Personal injuries can be caused by a variety of different incidents, from car collisions to dog bites. These injuries can result in serious physical and psychological harm, which can last for years or even a lifetime.
To receive the full value of your case and get your life back to normal after an injury, you should be aware of the different types of personal injury claims that can be filed.
Here are some of the different types of personal injuries and how they occur.
Motor Vehicle Collisions
Car collisions are among the most frequent incidents leading to personal injury cases in Texas. In 2021, 19,448 Texans experienced significant harm resulting from car crashes. Motor vehicle collisions can also involve trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Some of the most common causes of motor vehicle crashes are:
- Distracted driving
- Driving a faulty vehicle
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Unexpected braking
- Poor mirror checking
- Unfavorable road conditions
Collisions can result in a range of injuries such as broken bones, soft tissue damage, and whiplash — which occurs when the head and neck suddenly jerk forward and backward. Other injuries that may result from collisions include concussions, cuts, bruises, sprains, and back or spinal injuries. In more severe crashes, individuals may suffer from traumatic brain injury or even death.
Filing personal injury claims related to motor vehicle collisions can be difficult due to the variety of damages involved, such as medical expenses, lost income, and mental distress.
Premises Liability Injuries
If you get injured while on someone else’s property and it’s not your fault, you may be able to file a premises liability claim. Property owners can be held accountable for any accidents that result from unsafe conditions on their property.
Regardless of whether it is a public establishment or a private home, property owners must address any hazardous conditions they know of or could discover through inspection.
Premise liability cases mainly involve slip and fall injuries that can occur due to wet floors, icy grounds, uneven surfaces, or inadequate lighting which may result in tripping. These incidents can lead to head and neck injuries, broken bones, and more.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice refers to cases where a healthcare provider causes harm to a patient by providing inadequate medical care. This could involve negligent mistakes during surgery, incorrect diagnoses, not identifying a serious condition, or prescribing inappropriate medication, among other errors.
If you or someone you know has suffered from medical malpractice, it’s essential to act quickly and file a claim. Injuries may worsen rapidly, and a medical expert’s testimony may be necessary for such cases. When filing a claim, be sure to include crucial details, such as misdiagnosis, incorrect medication, or improper dosages.
Defective Products
Product liability claims are legal cases filed by consumers who have been injured due to unsafe products. To win the case, it must be proven that a product had a defect in its design, or that its instruction manual didn’t provide enough information about the risks it posed.
Dangerous or defective products can include things like unsafe drugs, food, children’s products that contain choking hazards, faulty vehicle parts and medical equipment, and hazardous chemicals and materials.
If a product is defective, anyone involved in its sale, design, production, or advertising can be held accountable. This includes both the seller and the manufacturer, as well as any individual, business, or government entity involved.
Wrongful Death
A wrongful death claim is a lawsuit that may be filed after someone died due to another person’s negligence.
These cases often involve car crashes, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, construction accidents, or the use of a faulty product.
A wrongful death lawsuit aims to provide financial compensation to the family of the deceased individual. This compensation covers expenses such as medical bills prior to death, funeral costs, lost earnings, and emotional distress. Although money can never replace a lost loved one, it can assist in managing the aftermath of their passing.
Other Types of Personal Injuries
Other scenarios that fall under personal injury cases may include nursing home neglect or abuse, injuries from animal or dog bites, brain damage, birth-related injuries, burns, spinal cord injuries, and much more.
Incidents of dog bites often occur due to careless owners who fail to leash their pets, putting others in danger. In Texas, a dog owner is responsible for their pet’s behavior and can be held liable if the pet attempts to harm someone.
Many nursing home injuries are caused by abusive or neglectful treatment by facility staff members. Nursing home residents can experience injuries resulting from physical abuse, food and water deprivation, overmedication or insufficient medication, inadequate medical care, unsanitary conditions, isolation from others, and fall incidents.
Whether you’re filing a claim against a negligent doctor or an irresponsible pet owner, knowing the different types of personal injuries can help you get the full value of your case and get your life back to normal.