Common Personal Injury Cases, Explained

The “personal injury” category of cases actually covers a very wide range of circumstances, from car and truck accidents to medical malpractice and product liability. Essentially, if you have sustained an injury due to someone else’s negligence or intent to harm, you may be able to contact personal injury attorneys in your area and file a claim to hold them legally responsible for the harm you’ve experienced. Since this area of law is so extensive, it may help to know a bit more about some of the most common types of cases many personal injury attorneys will handle on a regular basis.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Undoubtedly, one of the most common types of personal injury cases law firms deal with are accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, cyclists, and/or pedestrians. Although most of us believe we’re safe drivers, the evidence shows that these kinds of crashes are far too common. But they’re also a very big deal. In 2015, 13% of all pedestrians injured in accidents were over the age of 65, which typically means more serious injuries to contend with following an accident. Whether you were in an accident with another car or were hurt while cycling or walking by a vehicle, having legal help from a Portland personal injury lawyer is a must. If the driver was found to be careless, they may be held legally and financially responsible for your injuries.

Product Liability

Defective products can be responsible for all sorts of injuries. By law, the products you use must be deemed safe when used as directed. If they aren’t, a manufacturer or retailer can be held responsible (even if they weren’t negligent when the product was made). Product recalls showcase just how often unsafe products are released in the marketplace. When consumers are hurt due to use of these unsafe products, they should consider contacting knowledgeable personal injury attorneys to fight for damages in a court of law.

Wrongful Death

Whether it stems from an accident or medical malpractice, tragedies unfortunately may happen. If a loved one dies due to another’s negligence or misconduct, you may be able to file a wrongful death suit with help from your personal injury attorneys. Medical and funeral expenses can add up quickly, and pursuing this type of claim may be able to provide financial relief for some families who have endured much suffering.

Defamation (Slander And Libel)

A lot of people assume “freedom of speech” covers anything they say, but they’re sadly misinformed. If you defame the character of another person through slander (untrue statements that are spoken) or libel (untrue statements that are written), you may be on the receiving end of a personal injury lawsuit. Filing such a suit requires you to prove that the statements that were made were false and that the statements caused you harm (typically in the form of financial loss) as a result. In the U.S., public figures and celebrities have a heftier burden of proof to meet; they need to prove that the statement was made due to actual malice (i.e., that it was made intentionally or with reckless disregard to the truth).

There are several more types of personal injury cases that lawyers handle on a regular basis, but these are just a few of the most common and most interesting of the bunch. To find out more about filing a personal injury claim or to speak to a lawyer about your situation, contact Mayor Law today.

You can also view Mayor Law case results to see a real-life sampling of recent personal injury cases.