Accidents seem to happen all around and for a variety of circumstances, many of them resulting in injuries that require medical attention. Some may leave a lasting impact on the victim, affecting all aspects of people’s lives. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to an accident caused by someone else’s negligent behavior, a personal injury attorney in Pittsburgh can give you the guidance you need regarding the options available to you to receive compensation for your injuries. Let the professionals do their job so that you can concentrate on recovering your health.
Although accidents happen everywhere, here are the most common ones that result in personal injury claims.
Car Accidents
No doubt about it, car accidents constitute the most common type of personal injury claims. It has been estimated that millions of people in this country alone suffer injuries in crashes between cars, commercial trucks, motorcycles, and other moving vehicles. Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians may be the ones suffering an injury in these cases.
These accidents are many, but driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving carelessly or recklessly, or being distracted by texting or otherwise using a cell phone, are some of the main culprits.
A driver who is found to be at fault for the accident may be sued by the injured driver and made to take responsibility for the injuries they caused.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Although slipping and falling may seem harmless enough, the reality is that hundreds of thousands of people every year suffer injuries when slipping and falling in places such as restaurants, retail stores, car dealerships, and other locations due to the careless actions or inactions of the owners of these premises of the people in charge of managing them.
Injuries that are common in slip and fall accidents are those that impact the neck, the brain, back, arms, legs, shoulders, and more. Filing a personal injury claim for a slip and fall allows the victim to fight to receive compensation for their injuries, some of which may be with them for long periods or even permanently.
Medical Malpractice
Negligence by nurses, doctors, or any other healthcare professional can result in injuries to their patients or even death. In many cases, the claims arise because the medical professional failed to deliver competent care. The result is that these mistakes or omissions can leave the patients dealing with their consequences for a long time or the rest of their lives. Some medical malpractice cases arise due to injuries at birth, improper treatment, medication errors, or surgical mistakes, among others.
Assault
Society seems to be getting more and more violent every day. Assaults with guns have gained a prominent place in the list of most common personal injury claims. As opposed to other cases, there is no negligence in an assault. These injuries occur when someone decides to use a gun to hurt someone else. These cases also tend to have a criminal side that may result in additional punishment for the perpetrator.
Accidents in the Workplace
It is very common for employees to be injured on the job. There are certain professions that lend themselves more to employees suffering injuries than others. This is the case with construction workers, for example. Or employees that must drive or operate heavy and complicated machinery In many cases, it may be that the machines stop working as they should, while in others, the employee might not have received sufficient training on how to operate them.
Workplace injuries follow a different path since they generally fall under workers’ compensation, and injured employees have a right to seek compensation for their medical expenses, missing income, and other items. The law stipulates that employees must provide benefits to their injured employees. In some cases, employees may receive a lump sum when their injuries result in temporary or permanent disability.
Product Liability
Businesses that produce items consumers will use need to be particularly careful with their manufacturing process. Products are generally tested before they reach the final consumer, but even then, some defective products may find their way into the hands of those who ultimately use them, wear them, or eat them. This causes injuries for which the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the product may be sued.
Construction Injuries
Although the construction industry is very regulated, it is still dangerous. The jobs entail hard physical demands, which result in plenty of injuries. It is common for construction sites to be filled with dangerous materials, heavy equipment, wires, cables, wood planks, and more. Also, objects and all sorts of debris can fall from great heights on workers below. Workers must be trained on safety precautions and wear adequate protective equipment, but even so, construction injuries seem to be unavoidable, and they can have a great impact on the victim’s life.
Dog Bites
It is almost hard to believe that man’s best friend is also guilty of causing so many injuries. Millions of people are bitten every year, many of those ending up in the hospital with their injuries. Depending on the state where the dog bite happens, the owner may be responsible for their behavior, even if this is the first time they display any type of aggressive behavior. In other states, the owner would only be considered liable for their dog’s attack if they knew their dog was dangerous and prone to attack. It can be very hard to prove whether or not the owner was aware of their animal’s aggressive tendencies before the dog bite took place.
In these and all personal injury claims, you stand to get a much better settlement when you are aided by a knowledgeable personal injury attorney familiar with the way the legal system works and can build a strong case on your defense. They will also ensure you do not miss any deadlines and that all paperwork is filed on time.