“Personal injury” covers all injuries to the mind or body that are caused by the negligence or recklessness of someone else. They can ruin your life. People who are hurt and suffer personal injuries can file a claim against the person or business who hurt them (or their insurance company) to restore what was lost by way of money damages. Some of the most common causes of personal injuries are car or truck accidents, workplace accidents, medical negligence (or malpractice), and slip and falls. If you or a loved one has been hurt in any of the following situations, you should hire a personal injury lawyer.
Car or truck accidents
These are the most common causes of personal injuries. No matter how careful you drive, you can still be hurt in a car crash. Your safety depends on other drivers paying attention and following the rules of the road. Likewise, their safety depends on you. Crashes with semi-trucks or tractor trailers are especially dangerous. Trucks are enormous. When hauling a trailer, they can weigh as much as a house. With this much weight, even a low speed accident with a car can cause devastating injuries those who are in the car. At highway speeds, these wrecks can be fatal.
Workplace accidents
Americans spend most of their time at work. Many of us have dangerous jobs that increase the chances of getting hurt through no fault of our own. Louisiana oil field accidents and injuries can be especially bad. Common reasons for oilfield accidents include explosions, exposure to toxic fumes, burns, slips and falls, defective equipment, insufficient supervision, improper safety training, negligent equipment operation, and wrongful death. Oilfield workers are often the family breadwinners. If they die or can no longer work, it often pushes them out of the work force and makes them into wards of the state. Sometimes a lawsuit is the only way to get people back on their feet.
Medical negligence (or malpractice)
According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, more than 250,000 people in the U.S. die every year from medical errors and negligence. Medical negligence is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. These cases are tragic. People go to doctors to make their lives better. But sometimes they are destroyed. Healthcare providers have special access to your body and powerful tools that can hurt and kill if not used according to the standard of care. In Louisiana, medical negligence cases have special rules. A personal injury lawyer with experience in medical negligence and malpractice can help you understand the rules and get you through the system.
Slip and falls (or premises liability)
These happen when you are hurt at someone else’s property or place of business. A claim arises when there is a dangerous condition, like a wet floor, torn carpet, or uneven walkway, that the property owner created or knew about. The injuries from a fall can be life changing. Falls are serious business. They can cause knee, back, hip, neck, hand, arm, leg, and brain injuries. If you fall at someone else’s property, a personal injury lawyer can help you understand what you need to do to prove the case and get you on the road to recovery.
A personal injury can happen in almost any situation. If you were seriously hurt and you think you might have a personal injury claim, contact a personal injury lawyer at Stag Liuzza at 504-593-9600.
