When Do You Need A Personal Injury Attorney?

For those unaccustomed to dealing with the law and lawyers, the phrase “personal injury” can be a bit misleading. Personal injury, as a legal matter, refers to a situation where you are injured and someone else (a person or company) is to blame.

There are a variety of common accidents and situations that can result in a valid personal injury claim, and knowing what those are will benefit you if you ever find yourself injured. If you suffer an injury and someone else is at fault, that’s when you should contact an attorney.

Here are some common examples of personal injury cases:
 

Car And Motorcycle Accidents

Car and motorcycle accidents result in the most personal injury cases in the United States every year. This is because, when there is an auto accident, it’s typically the result of one or both parties not following the rules of the road.

A careless driver can (usually) be held responsible, legally and financially, for injuries you suffer in a car or motorcycle accident. A common example is if another driver runs a red light and crashes into you as a result. In that case you should contact a personal injury attorney and let them help you file a claim.

Slip And Fall Accidents

Property owners (and renters, in the case of commercial/business properties) have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and free of hazards. When they fail to do so, they are potentially endangering customers and employees who are on the property.

The most oft-cited example is if a grocery store fails to clean up a spill and you slip and fall (hence the name) and are injured as a result. The grocery store may be held legally responsible for your injury. Again, you should contact a lawyer and they will help you determine if your accident should result in a personal injury claim.
 

Defective Products

Personal injuries that occur as a result of a defective product typically fall into one of three categories:

• Injury due to a manufacturing defect
• Injury due to a design defect
• Injury due to inadequate warnings or instructions

In each case, your injury must be proven to have resulted because of the defect, and not because you used the product in a way not intended by the manufacturer.

For example, if you buy a stuffed toy for your child, and they suffer an injury because a harmful chemical was used in its manufacturer, you could probably file a personal injury claim. On the other hand, if the toy is perfectly safe as-is, and your child tries to swallow the toy and is injured as a result, that is not the manufacturer’s fault.
 

Hiring An Attorney

If you have been injured and someone else is at fault, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney right away. Many people make the mistake of only dealing with their insurance carrier or, even worse, trying to deal with the responsible party directly.

Hiring an attorney means having an experienced representative to fight on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your accident and injuries. Businesses and insurance providers often try to strong-arm accident victims, or ignore them altogether. But they tend to change their tune pretty quickly when the threat of legal action comes into play.

To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation, please contact our office today.