The most common types of personal injury claim

Injury claims aren’t just limited to accidents

It’s estimated there are 39 million personal injury accidents every year in the US, which result in victims requiring medical attention. Figures are less clear how many of these progress to personal injury claims as many are settled out of court. However, if you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be due compensation. Certainly, there’s no harm checking anyway. 

Legal Advice

Firms like Brown and Crouppen will assess your case’s likelihood of success for free before proceeding further. Remember, if you’ve been involved in any of the following accidents, you might be able to lodge a claim so it’s worth seeking legal advice to check if you could qualify for compensation.

Auto accidents 

By far the most frequent type of personal injury claim involves car and vehicle accidents. In the majority cases, the driver is found to be at fault. Auto claims often involve accidents involving drink or careless driving, distracted drivers (most commonly by phones) or general driver error. Sometimes there is dubiety who is to blame, so you should seek legal representation. 

Assault and gun-related injuries

Assault differs from other types of personal injury claims in that injuries are intentional rather than caused by negligence. In an assault, one person actively wishes to harm another. Unfortunately, particularly in the US, gun-related attacks are on the rise and can cause significant injury – or even death. Criminal charges against the perpetrator usually accompany assault claims. 

Slips and falls

While outwardly innocuous, slips or falls can result in serious harm to the victim. Injuries to the head, back, neck, hip, shoulders, arms or legs are common – sometimes resulting in lengthy medical treatment and time off work. In the event of a serious fall, you should seek legal advice. 

Medical errors and malpractice

Mistakes administering medicines, surgical malpractice and misdiagnosis are surprisingly common in the healthcare industry and can result in serious harm to the individual. The vast majority of medical malpractice claims are caused by an accidental error on the part of the practitioner but can nonetheless have long-lasting impacts.

Accidents in the workplace

Workplace injuries are amongst the most common types of personal injury claim. An employer has a duty of care to their employees. Still, accidents can happen in the work environment for any number of reasons – improper training, faulty machinery or unsafe conditions being the most common. Should you have an injury at work, your employer’s insurance should cover you for lost income, time off, medical treatment and any other associated expenses.

Defamation and reputation

Defamation and reputation claims reference emotional, rather than physical, injury. In a defamation case, the individual will claim damage to their reputation – often resulting in loss of earnings or a drop in reputation. Slander also falls under the general category of defamation. 

Dog bites

Canine attacks are surprisingly common, and millions of people are bitten by dogs every year. In most cases, the owner will be held accountable for their dog’s actions – even if it has no previous history of attacks. 

Defective products

Despite manufacturers being forced by law to follow stringent health and safety practices when producing their goods, faulty products still slip through the net, often causing significant injury to the individual. If you’ve been injured by – or through the use of – defective products, you may be able to claim compensation from the manufacturer or distributor.