Each year, thousands of personal injury lawsuits are filed throughout Florida. While car accidents are the most common type of personal injury lawsuits filed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there are about 17,000 slip and fall accidents annually. While not every personal injury claim ends up in court, some types of injury are more likely to result in litigation than others.
With that in mind, here is what you need to know about the most common personal injury lawsuits in and around the Pensacola area:
3 Accidents That Commonly Lead to Personal Injury Suits
Nobody wants to be injured or involved in an accident. Unfortunately, millions of people are each year, and the following three incidents commonly lead to personal injury lawsuits:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are the most common of personal injury claims. Typically, vehicle accidents happen because someone is not paying attention or following the rules of the road. They can also be caused by excessive speed, drivers falling asleep at the wheel, texting while driving, automotive design defects, road rage, or alcohol and drugs.
In most cases, drivers can be held financially responsible for any injuries stemming from a car accident they caused. The circumstances, though, depend on the severity of the crash, location, and cause of the wreck.
Medical Malpractice
People file about 85,000 medical malpractice suits each year, with the actual number of medical injuries being approximately one million annually.
These suits arise when doctors and other health care professionals fail in their duties to provide skilled care, and a patient is injured or harmed as a result. These are incredibly complex cases. If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, you should hire an experienced Medical Malpractice attorney to help you through the process.
Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases happen when property owners fail to keep their premises safe and free of hazards.
When property owners fail to keep their premises safe and free of hazards, it oftentimes results in someone experiencing a traumatic injury. While not all injuries that take place on a property result in liability on the property owner, injured parties can typically claim medical expenses and damages from negligent property owners.
The Importance of Personal Injury Lawsuits
Most personal injury lawsuits are meant to protect the rights of individuals and ensure adequate compensation when an injury takes place. However, in some cases, a personal injury lawsuit is about creating change to prevent future injuries.
In certain situations, something about a property, practice, or method of care needs to change to avoid additional injuries down the road, and personal injury suits are the best way to push this change. It’s not always about securing a substantial settlement – sometimes it’s about making the world a safer place to live. When that’s the case, it helps to have a skilled attorney on your side.
If you’ve recently been injured in an accident, contact Ward and Barnes, P.A. We’ll help you understand your rights and find the best solution for your situation.