If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be wondering about your options for recovering compensation for medical bills and property damage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of emergency visits due to unintentional injuries in the US was a staggering 29.4 million in 2017. However, not all accidents are personal injury cases. In order to hold someone else responsible for your injuries and associated expenses, they must have been in some way negligent or careless in causing you harm.
If you believe someone else is responsible for your injuries, consult with a Seattle personal injury lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now to determine if you have a case: (800) 794-0444.
Personal Injury Cases
While almost any accident where someone else caused your injuries can potentially be a personal injury case, there are some types of accidents that we tend to deal with more frequently, including:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Accidents can happen for numerous reasons, including recklessness and negligence of a driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most accidents are driver-related. Accidents may happen due to distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and fatigue, to name a few examples. If you got hurt in an accident with a careless driver, you could receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
Slip and Fall Accidents (Premises Liability)
Premises liability cases, just like any other personal injury case, hinge on proving negligence. If you hurt yourself on someone else’s property due to a dangerous or hazardous condition on the premises, you could receive compensation. Dangerous conditions could be, for example, cracks in flooring, unlit areas, slippery floors, and tripping hazards. Slips and falls can potentially happen in all kinds of properties such as businesses, restaurants, shopping malls, and apartment buildings.
Medical Malpractice
When doctors or nurses commit medical errors that cause injuries or aggravate existing conditions, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Examples of medical malpractice cases can be birth injuries, surgical mistakes, medication error, and medical neglect, among others.
Physical Assault
If someone physically assaults and hurts you, you could recover compensation. Assaults are slightly different to other personal injury cases as they typically do not involve negligence. However, you could potentially sue the perpetrator of an assault for your damages with a personal injury lawsuit.
Defective Product or Drug
If a consumer product, medical device, car part, child’s toy, or any other product malfunctions, causing you or a loved one injuries, you potentially have a claim against the manufacturer of the product. Likewise, if a drug caused unexpected detrimental health effects, and the drug manufacturer failed to warn you about the potential dangers, you could have a personal injury case. You could also have a case if a manufacturing defect caused a faulty drug.
Dog Bites
Millions of people suffer from dog bite related injuries each year. Dog bites can cause horrific injuries and disfigurements to victims, as well as emotional trauma. If you suffered any injuries in a dog attack, you could potentially hold the dog owner to account for your injuries, medical costs, and property damage.
There can be other personal injury cases such as aviation and boating accidents, workplace injuries, nursing home abuse and neglect, as well as others. If you or a loved one suffered harm in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you should consult with a Seattle personal injury lawyer for advice about any legal options that may be open to you.
Proving Negligence
One thing that most personal injuries have in common is that you will have to prove the defendant’s negligence in order to receive compensation. Although you may be convinced that the defendant acted negligently, a court will want to see hard evidence. This can be challenging to do by yourself. Those responsible for your accident will also most likely fight your claim tooth and nail with the help of lawyers.
Generally, for a personal injury lawsuit you will need to prove that:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- They breached the duty of care
- Your accident and injuries happened as a result of the breach
- You have damages such as injuries and medical bills
Help is available and you do not have to deal with all this on your own. Your Seattle personal injury lawyer knows how to prove a case and can help you collect the evidence to hold a defendant to account for their negligent actions.
Call today for your free case assessment.
For a free legal consultation with a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer serving Seattle, call (800) 794-0444
Compensation in Personal Injury Cases
If someone else caused your injuries, they should be paying for your medical bills and any other expenses related to the accident. Some of the compensation you could receive in a personal injury lawsuit can include:
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Household expenses
- Transport costs
- Emotional suffering
- Physical pain
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Disability
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
Compensation will depend on the type of accident and severity of any injuries, and can vary from one case to another. You can consult with a Seattle personal injury lawyer to find out what you could receive with a personal injury lawsuit.
Seattle Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
We Can Fight for You
Suffering any type of injury in an accident that was not your fault can be frustrating. You may also feel aggravated when it comes to paying medical bills and any other expenses connected to such an accident, especially if you have extensive injuries and the bills are piling up.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you. We believe that whoever caused the injuries to you through their negligence is also responsible for making you whole again and paying for your expenses.
However, do not delay seeking help for your claim. While the Washington state statute of limitations 4.16.080 generally gives you three years after an injury to file your lawsuit, you should start the process as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the sooner you could potentially receive compensation that can help with your physical, emotional, and financial recovery.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free review of your case with one of our team members: (800) 794-0444.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form