When you sustain an injury or suffer harm because of someone else’s behavior, that’s called a tort. You may be entitled to compensation under your state’s tort laws. That’s what personal injury lawyers specialize in – tort law. So, if you get hurt because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, you’ll want to call a personal injury attorney for help.
Personal injury law – or tort law – is actually quite broad. A lot of different types of cases can fall under its umbrella. Here are some commonly known and lesser-known types of cases that personal injury attorneys might handle.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Almost all personal injury lawyers handle accidents involving injuries stemming from motor vehicle accidents. This includes, but isn’t limited to:
- Car accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents, and
- Train accidents.
Some personal injury attorneys will only handle certain motor vehicle accident cases – like those involving cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. Not all motor vehicle accidents are the same. Many involve different theories and areas of the law. Some are much more complicated than others. Some require specialized knowledge and/or access to industry experts. If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it’s important to hire an attorney who has experience handling cases like yours.
Premises Liability
Premises liability essentially means that property owners and/or landlords can be held financially accountable for injuries that occur on their land. That’s because, under state law, owners owe their guests and visitors a duty of care. Some states – including California and Texas – even impose a duty of care when it comes to trespassers.
Simply put, owners have to take certain steps to ensure that the people who enter their land, businesses, or homes don’t get hurt. The level of care an owner has to demonstrate ultimately depends on why someone is on their land in the first place. Invited business guests are owed the greatest care, followed by ocial guests and then, in some instances, trespassers.
A lot of different types of personal injury cases fall under the umbrella of premises liability law, including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Poisoning
- Exposure to harmful chemicals or materials
- Swimming pool accidents, and
- Negligent security.
When you suffer an injury on someone else’s property, search for a lawyer who regularly handles premises liability cases. However, keep in mind that not all attorneys handle all premises liability cases. Make sure you find an attorney who handles cases just like yours.
Products Liability
All states across the country have consumer protection laws. In short, companies have to make sure that the products they design, manufacture, and sell are safe. If a company puts a dangerous or defective product on the market, it can be strictly liable for resulting injuries. Many personal injury lawyers regularly represent clients in product liability cases involving:
- Toys
- Cars and vehicle parts (including airbags and brakes)
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Pesticides and weedkillers
- Tools and machinery, and more.
Again, product liability cases can be highly specialized. Make sure that you consult an attorney who has experience with cases like yours.
Medical Malpractice/Negligence
Medical malpractice refers to harm that results to a medical professional’s mistakes, oversights, or errors. Health care professionals are held to incredibly high standards. When those standards aren’t met, injured patients might have a legitimate claim for damages.
However, thanks to incredibly restrictive, hospital-friendly laws, medical malpractice cases are notoriously difficult. It can be really tough for victims to recover compensation. A successful claim often requires a lot of manpower, time, energy, and resources. For that personal injury lawyers do not regularly handle these cases. If you’ve suffered an injury because of medical negligence, be sure to find a personal injury lawyer who regularly represents clients in medical malpractice cases.
Workers’ Compensation
Workplace injury cases are often different from other types of personal injury matters. That’s because, under state and/or federal law, most employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. This is a no-fault policy that allows workers to recover monetary benefits for medical expenses, lost wages, and/or disability if they’re injured on the job.
Workers’ compensation cases require an in-depth knowledge of a state’s workers’ compensation laws and procedures. If you’ve been injured at work and qualify for workers’ comp, you’ll want to work with a lawyer who knows the system inside-and-out.
Assault/Sexual Assault
Not all personal injury cases involve injuries that result from negligence or careless behavior. Some involve willful and malicious conduct – such as assault, battery, or sexual assault. When someone is the victim of a physical attack, the consequences can be devastating. There might be medical bills, therapy, rehabilitation, and severe emotional trauma. Compensation for those and other damages can be sought through a personal injury lawsuit, led by a qualified personal injury attorney.
