If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence—whether in a car accident, a slip and fall, or another type of incident—you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim. Understanding the nature of your case is the first step toward protecting your rights and securing fair compensation.
Harlene Labrum, a personal injury attorney in Nashville, TN, shares 10 of the most common types of personal injury claims, along with practical tips on how to strengthen your case and maximize your compensation, in order to significantly increase your chances of a successful outcome:
Slip and Fall Accidents
There are around 14 million falls among older adults each year. Slip and fall claims arise when you are injured on someone else’s unsafe property. This could be due to wet floors, cluttered walkways, poor lighting, or other hazards.
Medical Malpractice
When a doctor, nurse or other medical professional provides negligent treatment and causes you harm, you may have a medical malpractice claim, as happens to 1 in 10 people. Get your medical records and have another doctor review and analyze any substandard care. The compensation can be substantial for serious injuries like permanent disability.
Dog Bites
Dog bite claims are common personal injury cases, especially for children, with 4.7 million cases a year. Under dog bite laws, the animal’s owner can be held liable for bites and other injuries caused by their dog. Harlene Labrum, a personal injury lawyer in Nashville, suggests that an experienced injury attorney can assist in identifying the dog owner and holding them financially accountable. Damages can include wound care, scarring, emotional trauma, and more.
Assault and Battery
Being physically attacked or harmed by another person is the basis for an assault and battery claim. This covers injuries sustained in bar fights, muggings, workplace violence and other intentional acts. Make sure to report the incident to police and get medical treatment. Compensation can cover both physical and psychological injuries.
Premises Liability
Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe. Premises liability claims arise from injuries sustained from dangerous property conditions like broken stairs, poor lighting, uneven floors and lack of proper security. One in 10 lawsuits relate to premises liability every year.
Nursing Home Abuse
Elderly nursing home residents can suffer injuries like bedsores, infections and broken bones due to abuse and neglect. Nursing home claims involve demonstrating how the staff failed to provide adequate care. Compensation often covers new medical treatment, therapy and making up for pain and suffering.
Product Liability
If you are injured by a defective product, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer. Get evidence that the product had risks or defects the manufacturer was aware of but failed to warn about. Large companies often settle these claims quickly to avoid negative publicity.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury claims, with 44,762 deaths in 2023. If you are injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, such as texting while driving, you can make a claim against their insurance for compensation. Hire an experienced lawyer to negotiate the best settlement and prove the other driver was at fault.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents often result in severe injuries for riders. If a motor vehicle hits a bicyclist, compensation can be recovered from the driver’s insurance. The claim process is similar to car accidents.
Pedestrian Accidents
7,522 pedestrians died in 2022. Like bicycle collisions, pedestrians struck and injured by vehicles have valid personal injury claims. Compensation covers medical bills, income loss, disability, and pain. Strong evidence of the driver’s fault is key. Sometimes multiple parties, like the city, may share liability if poor road design contributed.
If you get injured in an accident or are suffering the consequences of someone else’s negligence, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help maximize your payout by demonstrating the full extent of the physical, financial, and emotional harm you suffered.
