In 2022, the personal injury industry was worth around $53.1 billion. That means that every year in the United States, 39.5 million personal injury cases require medical treatment.
Many injuries can be classed as personal injury cases, and they happen more frequently than you realize. But how do you know if your case is a personal injury one? Hiring yourself a good lawyer can help you claim back any compensation you are owed if someone else’s negligence caused your accident.
If you want to know more about the types of personal injury cases common in Richmond, VA, keep reading. Here are five common cases you could encounter.
1. Car Accidents
The first common cases we highlight in this personal injury guide are car accidents. Vehicle collisions are a common claim and include motorcycle, pedestrian, and trucking accidents. It could also include accidents involving rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, road deaths increased by 15% in 2021, with 967 deaths.
2. Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is another typical personal injury case that people can file. A medical malpractice case is when a patient is injured by their attending physician. A common reason for this is substandard medical care, such as misdiagnoses, incorrectly prescribed medications, surgical errors, or a failure to diagnose a serious medical condition.
3. Workplace Accidents
Next in this personal injury guide is workplace accidents. There were, on average, between 4 to 5 deaths per 100,000 workers in Virginia between 2018 and 2020. As much as most companies try to take precautions for their employees, workplace accidents can and do happen.
Commonly this is due to the company’s negligence, and having a personal injury lawyer can help you navigate gathering evidence, witnesses, and other parts of the claim process.
4. Wrongful Death
Wrongful death is one of the more severe personal injury cases that are filed. They happen when someone dies due to someone else’s negligence, for example, if a pedestrian gets hit by a drunk driver and dies. The neglect is on the drunk driver’s side, and they must compensate the deceased family for medical and funeral costs.
The United States has around 61.1 unintentional injury deaths per 100,000 people annually. This makes it the fourth most common cause of death.
5. Slip and Fall Accidents
Our final highlight in this personal injury case guide is slip and fall accidents. In Northern Virginia, there were 31.5 hospitalizations per 10,000 adults due to unintentional falls. These accidents are more common in the older generation, typically claiming victims 85 years or older.
Know What Types of Personal Injury Cases You Can File
You’re entitled to reasonable compensation if you’re involved in a personal injury accident that wasn’t your fault. Knowing which accidents qualify as personal injury cases can help when looking for an attorney. Finding a lawyer specializing in these types of personal injury cases can benefit you significantly due to the experience they bring to the table.
If you’re in Virginia and need a personal injury lawyer to handle your case, get in touch with us so we can help. We fight on your behalf while you recover.
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