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Home 9 Car Accident Questions 9 What is a personal injury case?

What is a personal injury case?

Personal injury cases are one of the most common cases around and it isn’t unlikely that you may find yourself in a personal injury lawsuit someday. But part of the reason that a personal injury case is so popular is that it covers so many different things. From car accidents to medical malpractice, personal injury can be seen as an umbrella topic for many different areas.

But what exactly constitutes a personal injury case? How does a personal injury case work? What should I do if I believe I have a personal injury case?

We can help answer these questions and more.

About Personal Injury Cases

The most basic definition of a personal injury case is a legal dispute that results out of one individual sustaining an injury or suffering harm due to an accident of another’s doing. The accident can include everything from a physical car accident, negligent behavior in a public place, or careless acts while under the medical care of a doctor or other professional.

The goal of a personal injury case is not necessary to have the other individual punished, but more to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing. Unlike a criminal case, which is controlled by the state, an injured individual can bring a personal injury case to court to seek damages to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages or more.

Each kind of personal injury case will have its own set of criteria for proving liability and damages. Along with this set of criteria, there will also be unique restrictions, regulations, and rules that must be followed. If you hope to receive compensation from your personal injury case, you will need to cover all of these bases and prove the injury was not something you could have avoided. In most situations, a personal injury attorney will need to assist you through this process.

Different Kinds of Personal Injury Cases

As mentioned, personal injury cases include many different areas of law. Here are just some of the most common kinds of personal injury cases:

  1. Car Accident Injuries: One of the most common kinds of personal injury cases involves car accident injuries. If you have been injured due to the negligent driving of another individual or careless mistakes someone else made behind the wheel, you may have a personal injury case.
  2. Premises Liability Cases: Premises liability cases refer to cases where an individual was injured due to dangerous conditions, falling objects, or an uncared for environment on certain kinds of property.
  3. Slip and Fall Cases: Slip and fall cases appear when someone slips or trips because a commercial location did not clean up spills or remove hazardous wires from a high traffic area.
  4. Medical Malpractice Cases: Many people are quick to think that medical malpractice cases come from anytime a doctor makes a wrong diagnosis or is unable to treat a certain condition. But medical malpractice actually refers to being purposefully negligent or destructive during your care. If you have a legitimate medical malpractice case, it would classify as a personal injury case.
  5. Products Liability Cases: If you are sold a faulty or defective product that causes you injury or harm, you may have a personal injury case against the manufacturer. Keep in mind that it is only a legal issue if you were using the product in the designed way, so if you were using the product inappropriately or for anything other than what it was intended for, you may not have a personal injury case.

I Think I Have a Personal Injury Case. Now What?

If you believe you have been injured at the fault of another individual, you should talk with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to see if you have a legitimate case. To get started, you will want to speak with any possible eye witnesses who can vouch for your story, collect medical bills that show your cost of treatment, and determine the amount of wages you have lost while recovering. All this information will help you built a solid personal injury case.

The Lamber Goodnow legal team and its partner personal injury firms in Chicago are experienced in these matters. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers never charge a fee, unless we win your case. Get a risk free consultation today.

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