Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states.
After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in…

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Rachael Brennan

Licensed Insurance Agent

Benjamin Carr was a licensed insurance agent in Georgia and has two years’ experience in life, health, property and casualty coverage. He has worked with State Farm and other risk management firms. He is also a strategic writer and editor with a background in branding, marketing, and quality assurance. He has been in military newsrooms — literally on the frontline of journalism.

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Benji Carr

Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Mar 11, 2022

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Quick Facts

Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include auto accidents and medical malpractice lawsuits
Personal injury lawsuits are caused by minor injuries with small payouts, as well as catastrophic injuries with millions of dollars in compensation
When dealing with a personal injury caused by negligence, you must contact an attorney immediately following the accident

You can’t always avoid injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 97.9 million people visit emergency rooms every year for unintentional injuries. Often, someone else’s negligence causes accidental damages. If you’ve been injured due to someone’s recklessness, you might be eligible for financial compensation with a personal injury case. There are various types of personal injury cases, but today we will explore the five most prevalent examples. 

This guide will discuss the most common types of personal injury cases. We’ll review personal injury cases examples and what you can do in these situations as well as explain how lawyers can help you prepare your case.

What is a personal injury case?

Personal injury cases occur when one person injures another person through negligence, recklessness, or an intentional act. Personal injury cases sometimes go to trial but are most frequently settled through mediation or arbitration. 

There are many types of personal injury cases. Some are caused by standard and minor injuries, resulting in small payments. Other personal injury cases involve severe personal injury damages to hundreds of parties and millions of dollars in financial compensation. 

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What are the most common types of personal injury cases?

Some of the most common types of personal injury cases occur thousands of times annually. Victims often receive enormous amounts of money in financial compensation. 

Below are five of the most common types of personal injury cases. 

Auto Accident Personal Injury Cases

Auto accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury cases. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that over 6.7 million traffic accidents occur every year in the United States.

Drunk driving, speeding, and reckless driving are typical causes of accidents. Auto incidents may involve cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycle riders, and pedestrians. 

If you’re injured in a car accident caused by someone’s negligence, you must contact your insurance company and an attorney right away.

Medical Malpractice Personal Injury Cases

Medical malpractice suits are a widespread type of personal injury case. According to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), in the year 2021 alone, there were over 40,000 adverse action reports and medical malpractice payment reports filed in the United States. 

Medical malpractice injuries are often drastically life-changing. Victims of medical malpractice can receive payments for their physical, emotional, and financial suffering.

Causes of Common Medical Malpractice Personal Injury Cases

Some of the most prevalent forms of medical malpractice include:

Misdiagnosis. If you were injured due to an incorrect diagnosis, you might be able to pursue a medical malpractice personal injury case.
Delayed diagnosis. If a late diagnosis caused you to suffer an injury, you might be eligible for a medical malpractice injury lawsuit.
Injuries sustained during childbirth. Injuries that occur during delivery, and as the result of negligence, are common causes of medical malpractice cases.
Medication errors. Mistakes in medication due to carelessness are often heard in medical malpractice personal injury cases.
Failure to treat. If a healthcare professional refuses or neglects to provide you treatment, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim.
Anesthesia errors. You might have a medical malpractice case if you suffered an injury due to an anesthesia error.
Surgical errors. If someone’s negligence during surgery causes you harm, you can pursue a medical malpractice personal injury case. 

Medical malpractice cases typically involve the negligence of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.

Personal Injury Cases in the Workplace

Common types of personal injury cases frequently include workplace injuries. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds. 

Neglecting safety in the workplace can lead to horrendous injuries or even death. Businesses that engage in reckless behavior put their employees at risk by failing to maintain equipment, institute safety protocols, and provide proper personal protection gear. 

If you’re injured at work, you must immediately seek medical attention and file a report with your supervisor. It’s essential to document your claim with photographic evidence and witness statements from your coworkers. Remember, the more information you gather, the better chance you have of winning your injury lawsuit.

Slip and Fall Personal Injury Cases

Slip and fall injuries are a prevalent type of personal injury case. Senior citizens are frequently the victims of slip and fall cases. According to the CDC, falls are the number one cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries to people over 65. 

Falls are routinely the consequences of negligence. Wet floors, broken railings, and improperly marked hazards are frequent causes of slip and fall accidents.

Wrongful Death Personal Injury Cases

The final type of personal injury case discussed here is the wrongful death case. If a loved one suffers a fatal accident due to negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death injury lawsuit.

Wrongful death suits are very common. When a loved one dies unexpectedly, a financial burden is often left on the family. Wrongful death injury lawsuits can help you prepare your loved one’s final expenses and handle funeral costs after an unexpected death.

You must contact an attorney as quickly as possible after the accident to ensure that your family is fairly compensated. 

How can a lawyer help with different types of personal injury cases?

If you or a loved one is injured due to someone else’s negligence, an attorney can help your family obtain financial compensation with a personal injury lawsuit. 

But, what is a personal injury claim?

Auto accident personal injury claims frequently involve cases of he said, she said. An experienced lawyer can help mediate conflicting claims and negotiate a fair settlement. Personal injury lawyers cover all types of auto injury lawsuits, including car, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents.

Capable attorneys combine decades of trial experience, excellent negotiation skills, and a thorough knowledge of the law to represent your case and get you the payment you deserve. 

Many whole life insurance plans include benefits to help cover your losses after an accident. But insurance coverage is often not enough to compensate all of your expenses. 

Even if you already have a quality permanent life insurance policy, it’s important to consult with an attorney to gather the appropriate evidence and information. 

Types of Personal Injury Cases: Final Thoughts

There are numerous types of personal injury cases, from minor injury lawsuits to instances with hundreds of victims and multimillion dollar payouts.

Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include auto accidents, medical malpractice, workplace, slip and fall, and wrongful death injury lawsuits. 

Other common types of personal injury cases frequently include nursing home abuse or neglect, aviation or boating accidents, pet bites, food poisoning, and other instances of catastrophic negligence.

After a qualifying accident, you must follow a few steps:

Seek medical attention.
Notify your supervisor of the accident, if the injury occurs at work. 
Contact your insurance company and a lawyer immediately.
Gather the evidence to document your claim.

Don’t forget to check the statute of limitations on your claim. As a general rule, the earlier you contact an attorney following an accident, the better your chances of securing a large payment. 

If you’re involved in an accident and are injured due to someone else’s negligence, you might be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. You could be eligible for financial compensation for your suffering. Remember to do your research and contact a lawyer to ensure that you and your family receive the payment you deserve.