If someone else’s carelessness or recklessness is responsible for your accident, and you have medical bills, property damage, and other losses connected with the accident, you could have a personal injury case.
A Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to help you find out if you could hold the responsible party to account and receive compensation. Call us today at (800) 794-0444.
Personal Injury Case Examples
Personal injury cases can come in many forms. Essentially, any accident that is someone else’s fault could be a personal injury case, including the following.
Slip and Fall
If you fell on someone else’s property and suffered injuries, you do not necessarily have a personal injury case. However, a dangerous condition on the premises caused your accident, such as spillage or cracked flooring, you may have a personal injury case. Consulting with a lawyer can help you get clear on your legal options.
Car Accidents
Any type of car accident can result in a personal injury claim, including those with large commercial trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. According to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), accidents in D.C. resulted in nearly 9,000 people suffering injuries, as well as 31 fatalities in 2017.
Medical Errors
Medical malpractice can ruin a victim’s life and career. If you have suffered injuries from medical providers that involved misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, or medication errors, for example, you may have a medical malpractice personal injury case. Medical malpractice cases can be challenging to prove. A lawyer might be able to help you with a complex medical malpractice claim.
Products Liability
Product liability cases typically arise if you suffer injuries from any type of defective product or drug. Examples of defective products can include prescription or over-the-counter drugs, toys, medical devices, vehicle parts, and consumer products.
Sometimes an insufficient manual, or the failure to warn of certain side effects of a drug, can also result in a products liability claim. Product liability cases can be tough. In some instances, you might have to stand up to a large corporation.
Additional personal injury cases that we see in our practice, among others, are dog bite claims, nursing home abuse and neglect, boating and aviation accidents, and asbestos exposure.
Potential Outcomes of Personal Injury Claims
The two basic ways in which personal injury cases may be resolved is either with an out-of-court settlement or a personal injury lawsuit.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), most personal injury cases never reach trial. With an out-of-court agreement, the victim (plaintiff) typically agrees to drop a potential lawsuit in exchange for a settlement. In some cases, it can be in your best interest to agree to a settlement out of court. It can also get you compensation for your medical bills and other financial losses faster.
However, before agreeing to any settlements with the at-fault party’s insurance, you have the option of consulting with a Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer to ensure that the settlement is in your best interest and not just in the best interests of the defendant’s insurance.
The settlement should cover all your damages, including those for future medical treatment for any accident injuries. Your lawyer can calculate your damages correctly and try to ensure that you are not losing out when you accept a settlement.
Compensation
Sometimes, the parties cannot agree to a settlement, and a case will go to court. If it comes to trial and you win the lawsuit, you could potentially receive compensation for any economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages can include:
- Medical bills
- Medical equipment
- Lost wages
- Transportation costs
In a personal injury case, especially if you have suffered extensive and disabling injuries, you could also receive a number of non-economic damages, including awards for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a limb
- Loss of a sense such as eyesight
- Emotional distress
You may also receive a range of other economic or non-economic compensation, depending on the severity of your injuries and circumstances of your personal injury case.
Occasionally, when a defendant has been particularly reckless and not shown any respect for another’s life and limb, the court may order them to pay punitive damages to a plaintiff. Punitive damages should act as a deterrent and could be considerable. For example, when an international corporation is found guilty in a defective products or defective drugs claim, any punitive damages will be in addition to compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a Washington, D.C. Personal Injury Lawyer serving Washington DC, call (800) 794-0444
Take Action Now
Receiving timely compensation can be important, especially if you had to pay for any medical bills and property damage upfront out of your own pocket, or if you are unable to work due to an accident. Some accident victims wait too long to take legal action, unaware that this could prohibit them from filing a lawsuit and getting any compensation.
The Code of the District of Columbia 12-301 generally sets a time limit of three years for personal injury cases. While in a few circumstances, you may still be able to file suit after three years, it is in your own best interest to start the process of a lawsuit as soon as you can. This might also make it easier for your lawyer to collect evidence and witness statements on your behalf.
Washington DC Washington, D.C. Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Contact Us Today for Help with Your Accident
Personal injury cases can be challenging to prove and may require extensive evidence, research, and occasionally even expert witnesses. Your Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer knows how to handle personal injury cases. We can negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, fight for your rights in court.
If you have faced spiraling medical costs and lost income due to an accident, we could help you. We believe that whoever caused your injuries with their negligence is responsible for your present and future costs, and we can fight hard for a fair settlement for you.
You do not have to worry about upfront attorney’s fees as we work on a “no win no fee” basis, so there is no financial risk to you. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation review of your accident case at (800) 794-0444.
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