In 1994, a woman sued fast-food giant MacDonald’s after a burning cup of coffee fell on her lap. She was left with third-degree burns and had to undergo skin grafting procedures in the hospital. After the case went to trial, the woman won her suit and was awarded compensation for the damages caused by the accident. While the case received some pushback from the media and popular opinion, the point is that personal injury cases can result in compensation and other benefits to recoup any losses from the injury. This article discusses some examples of personal injury claims and what you can expect if you win a lawsuit.
EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL INJURY
Accidents happen, but not everything fits into the category of a potential personal injury claim. The following are some examples of personal injuries that may have legal standing in court:
- Slips and falls
- Pedestrian accidents
- Wrongful death
- Nursing home abuse
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
As with any personal injury legal proceedings, you will need to provide evidence for the incident to build a successful case. For example, if you slipped on ice on your office premises due to lack of proper maintenance, get a copy of the surveillance tapes to see if the moment was captured on camera. Medical malpractice and nursing home abuse can also rely on surveillance video to back up or confront claims of mishandling. Visible evidence can be most helpful because it is objective. Taking a photo of a defective product and comparing it to the instruction manual is also useful. Any documentation, like hospital and care records and possible eyewitness testimony, is beneficial to these cases.
Even if you think you don’t have a case, reach out to us! David has years of experience working with clients on personal injury claims. He can help walk you through the process and determine whether your case can stand in a courtroom if it comes to that.
MONETARY BENEFITS
If you do win your lawsuit, you may be rewarded in monetary or other forms of compensation for your trouble. This may not be enough to reverse the effects of the injury on your life, particularly in wrongful death cases. However, your experiences are valid, and you have the right to pursue legal action. Remedies can be applied to potential losses related to your injury. These include potential coverage of medical bills, lost wages, pain, and even future losses. The nature of these benefits depends on your exact scenario. Your experiences matter, especially when it comes to personal injury cases.
WHAT’S NEXT?
To see if filing a personal injury claim is right for you, start by giving Dave Brunelle a call or email him at david@davidbrunellelaw.com. Book a free, no-pressure consultation to find out how we can help and come alongside you in this journey after a personal injury.