Personal Injury: Legal Help
Every year, numerous Americans are injured in accidents that are caused by someone's negligence or intentional wrongdoing. The most common type of accident resulting in serious injury is motor vehicle collisions. Often, auto accidents are caused by drunk drivers who drive recklessly, engage in speeding and/or fail to stop at traffic lights. In such cases, the victims might be able to obtain compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. It is recommended that they contact a skilled car accident or DUI attorney to file the lawsuit properly and obtain sizeable compensation.
While car crashes are the most common type of personal injury accidents, severe trauma can be incurred as a result of numerous other occurrences. Explore the paragraphs below to learn more about situations that often lead to serious personal injury.
Industrial accidents can endanger the health of workers and other people who happen to be nearby. Harmful substances are sometimes released in industrial accidents, which can lead to severe health problems. Toxic exposure to asbestos, for example, can cause chronic lung conditions and even cancer. To obtain more information about dangerous chemicals, you can call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. You may also want to contact a personal injury attorney if you believe you have been exposed to a harmful industrial accident.
Assault and Battery. Someone who has committed an assault has attempted to physically injure someone else, and someone guilty of battery has actually injured another. Assault and battery can be a violation of both civil and criminal law, and therefore it can be prosecuted in both criminal and civil court. In criminal cases, assault and battery charges are often lumped together and can result in the defendant being imprisoned. When assault and battery are prosecuted under civil law, they may be considered two separate offenses. In a civil case, the plaintiff may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other expenses. If you have been the victim of assault and battery, contact a personal injury lawyer.
Defective Products. In recent years, there have been recalls of certain types of toys, medical devices, household appliances and other products. Recalls are mandated when a product is deemed defective, or likely to cause harm to people. For example, some seatbelts, vehicle tires and defective airbags have been found unsafe for the driver and/or passengers in the case of a car accident. In court, cases of defective products fall under strict liability. In order for the manufacturers to be held liable for damages, a consumer bringing a case needs to prove only that a faulty product caused them harm. The plaintiff does not need to prove that the manufacturer was negligent or purposely caused injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). One and a half million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States each year. This sudden physical trauma to the brain causes 52,000 deaths annually. Most of these traumas are suffered during motor vehicle accidents, though TBI may be caused during sports accidents, slip and fall accidents, and as a result of child abuse.
If a person experiences traumatic brain injury as a result of another party's negligence or intentional wrongdoing, damages may be awarded to the victim or the family. The damages they may receive include pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of income and other expenses. A personal injury lawyer can help you determine your rights if your loved one has suffered TBI. If your relative has died due to the brain trauma, the attorney can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain just compensation.
Animal Bites. Most animal bite cases in the country involve domestic animals, and 50 percent of animal bites occur on the pet owner's property. Dogs are the most common culprit in animal bite cases. Few of these cases are deadly but 800,000 require medical attention each year. Most of the animal bite cases involve children. Kids most likely to be bitten are those who are 5 to 9 years old.
Because some animals are inherently dangerous, many states have laws regarding vicious dogs that may come in contact with neighbors and other people. One-third of states have laws that hold a pet owner liable for willful wrongdoing if his or her dog bites someone. This doctrine is called strict liability. If you have been bitten by someone's pet, ask a personal injury lawyer to help you navigate the laws of the state you live in.