A personal injury can happen in numerous ways. If someone else is responsible for the resulting harm, you'll have grounds to file a lawsuit against the negligent parties. To give you a better idea of what claim to file, here is an overview of common types that fall under the blanket of personal injury law.   

What Are Common Personal Injury Claims?

1. Medical Malpractice

If a health care provider's actions caused a personal injury, the patient would file a medical malpractice claim. They must prove the health care professional didn't provide the standard level of care other professionals in their field would have adhered to and that this negligence caused the injuries. This includes intentionally denying a patient medication, prescribing the wrong medication, making mistakes during surgery, performing unnecessary treatments, or not disclosing the risk associated with certain procedures. Expert witnesses are often called to testify how the defendant's actions deviated from the norm and explain how those actions put the patient in danger. 

2. Auto Accident

Motorists often get into accidents with other drivers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders due to speeding, texting while behind the wheel, and other negligent, dangerous behavior. Each year, approximately 2 million people sustain permanent injuries in car wrecks. 

A person hurt in a crash is entitled to compensation for rehabilitation and treatment. Working with an attorney, they must establish that the at-fault driver owed the plaintiff a duty of care, their actions breached that duty, and were the direct cause of the injuries. The police report, surveillance footage, and witness statements can be used to establish fault. Medical reports can establish the severity of the injuries and help an insurer or judge decide how much is owed in damages. 

3. Product Liability

From car parts to children's toys, defective products can cause harm to the users. Injuries can arise due to a product's design or manufacturing, lack of warning labels, or wrong instruction manual. The injured parties would file a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, and any other individuals or entities involved with designing, building, marketing, and selling the dangerous goods. To win the case, the plaintiff must prove they were injured, the product is defective, that defect caused the injuries, and the product was used as intended.

To figure out whether your personal injury case falls into one of the above categories, contact TLW & Associates LLC in Saint Louis, MO. Their lawyers help Saint Louis County residents receive compensation after being injured in car accidents, on the job, in nursing homes, or due to defective products. Learn more about the firm's practice areas online, and call (314) 531-4747 to schedule a consultation.