What many people don’t realize is that the concept of a personal injury spans wider than simply an accident at work resulting in some physical wound. A personal injury can be physical or mental and can be the result of many different types of accidents or incidents. Regardless of what the injury might be or how it happened, it’s important to, first of all, get in contact with a good personal injury lawyer in or around your area. For example, if you’ve had a personal injury in Massachusetts, there are some highly trusted law groups that you could look into to help you through the process and handle the claims.
However, it will be important for you to provide your lawyers with some details about how and where the injury occurred. Here are some common types of personal injuries which may require legal action.
1. Motor Vehicle Accidents
Whether the accident involved a motor vehicle, truck or motorcycle, each can result in serious physical injury and emotional trauma after the fact. Although there are cases where there might be no party at fault, car accidents usually happen when someone isn’t following the rules of the road. Whether it’s related to drunk driving, ignoring road signs, speeding or simply carelessness, these are serious misdemeanors and will usually require that the insurance company of the guilty party pay out for damage and medical expenses.
The type of car accident and the way it happened will all impact the legal case, so getting as much detail as possible is important. Also remember that in the US, laws can differ from state to state, so working with a local lawyer who knows the ins and outs is going to be beneficial to all parties involved. You can learn a bit more here.
2. Assault and Battery
Most people associate the term ‘personal injury’ with accidents, but claims can also fall under this category when the harm was intentional. The difference between assault and battery is that assault involves the generating of fear in the victim – making the victim fear imminent harm. In these cases, no physical harm or even contact is needed for an assault case. Battery, on the other hand, involves the intentional harming of a victim.
Any form of threats or harm on a victim can naturally result in both physical and mental/emotional injuries which will require legal action – these are punishable criminal offences but a personal injury case will likely arise for damages.
3. Medical Malpractice
When a doctor, surgeon or any other healthcare professional does not deliver appropriate care or neglects a patient to the extent that it causes injury, this will result in a personal injury case. This can occur through misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, errors in surgery or anesthesia or prescribing the incorrect medication resulting in an injury, illness or any other kind of health problems.
Take note that with medical help you will typically be warned of risks of surgeries or potential side-effects or treatments or medication – the occurrence of these forewarned complications will not likely result in a personal injury case.
4. Workplace Accidents
Another very common type of personal injury is one that occurs in the workplace and claims can typically be paid out by the employer’s insurance. In these cases, taking down notes and photographs to serve as evidence and reporting the injury to your employer immediately is very important. The type of injury and its cause will differ vastly from job to job, so keep in mind to save as many details as possible for a personal injury case.
5. Animal Attacks
When someone’s pet attacks you or causes you harm, it will become their responsibility to cover for any medical expenses, damages and even loss of earnings if you find that you are unable to work. Animal attack cases are usually seen in the form of serious dog bites and will be handled by a personal injury lawyer.
Other Types of Claims
Some other common types of personal injury claims include slip and fall claims, product liability claims for defective products, police assault claims, swimming pool accident claims, nursing home abuse and neglect claims and premises liability.
What to Do
Knowing exactly how to handle a personal injury is important. The step-by-step process will differ slightly depending on each individual case, but the key elements and things to consider will remain the same regardless of the type of injury, how and where it happened, and who is considered responsible.
The first step is usually to report the incident or injury to the most revenant person – your employer or anyone else who might be involved – and the police. Make sure that you have gathered whatever evidence is necessary to provide to your health practitioners, local authorities and legal entities.
Next, it’s crucial to attend to your injuries. Ensure that you are thoroughly checked over (especially in the case of a motor vehicle accident or a fall, where there might be internal or unsees issues) and be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment, take any medication prescribed and follow up with them soon after.
Finally, you will need to deal with the legal aspects of the incident – insurance and working with your lawyers. Unfortunately, these can be processes that drag on for months after an incident, making them hard to face especially when you’re working through trauma, but they’re important to handle as early on as possible.
To Conclude
In conclusion, there are many different types of injuries that can cause physical, mental or emotional, as well as financial harm to a victim. This is why it’s important to invest in a good lawyer for your personal injury claims to assist you with facilitating counseling, processing your claims and representing you in your case to ensure a smooth process.
Dealing with an injury is difficult and potentially traumatic in and of itself, so getting quality assistance with the legal and administrative matters will make a huge difference in how you handle the process.