What are Common Types of Personal Injury Cases?

Motor Vehicle Accident. Each year millions of people are injured, sometimes fatally, in motor vehicle accidents. Millions of people are injured each year in accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, and bike riders. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, either as a driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your personal injuries and financial loss. An experienced car and truck accident attorney will protect your rights throughout the legal process.

Medical Malpractice. The negligence of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other medical professionals can cause serious injuries. There are many different types of medical malpractice, including misdiagnosis, improper treatment, surgical errors, medication mistakes, pharmacy errors, birth injury (errors committed during the delivery of a child), and failure to diagnose cancer or other serious health conditions. Medical malpractice cases are complex and require the expertise of a medical malpractice attorney. If you have been injured or lost a loved at the hands of a medical professional, it crucial to retain an experienced attorney who can promptly evaluate the potential malpractice and, if necessary, aggressively pursue legal action to compensate your for your injuries and loss.

Wrongful Death. As its name implies, the term “wrongful death” describes a type of lawsuit that may be brought when someone has been killed due to someone else’s carelessness. Most wrongful death suits arise out of car and truck crashes, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, construction accidents, airplane accidents, or the use of a defective or dangerous product. At O’Malley & Perry Law we have over 60 years of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death claims.

Workplace Accident. When someone is injured or killed while working for their employer, they generally are not allowed to bring a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. Instead, the injured employee must institute a claim under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, which requires employers to provide various benefits to their injured workers. These include medical treatment, “temporary total disability” (i.e., wages), and a lump-sum payment, otherwise known as “permanent partial disability,” to compensate the injured worker for his or her injuries. Workers’ compensation law varies from state to state and has many potential obstacles and pitfalls. An experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney will guide you through the process and ensure your rights are protected.

Premises Liability. “Premises liability” refers to accidents caused by a dangerous or defective condition on someone’s land. These accidents can occur almost anywhere, from commercial properties such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, malls and retail stores, to a neighbor’s home or a public or private swimming pool. A wide range of defective or dangerous conditions can give rise to a “premises liability” claim, ranging from falling down a staircase because of a missing handrail, to tripping over an obstacle or slipping on a spill in a walkway or aisle, to getting bitten by a dog, among many others. It is critical to document the dangerous or defective condition as soon after the accident as possible. A personal injury attorney will help you do this and protect your rights throughout the legal process.

Products Liability. Dangerous and defective products can cause serious injury in the home, in public places, and at work. Improper warnings and operation manuals can also lead to injuries. Examples of harmful products include dangerous drugs, food, consumer products, and children’s’ products; defective vehicle parts and medical devices; and toxic materials and chemicals. Responsible parties can be individuals, businesses, or government entities who sold, designed, manufactured, or marketed a dangerous or defective product. If you have been injured by an unsafe product, it is important to contact an experienced attorney to evaluate the harmful product, identify the responsible parties, and ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

Other Types of Personal Injury Cases. These include nursing home abuse or neglect; aviation and boating accidents; animal and dog bites; brain, birth, burn and spinal cord injuries; other catastrophic accidents and injuries; food poisoning; asbestos exposure and mesothelioma; legal malpractice.