Were you in a car accident that wasn’t your fault? Did you slip and fall at a grocery store and sustain an injury? If so, you may have a personal injury case on your hands. Personal injury cases are legal disputes related to someone being harmed through no fault of his or her own. These cases may be solved through negotiation and mediation but may also go to trial. Understanding the types of cases is the first step to determining whether to file a claim or lawsuit.

Automobile Accidents

“Automobile accidents” is an all-encompassing term that covers car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and trucking accidents, all of which are one of the leading causes of personal injury cases. Your injury attorney can help you determine which category your case falls into. Car crashes involve two or more vehicles most of the time but may also occur if a car hits a cyclist or a pedestrian. Trucking accidents are accidents with tractor-trailers or large trucks that are often very serious or fatal. These cases are often complicated since most truckers are on the job when they occur. Finally, motorcycle crashes are the most likely to cause fatalities and may be more complex in terms of who is filing the claim and how the insurer tries to reduce its liability.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice cases are also common personal injury cases. When most people think of medical malpractice, they imagine situations like leaving operating equipment inside of a patient. Malpractice is actually much more common, though. It can include improper anesthesia, hospital or nursing negligence, emergency room errors, inappropriate use of restraints, nursing home neglect, and much more. An attorney can help with these cases by seeing if the healthcare provider has a history of negligence, malpractice, or other violations. Gathering paperwork, medical records, and more is also important in such cases.

Premises Liability

Another all-encompassing term, premises liability cases occur when an accident happens on someone’s residential or commercial property due to negligence or dangerous conditions. The most common type of premises liability accident is a slip-and-fall accident, such as if a grocery store fails to put up a “wet floor” sign and a customer falls by slipping on it. Injuries in a residential or public swimming pool are also common, as are dog bites. Dog bites may fall under premises liability even if the bite occurs on public property since the dog is considered private property.

Workplace Accidents

Statistics show that someone is injured on the job every seven seconds. When a business cuts corners to save money, it often leads to negligence that compromises the safety of its employees. If you have been injured on the job and your employer is trying to shirk responsibility, an attorney can help you determine what your next steps should be. It may include gathering witness information, looking into the company’s history, and more. An attorney can try to help you come to a settlement agreement or take your case to court as needed.

Dealing with an injury due to someone else’s carelessness is always frustrating, but you don’t need to deal with the situation on your own. A licensed, reputable personal injury lawyer may be able to help you get the compensation that you deserve.