If you are injured in an accident that is caused by the negligence or carelessness of another person or entity, you may be entitled to compensation. Pennsylvania and New Jersey personal injury laws protect the rights of individuals to claim compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and damages caused by the negligence or carelessness of another party.
What Types of Injuries are Covered Under Personal Injury Laws?
A personal injury lawsuit can be filed when a victim’s injuries are directly related to the negligence of another. The most common types of personal injury claims include:
DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS
Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have a legal responsibility to ensure their products are safe and free from unnecessary hazards. When a person is injured by a defective product, the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer can be held liable for the damages. A personal injury lawsuit will seek compensation from all levels that knowingly marketed a product that had design flaws or dangerous features. Examples of this type of injury can include children that choke on small toy parts, consumers that suffer harm from taking over the counter medications as directed, or car accident victims injured or killed by defective car parts, such as brakes or steering mechanisms.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
Victims of car, truck, and motorcycle accidents often file personal injury lawsuits to claim compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and damages resulting from the accident. The burden of proof that the motor vehicle accident was the result of negligence falls on the plaintiff and can be hard to prove in some cases. A competent and experienced personal injury lawyer can hold those responsible for the accident liable for these costs if they can prove the driver was speeding, driving recklessly, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, engaging in distracted driving, or failing to obey traffic signs and signals.
SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS
When a homeowner or business owner fails to maintain their property, accidents and injuries are likely to happen. When a person is injured in a slip and fall accident, the homeowner or property owner can be held liable for injuries if they failed to make reasonable efforts to routinely inspect and properly maintain their property. Failure to remove snow, ice, or debris after a storm, repair broken stair rails, fix unmarked wheel stops in parking lots, adjust poor lighting, and remedy uneven floor surfaces are all examples of negligence.
CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS
Construction work is the third most dangerous job in the United States. Construction workers and pedestrians can be severely and sometimes fatally injured when contractors fail to provide a safe working environment. Injuries resulting from loose scaffolding, broken construction tools, failure to provide personal protective gear or proper training to construction workers, or non-compliance with safety standards are all examples of negligence. Injured victims can claim compensation when negligence resulted in bodily harm or death.
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS
Pedestrians include people that are walking, bicycling, jogging, or even standing on the side of the road. Thousands of pedestrians are killed or injured each year by cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles that are speeding, driving while distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or failing to obey traffic signs and signals. When a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle, their injuries are typically severe and require medical intervention and time off from work to recover. When the pedestrian can prove that the driver was acting negligently at the time of the accident, they can claim compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
DOG BITES
Dogs are beloved pets, but some dog owners fail to take necessary precautions to ensure their pet does not bite another person. Even dogs that have never shown aggression can bite when they are scared or feel the need to protect their owner or property. Dog bites can result in significant injuries, infections, and disfigurement that can impact the victim’s future work opportunities. A personal injury lawsuit can claim compensation for the victim’s medical expenses and lost wages, and in some cases, for damages relating to the loss of their future earning potential.
