Personal Injury Lawyers Near Huntington Woods, MI

When an accident occurs, it can leave a lasting impact on the lives of those involved, especially if they sustain serious injuries. The U.S. legal system has created a series of specific processes that injured parties can follow when they’ve been hurt. These processes are known as personal injury cases. These cases can be incredibly complex and involve an array of legal steps and considerations. Being aware of the different types of personal injury cases is important for anyone needing legal assistance after an injury.

In this article, we’ll help our Michigan readers make sense of personal injuries by exploring some of the main types of personal injury cases.

Traffic Collisions

Traffic collisions or car accidents are among the most common reasons for pursuing a personal injury case. These accidents can result from an array of factors, including distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, and speeding. Injuries sustained from car accidents can range from cuts and scrapes to severe injuries. These may include spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries.

When personal injury attorneys take a case, they attempt to prove liability in the traffic collision that took place by collecting evidence. Case evidence may include things like police reports, eyewitness statements, and expert analyses of the accident scene.

Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip-and-fall accident can occur when an individual slips, trips, or falls due to hazardous conditions present on someone else’s property. Hazards like these may include wet floors, uneven flooring surfaces or improper lighting in a given area. Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe environments and warning visitors of known dangers. As such, getting hurt on another person’s property often warrants a personal injury case.

For example, let’s assume that you and your family decide to visit the nearby Detroit Zoo on a weekend outing. If the railing around one of the animal enclosures is broken or poorly installed, it might give way when you place your hands on it. A broken rail might cause you to lose your balance and fall from the walking path. 

The injury you sustain would be due to the zoo staff’s inaction when it came to fixing the faulty rail. In such an incident, you might have a personal injury case to pursue.

Proving liability in slip and fall cases usually involves legal representatives demonstrating that the owner of the property either knew or should have known about the hazardous condition. In these cases, the owner failed to take reasonable steps to remedy the issue, which is what led to the injury taking place.

Medical Malpractice Cases

Medical malpractice cases occur when healthcare providers fail to provide patients with the appropriate standard of care. These behaviors or incidents result in harm, including misdiagnoses, surgical mistakes, and errors when dispensing medication. In some situations, the resulting injury can be severe enough to significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life.

Let’s say that you spent a summer’s day at Rackham Golf Course with a few work colleagues and you suffered heat exhaustion. However, when you went to the hospital, the medical staff assumed you were dealing with a migraine. If, based on that misdiagnosis, you became injured due to prolonged dehydration, your situation may later become a personal injury case.

When an attorney proves that medical malpractice took place, they make use of expert testimony from medical professionals. These testimonies help establish the correct standard of care and demonstrate how and where the provider failed to follow these processes.

Medical malpractice cases are often very complex and might call for extensive documentation reviews and expert analysis.

Product Liabilities

This type of personal injury case arises when a defective or damaged product causes harm to a customer. Defective products may include anything from contaminated food products to poorly-manufactured appliances. When it comes to product liability, there are three main types of product defects to be aware of. These include design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects (such as confusing instructions).

When attorneys prove product liability, they aim to point out how a product was defective as well as how that product defect led to the injuries sustained.

Animal Attacks

Animal attacks, which usually take the form of dog bites, can cause serious injuries. These include lacerations, deep puncture wounds, and infections during the healing process. In many situations, the owner of the animal can be held responsible for the injuries their pets cause, regardless of whether the animal has any prior history of aggression. 

Dog bite laws can vary somewhat from state to state, but in general, pet owners are often liable if an animal in their possession bites another individual.

In Michigan, dog bite laws state that if a dog bites an individual without provocation, whether they’re on public property or private property (including the dog owner’s land), the owner is responsible for the pet’s behavior. This means they’re liable for any damages that the individual suffers, regardless of whether the dog has ever exhibited any history of aggression. Authorized visitors to the property are also protected, such as mail carriers and delivery drivers.

For a Huntington Woods personal injury attorney to prove the owner’s liability in animal attack cases, they usually present evidence like medical records, witness testimony, and documentation that illustrates the animal’s history.

Assault and Battery Cases

Assault and battery cases differ somewhat from the other types of personal injury cases, as these involve intentional actions. Assault refers to threats of violence while battery involves actual physical contact between those involved. These cases can result from several unique causes, including workplace altercations and domestic disputes.

To prove liability in assault and battery cases, attorneys present evidence in court, such as eyewitness accounts and medical records. In some situations, documentation of previous threats or incidents may also be used to support the plaintiff’s case.

Wrongful Deaths

Wrongful death cases are brought on behalf of someone who has died due to another party’s negligence or actions. Several incidents can lead to these cases coming about, including workplace accidents, reckless driving, and improper caregiving practices. Wrongful death claims aim to ensure that the deceased individual’s surviving family members receive compensation for the damages done. Compensation may cover medical expenses, funeral costs, and the loss of both income and companionship due to the individual’s death.

Personal injury cases can cover a wide range of incidents and legal issues. If you’ve sustained a personal injury, regardless of the type, it’s important to plan your next moves carefully. Understanding the basics of personal injury law is essential when it comes to pursuing a legal case. By getting familiar with the different types of personal injury cases, you can be better prepared to pursue your case and receive dedicated representation. 

Working with an experienced personal injury attorney near Huntington Woods, MI sets you on a path toward the best possible outcome in your case.