Does My Accident Qualify as a Personal Injury Case?

Car accident? Slip and fall? Dog bite? What types of accidents qualify as personal injury cases and does your recent accident qualify? Below we outline what a personal injury case is and what to do if you have been involved in a personal injury accident.

Does My Accident Qualify as a Personal Injury Case?

Personal injury law (also known as tort law) allows a victim of an accident the option of being compensated for someone else’s negligent or intentional action.  Different situations can be called personal injury cases, although not every situation can be called a personal injury case. If you have been involved in an accident that could be classified as a personal injury case, you’ll want to speak with a personal injury attorney. He or she will be able to advise you on if you have a case or not as well as what next steps are.

Here are some common types of personal injury accidents:

Car Accidents

Car accidents are the most common personal injury cases filed in the United States. When an accident happens, usually it’s because someone has violated the rules of the road. Often this is due to carelessness. A careless driver can be held financially responsible for injuries stemming from a car accident.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice claims can be brought when a patient is injured as the result of a doctor’s or other healthcare professional’s failure to provide competent and reasonably skilled care. Medical malpractice cases are some of the most complex types of personal injury cases to be brought.

Slip and Fall Cases

Slip and fall cases are also a very common type of personal injury case. Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and free of hazards. If a visitor to the property is injured a property owner can face personal injury charges. A landowner’s legal duty varies depending on the situation and according to the state law where the injury occurred.

Dog Bites

While laws vary from state to state typically the owners of a dog are financially responsible for bites and other injuries caused by the dog. Arizona follows a “one bite rule” and the dog owner is liable for dog bite damages even if the dog has never shown any aggression or propensity to bite in the past.

If You’ve Been Involved in a Personal Injury Accident

After being injured in an accident there are a number of steps that you can take that will help preserve your right to file a claim for your personal injuries. These steps are valid in most situations: