Common Types of Personal Injury Cases: Can you Get Compensation?

Personal injury accidents can be a devastating blow to your health and your finances. Injury can result from a variety of accidents, and it’s essential to know when you should pursue legal action against someone else’s negligence.

If you’re dealing with an injury caused by someone else, you don’t have to suffer in silence. How do you know if you have a personal injury case that you could pursue compensation? Keep reading to learn about the types of personal injury cases that can lead to compensation for your medical expenses if someone else is at fault.

Why Pursue a Personal Injury Case?

Another person’s negligence shouldn’t cause you to endure an injury or financial loss. When you work with a personal injury lawyer, you can recover out of pocket expenses—and sometimes more. 

A successful personal injury case can help you recover:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of property
• Ongoing healthcare costs
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Income
• Loss of employment

The type of personal injury case and the circumstances involved can determine how much you’re able to recover. 

Car Accidents

Car accidents are some of the most common types of personal injury cases. When you experience an accident due to someone else’s negligent driving, you deserve compensation for medical expenses, car repairs, and lost wages if you’re unable to work due to your injury. 

Work with your insurance company to recover what they can from the other driver’s insurance company. If you aren’t able to recover enough compensation for your expenses, a personal injury lawyer can pursue your case against the other driver. 

Wrongful Death

If a family member dies as a result of “wrongful death,” you could pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death happens when someone else’s actions or neglect causes death. It’s common in cases of nursing home neglect, construction accidents, malfunctioning products, or medical malpractice.

A wrongful death lawsuit helps the family of the deceased recover medical expenses and funeral costs. You might also receive compensation for pain and suffering when your loved one is the victim of wrongful death. Consult a personal injury lawyer if you feel your loved one’s death is a result of wrongful death.

Medical Malpractice

We trust medical professionals to make good decisions about treating health conditions. However, severe injury as a result of medical treatment gone wrong can lead to a personal injury lawsuit. Lack of appropriate medical care or receiving the wrong treatment that results in temporary or permanent injury qualifies as medical malpractice.

If a healthcare provider failed to provide you with appropriate medical services and your condition gets worse, seek legal help. A doctor’s mistake shouldn’t leave you unable to work or earn your income. Let a lawyer help you hold your healthcare provider responsible for compensating you for medical malpractice that compromises your health. 

Dog Bites

If you suffer an injury from a dog bite, the owner of the dog is liable for your injury. Dog bites can turn into a severe infection that requires expensive medical treatment. 

When you experience a dog bite, seek immediate medical attention. Try to get the contact information from the dog’s owner. After treatment for the dog bite, consult with a lawyer to recover your medical expenses from the dog’s owner.

Slip and Fall

Did you fall on someone’s property? Maybe you slipped on a spill at the grocery store, or you tripped over a downed limb in the parking lot. 

If your fall is a result of the store’s failure to clean up a spill or maintain a safe parking lot, you can pursue a personal injury claim. Make sure you receive appropriate medical care to document your injury. Whether it’s private property or a public place, the owners of the property can be liable for your financial compensation. 

Intentional Injury

This type of personal injury case might not be an “accident.” However, if someone intentionally causes you bodily harm, you should pursue a personal injury case against them. 

Document the incident and keep track of your expenses when receiving medical treatment. Even if the person who injured you isn’t found guilty of causing your injury, your personal injury lawyer can pursue legal action against them to recover your financial loss as a result of the injury.

Slander or Libel

Not all “personal injury” is physical pain or suffering. Defamation takes place when someone says or does something to ruin your reputation. Suffering from defamation can cause loss of income or your job. 

If you’re the victim of slander or libel, get help from a personal injury lawyer. You can pursue a lawsuit against the party who engaged in defamatory acts against you. While a reputation can be hard to repair, you can recover lost income and compensation for pain and suffering. 

Don’t Wait to Pursue Your Case

Jeff Preszler from Preszler Law of Halifax says that generally speaking, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or institution that caused your injuries. In many cases, the sooner you reach out to a personal injury lawyer, you’ll improve your chances to receive maximum compensation for your injury. 

If you delay too long, you reduce your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve as a result of someone else’s negligence. 

Know the Types of Personal Injury Cases

We’ve covered a few of the most common types of personal injury cases, but there are many more types of negligence that can result in personal injury. If you aren’t sure if your injury qualifies for a personal injury case, consult a lawyer. They can advise you on your case and help you gather the information you need to win a lawsuit. 

If you found this information helpful, be sure you check out some of our other articles!