosmetics.
This list just skims the surface of the different types of personal injury cases your situation might fall under. The best way to determine what kind of case you’re dealing with is to talk to an attorney. They will evaluate all details associated with your case to make a proper diagnosis and create a successful legal strategy that will help you recover the compensation you deserve.
