A personal injury lawyer is a type of lawyer who provides legal representation for those who were injured in an accident, whether it results from negligence or intention. They seek compensation (usually financial compensation) for those who have suffered physically and/or emotionally, those who are no longer able to provide for their families, and to cover medical expenses. Here are seven scenarios in which you would need to contact a personal injury lawyer.
1. Mass Torts
Mass torts are similar to class action lawsuits in that many people were harmed by the negligence of one company. However, multiple lawsuits are brought against the company, whereas one lawsuit (representing many) is brought against a company in a class action lawsuit.
Drug Recalls
Whether they’re prescription or OTC (over-the-counter), drugs are created to help alleviate the symptoms of certain medical conditions. Unfortunately, there are times when certain drugs cause more harm than good. An example of a popular drug recalls is the antacid Zantac. The Tylenol/Autism lawsuit isn’t considered a drug recall as the product hasn’t been removed from store shelves, but instead, it’s considered a class action lawsuit as it was once declared safe to use by pregnant women.
Other Product Recalls
Drugs aren’t the only products on the market that have been recalled in the past. Other examples of recalls include:
- CPAP machines
- Hernia mesh
- Roundup Weedkiller
- Vehicle defects
Food, drug, and product recalls usually always make it to national news, so it’s important to be aware of the most recent recalls— whether they result in a lawsuit or not.
2. Medical Malpractice and Negligence
Doctors can make mistakes, which is why they have medical malpractice insurance. However, it’s their job to ensure that they don’t make mistakes that can harm their patients. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Hospital Errors
Medical errors can occur in doctor’s offices and other medical settings, but most occur in hospitals. Examples of hospital errors that fall under medical malpractice include:
- Anesthesia errors
- Birth injuries
- Dental malpractice
- Emergency room mistakes
- Surgical errors
Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse
Nursing home negligence and abuse can also fall under medical malpractice since nursing homes are medical settings. Some of the most common ailments associated with nursing home negligence and abuse include:
- Bed sores
- Falls (resulting in bruises, broken bones, and even death)
- Medication errors
Those in nursing homes are considered to be a vulnerable group, making it harder to speak out against abuse and neglect.
3. Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car/Truck/Motorcycle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents, whether they involve multiple cars, big trucks, or motorcycles, are the most common reasons why people contact a personal injury lawyer. Motor vehicle accidents can result in serious injuries, especially when a bigger vehicle hits a smaller one. The three different types of collisions that involve more than one vehicle include:
- Head-on crashes
- Rear-end crashes
- T-bone rashes
Pedestrian-Involved Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents that involve pedestrians (or bicycles) result in much more serious injuries. When it comes to these types of accidents, the drivers of motor vehicles are almost always at fault. Common reasons that drivers of motor vehicles cause accidents include:
- Distracted driving (e.g., texting)
- Intoxicated driving (e.g., drunk driving)
- Reckless driving (e.g., speeding)
4. Premises Liability
Premises liability refers to property owners being held responsible if someone is hurt while on their property. This can be a slip-and-fall accident, exposure to dangerous chemicals, or even animal bites. These incidents can also occur in a variety of places, such as restaurants, shopping centers, grocery stores, hotels, and any other dwelling that multiple people may visit. Property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their premise is safe for all who visit.
5. Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is a type of physical abuse that includes assault, rape, and child molestation, and non-physical acts such as sexual harassment. Unfortunately, sexual abuse can happen to anyone of any age and in a variety of places inside and outside of the home, including:
- After-school programs
- Daycare centers
- Foster homes
- Medical and mental health facilities
- Nursing homes
- Religious institutions
- Schools and tutoring facilities
This type of abuse is more likely to be done by someone close to the victim— especially if it’s a child— such as a family member, teacher, or other type of caregiver. However, sexual abuse can also be done by someone who is a stranger to the victim.
6. Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation refers to compensation for individuals who were injured on a job through no fault or negligence of their own. A job-related injury can cause an individual to miss work, lose wages, acquire medical bills, and/or continue to miss work because of the injury.
All employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance so that they’ll be able to pay this compensation if their employees are injured on the job.
However, not all workplaces are willing to pay this, let alone admit that the employees were injured through no fault of their own.
7. Wrongful Death
All of the situations listed above can also result in death instead of just an injury. In this case, the family of the deceased can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one. Because these injuries could have been prevented, it is assumed that death could have been prevented as well. Personal injury lawyers in Chicago can help you in any of these situations listed above, whether they result in death or injury.
Keep in mind that it’s important to make sure that the personal injury lawyer you contact specializes in these areas of personal injury. Some personal injury law firms only specialize in motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, or drug/product recalls. When it comes to personal injury law firms and many firms in general, the attorney that you hire will not charge you until your case is settled/won in court. However, they will extensively review your case and may not take it on if they determine that will not result in a win.
