What are the Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Law?
Personal injury is the area of law focused on injuries caused by negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts. The goal of a personal injury attorney is to help their clients recover fair compensation for the damages they have suffered as a result of their injuries. These damages may include medical expenses and lost wages as well as non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and reduced quality of life.
While you can file a personal injury claim for any injury you have suffered due to negligent, reckless, or intentional behavior, this article will examine some of the most common types of personal injury we see filed in Texas. If you have been injured in any of the following situations, it is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand your legal options and protect your rights.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are by far the most common type of personal injury case in Texas; however, that does not mean that car accident cases are not complicated.
Auto accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, and reckless driving. If you want to win your car accident claim, you will need an attorney who is able to investigate every angle of your crash and build an accurate depiction of how your crash occurred. They will then need to show how the other driver’s negligence caused your crash.
If you are injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Slip and Falls
Slip and fall accidents, often referred to as premises liability accidents, occur when someone slips, trips, or falls due to a hazardous condition on someone else’s property. These hazards can include wet floors, loose carpets, uneven pavement, and poor lighting.
Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for visitors, and if they fail to do so, they may be held liable for any injuries that occur. Injuries may include soft tissue damage, neck and back injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, and head injuries.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional provides substandard care that results in injury or harm to the patient. This can include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, and birth injuries.
Medical malpractice cases can be complex, and it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side. Your attorney may also seek the testimony of expert witnesses to help a judge or jury understand the full scope of your medical malpractice claim.
Product Liability
Product liability cases occur when a defective product causes injury or harm to a consumer. This can include defective automobiles, toys, appliances, pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, or even food.
Manufacturers and sellers have a duty to provide consumers with products that are safe to use. Unfortunately, design and manufacturing defects may expose consumers to unnecessary risks, illnesses, and injuries.
If the number of defective products and resulting injuries is large enough, your case may be
Dog Bites
Dog bites are a very common type of personal injury case. Attacks by dogs and serious dog bites are much more prevalent than many people suspect. In fact, statistics show nearly 1,000 U.S. citizens require emergency care treatment for dog bite injuries every day.
If a dog owner fails to control their animal and it bites someone, they may be held liable for any injuries that occur. Dog bites can cause serious injuries, including scarring, infections, and nerve damage.
Assault and Battery
Assault and battery are intentional torts that involve the intentional infliction of harm on another person. These cases can include physical attacks, sexual assault, and verbal abuse. Victims of assault and battery may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Depending on where your assault occurred, you may also be able to sue the property owner for negligent security.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death cases occur when someone dies as a result of another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. These cases can be brought by the surviving family members of the deceased and may include damages such as funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship.
Company Vehicle Accidents
Company vehicle accidents involve crashes that occur while an employee is operating a company vehicle. This includes marked company vehicles, rideshare vehicles like Uber and Lyft, taxis, construction vehicles, and buses.
These accidents can occur due to various factors, such as driver fatigue, distracted driving, and vehicle malfunctions. If you are injured in a company vehicle accident, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the company to recover damages.
Workplace Accidents
Workplace accidents occur when an employee is injured while performing their job duties. These accidents can occur due to various factors, such as unsafe working conditions, faulty equipment, and lack of safety training.
Depending on the laws of your state. workers’ compensation laws may apply to your accident. In other cases, a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary to recover additional damages.
Trucking Accidents
Due to the size and weight of large trucks and tractor-trailers, truck accidents are generally much more serious and much more catastrophic than regular car accidents. For this reason, federal and state regulators have drafted strict guidelines which truck drivers and freighters must follow.
If you have been injured in a trucking accident, you need an attorney with the expertise to understand how these additional guidelines apply to your case. You also need a law firm with the resources to take on large defendants.
Thomas J. Henry was named one of the Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers of 2022. We know how to get you the compensation you deserve.
Have More Questions About Personal Injury Law? Call Thomas J. Henry
If you were involved in a personal injury accident and are unsure what to do next, call Thomas J. Henry Law. We have experienced attorneys standing by 24/7, nights and weekends to answer your questions. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Do not wait, call now to get the help you need.
