However, to better understand what a personal injury is as well as what qualifies as a personal injury, The Clark Law Office has offered an in-depth explanation.
What is a personal injury?
Personal injuries are accidents, trauma, or illnesses that compromise the health and wellness of the person affected. Personal injury does not only affect the physical wellness of the victim, but it can also cause mental and psychological instability.In a personal injury case, it is important to establish the extent of the injury as this is one of the factors that affect the amount demanded in compensation.
Usually, in a personal injury case, there is always an at-fault party through whose negligence the accident and subsequent injury were permitted.
Most of the common types of personal injury cases that are filed are as a result of auto accidents. In such cases as this, the at-fault party is held liable for the damages suffered by the victim.
What are the common types of personal injury?
Car accidents
Car accidents take a spot as one of the commonest types of personal injury. Despite the increasing concentration on safety and safety features of vehicles, operators sometimes make decisions that put other road users at risk.If a person has been involved in an accident, surely, one or more of the drivers involved may have been responsible for the crash. In such a condition as this, the victim of the crash has the legal right to pursue compensation for the damages caused by the at-fault drivers whose actions have caused property damages as well as injuries. As part of the compensation sought, the injured victim may be able to recover damages that cover medical bills, repair or replacement of damaged properties, lost wages due to the injury, and others.
Work-related accidents
Employers have the burden to make sure that employees have a safe space to work in. However, in some cases, employers may be nonchalant about certain developments that may cause injuries or illnesses to the employees. When such occurs, the employee can hold the employer responsible for the damages.Employees whose employers have failed to create a safe and healthy work environment and have developed illnesses or injuries may be able to demand compensation from the employer’s insurer.
Medical negligence
Doctors and other health care professionals are trusted by patients to do what is right to ensure that they are cured of illnesses or for the management of their condition. However, in some cases, these healthcare professionals may make errors that are costly and can lead to health complications or death. When a patient has suffered an injury or a complication due to the negligence of his or her primary healthcare provider, such is considered as medical negligence.Cases of medical negligence are often complex and may be in different forms including failure to diagnose, surgical errors, wrong diagnosis, prescription errors, defective medical products, defective medical devices, birth injuries, and more.
Slip and Fall accidents
Whether you are at a residential or commercial building, it is the responsibility of the building owner or business owner to ensure that you are safe while on the premises. If, however, you unknowingly encountered problems like wet floors, slippery stairs, and others that have caused you to slip and fall, then, you may be able to sue the building owner or liable parties responsible.It is important to note that slip and fall accidents can be complex and can lead to severe injuries like neck breaks, fractured bones, hip displacement, broken teeth, and more.
Other common personal injury cases include;
- Construction accidents
- Wrongful death
- Falling object accidents
- Construction site falls
Damages that can be recovered
If you are a victim of personal injury accidents, chances are that you may be able to recover compensation for some of the damages that you have suffered. Depending on the extent of your losses and the strength of the case presented, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages like medical bills covering the medical bills paid for the treatment of the injury and complications arising due to the accident.
You may also be able to recover compensation for;
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Prescription cost
- And more.
