INJURY | PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER | PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY | INJURIES

People file personal injury claims with the help of lawyers after being injured. Personal injury claims help recover medical expenses and other costs. It is important to file personal injury claims as quickly after the injury occurs as possible in order to properly document your injury, meet all legal timelines and recover damages sooner.

A personal injury is any type of injury you receive to your person. This means that property is not included, but emotional, mental, psychological, physical and defamation damage (injury to your reputation) is included. Personal injuries happen for many reasons, including car accidents, assaults, abuse, slips and falls, workplace injuries, false and libelous publications and medical mistakes.

Many people do not realize they can seek legal help for their injuries. You do not have the ability to file a personal injury claim only if the injury was caused by your own behavior or actions. If it was because of someone else’s inappropriate actions, negligence, faulty product, etc., you have good reason to file a claim. If you are still unsure whether or not you should file a claim, remember that most attorneys will assess your case at no cost, and will not require any money up front. Injuries can cost thousands of dollars, and when you consider the expenses, factor in:

• immediate medical expenses
• emergency costs
• future medical treatment
• rehabilitation costs
• cost of supplies, medicine, etc.
• lost wages
• future lost earnings
• in case of death, funeral and burial expenses

When injuries happen because of someone else’s negligence or actions, these expenses might not be your responsibility. For example, if your child is injured on someone else’s property because that person failed to take proper safety precautions, you could seek compensation based on “attractive nuisance” laws. If you are injured in a workplace or offshore accident, you could seek compensation under worker’s compensation or maritime laws. If you are injured because of hospital negligence or medical malpractice, you could seek compensation by filing a malpractice claim.

Attorneys can help you file personal injury claims, and they will help you follow that claim through the entire legal process. It is important to have good representation because insurance companies, doctors and other people involved with your injury will have representation as well. Your responsibilities, besides finding a personal injury attorney and filing a personal injury claim, includes:

• receiving immediate medical treatment
• keeping up-to-date and accurate records of
  • when the injury occurred
  • how it occurred
  • the resulting injuries
  • the medical treatment you received
  • the costs involved
  • your healing process

Personal injuries can result in major medical expenses. Having health insurance is important, and knowing your rights is sometimes more important. When someone else is at fault for your injury, your medical expenses may not be your responsibility. Your responsibility when you are injured includes:

• receiving immediate medical treatment
• keeping up-to-date and accurate records of
  • when the injury occurred
  • how it occurred
  • the resulting injuries
  • the medical treatment you received
  • the costs involved
  • your healing process

Taking this information to a personal injury attorney can help you determine if someone else is responsible for your medical bills.

Personal injuries can happen at work. These are workplace injuries. These include back injuries, knee injuries, brain injuries, burns, amputations, and much more. People who are most at risk for workplace injuries are construction workers, factory workers, oilrig workers (also see offshore injury), truck drivers, miners, manufacturers, warehouse employees, mechanics, and more.

• car accidents
• assaults
• swimming pool incidents
• slip and fall
• bicycle accidents
• amusement ride accidents
• chemical spills
• cruise ship accidents (see offshore injury)
• medical complications

When people suffer personal injury because of medical malpractice, the illnesses and injuries they were trying to treat often get worse. This could lead to death. Medical malpractice occurs when doctors and hospitals act negligently, fail to diagnose illness or injury, misdiagnose, fail to treat the patient, amputate the wrong limb and knowingly use incorrect, faulty or out-dated equipment and methods. Personal injury can also occur during birthing or C-section complications, which can result in injuries to the baby and the mother, as well as lead to death. Dental, radiation, breast cancer, plastic surgery and pediatric malpractice are included in medical malpractice.

People can receive personal injuries from being abused as well. Physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect are unfortunately very common in the U.S. Elder abuse involves injury to an elder, and child abuse involves injury to a child. Adults can be abused as well. 

Motorcycle accidents occur everyday; an average of 3,000 motorcyclists are killed every year, and the number is increasing. Motorcycle accidents usually result in much worse injuries for the driver of the motorcycle than for the driver of a car, van or truck, yet motorcycle accidents are rarely the fault of the motorcycle driver. Instead, the driver of the car, van or truck usually causes the accident because they fail to notice the motorcyclist. If you drive a motorcycle, here is a list of ways to help prevent motorcycle accidents:

• Wear a helmet. Helmets save thousands of lives every year. Also wear heavy boots and thick clothing to protect against abrasions and road rash.
• Maintain a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles. Remember, the faster you are going, the more distance you need.
• Drive as if every other vehicle has failed to notice you. Provide plenty of space when you turn or merge, and never cut in front of other vehicles.
• Signal properly and for a sufficient amount of time. Your lights are smaller; use hand signals as well, and err on the side of giving more than enough notice.
• Always avoid riding in other driver’s blind spots.
• Riding with other motorcycles increases your chances of being seen.
• Don’t speed. More than one-third of the fatalities each year are motorcyclists who are speeding.

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident or if you witness one, here are some steps you need to take to prevent further injury to yourself:

• Call 911.
• If you are able, protect yourself or the victim away from oncoming traffic, or stop traffic if possible. Consider every motorcycle accident as a head, neck, back or brain injury. You should not move yourself or the victim if there is any chance of injury to these areas.
• Also, maintain a safe distance from the motorcycle if possible. In more than half of the crashes investigated during recent years, fuel leaks were present, which greatly increases the risk of fires. Do not allow anyone present to smoke.
• Do not move yourself or the victim if there are serious injuries; wait for medical personnel to arrive.
• After you have checked yourself for injuries, assess the injuries of other drivers.
• Always remain at the scene of the accident.
• Note the facts, such as location, license plates and vehicle descriptions, and write them down or take pictures if you have a camera.
• Exchange insurance information, but do not talk to anyone but police about details of the crash.
• Call your insurance agent.
• Contact a personal injury attorney; they will be able to advise you of your legal rights regarding the crash.