Common Causes of Personal Injury
Though avoidable, accidents happen, especially on roads and when working with machines. Most accidents lead to injuries, sometimes needing medical attention, or even cause permanent disability or death. However, to claim compensation for your injuries, the injuries must result from another person's negligence.
In such a case, the person at fault or their insurer should compensate you for the pain caused by your injuries and any other damages, like loss of income and medical expenses. Read on to discover some common causes of personal injury.
Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip and fall is a personal injury case based on an accident in which someone sustains injuries after tripping or falling on another person's property. Many things can trigger this type of accident, but wet floors or uneven surfaces are the main culprits for slip and fall accidents.
For example, you can file for compensation if you fall and break your limb due to a wet floor at a local grocery store. To prove that the property's owner is at fault, you must provide evidence that shows they were aware of the hazard and negligently failed to correct it or that shows they knowingly created the hazardous condition.
Automobile Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death in the US — more than 100 people die every day due to motor vehicle crashes in our country. Victims of automobile accidents include other motorists, cyclists, passengers, or pedestrians.
Since most car accidents happen due to reckless driving, drunk driving, unsafe roads, fatigue, bad weather, or faulty vehicles, you can file compensation if the other party is at fault.
Construction Site Accidents
A construction site is a dangerous work environment, especially if the workers don't follow safety guidelines strictly. Numerous safety hazards exist at a construction site from machines and equipment to the materials used.
Most injuries at construction sites result from accidents like electric shocks, falls from heights, faulty machinery or equipment, and slip and fall accidents. To get compensation for construction site injuries, you must prove that the site manager or owner is at fault.
For example, you can file for compensation when a faulty machine injures you at a construction site if you can prove that the machine was not inspected or serviced.
Dog Bites
Dogs are popular pets in the US, meaning many households own at least one dog. While dogs are lovable, they can harm strangers if the dog is not well trained.
A dog bite can range from a harmless scratch to a life-threatening wound that may require expensive treatment procedures. If a dog bites you, the owner should compensate you for physical and emotional damages as well as medical expenses.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is any negligence by a healthcare provider that causes injury to a patient. For example, a misdiagnosis or misleading laboratory results could lead to severe illness or even death because the doctor treats the wrong disease.
However, to receive compensation for a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that the medical practitioner violated the standard of care and that you sustained injuries because of the negligence.
Also, due to the high cost of pursuing medical malpractice, the damages caused by the injury should be significant, like permanent disability, pain and suffering, huge medical bills, or loss of income.
The list of causes of personal injury is extensive, but each of these cases can negatively impact a victim's life. Therefore, no matter the cause of your injury, you deserve compensation if another person's negligence is at play. At Wegner & Associates, we are committed to fighting for our clients' right to compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.