Types of Personal Injury Cases: Exploring Different Legal Claims

October 5, 2023

1 2 minutes read

Personal injury cases involve incidents where one person sustains harm as a result of the negligent acts of another person. Under this umbrella of civil law, there are many types of accidents that can occur where the injured party may be entitled to collect compensation from the party that caused their injuries.

Here is a look at the most common personal injury cases and legal claims.

Explore The Contents Hide

1 Car Accidents

2 Slip and Fall Accidents

3 Dog Bites

4 Construction Accidents

5 Injured? Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Car Accidents

Car accidents are the most well-known of personal injury claims. If you were injured by another driver, you need to prove their actions were negligent to receive compensation. Since Illinois operates with comparative negligence, you must also have less than 51% of the fault in the incident. Negligent drivers often drive while texting, speeding, intoxicated, or engaging in reckless behavior.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Hazardous conditions on another person’s property often result in slip and fall cases. Property owners have a duty of care to maintain safe conditions for invited visitors to the premises. Any hazard must be repaired promptly or blocked off and marked with signage to prevent injury. When property owners fail to keep their premises safe, accidents can happen.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents include wet floors, uneven walkways, cracked sidewalks, lack of proper lighting, and loose railings. Slip and fall cases are challenging because you must show the property owner knew about the hazard. However, with an experienced attorney, you will have an expert working to collect evidence and fight for your compensation.

Dog Bites

Illinois follows a strict liability law with dog bites. The dog owner is liable for the injuries their dog causes, even if they didn’t know the dog could do such a thing. In dog bite cases, it’s possible to recover your medical expenses, rehabilitation, and emotional distress, especially if you suffer permanent scars or disfigurement as a result of the bite.

Construction Accidents

Construction workers are often injured on the job due to hazardous working conditions. If you work in construction, workers’ compensation can cover you in the event of an injury on the job. However, many companies do not report work accidents to their insurer, resulting in you not getting the coverage required by law. In other situations, you may be a bystander or passerby of a construction site who sustains an injury due to negligent construction practices.

Injured? Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

No matter how you were injured, the first thing you need to do is seek prompt medical treatment for your injuries. You should also contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. This will allow a legal professional to get started on your case before the statute of limitations runs out and give you a better chance of recovering compensation.