Personal Injury

Personal Injury Cases

Most people have heard the term “personal injury,” but many of them may not fully understand what it means. Personal injury cases include any form of harm that comes to your physical health or finances. In these cases, the harm done to you was caused by another party.

There are two — or more — parties in a personal injury case. When you file a personal injury claim, you are considered the plaintiff. The plaintiff seeks justice and financial compensation from a defendant, or multiple defendants, who bear responsibility for the harm done. Defendants can be either people or companies.

Your claim must show that your injuries were the fault of the defendant. This is called proving liability. You must also demonstrate how badly you were injured as a result of their actions.

In some cases, you may need to prove that the other party was negligent. Negligence can be anything the other party could have done to prevent your injuries but did not. Their failure to protect you could mean they are at fault.

Some more common personal injuries include:

• Physical harm
• Serious loss of finances
• Disability
• Health problems or illness caused by an injury
• Worsening of an existing health condition
• Death

Given that these injuries are often the fault of another party, many people file legal claims to get compensation that will help offset the cost of injuries and loss. This is why the guidance of a law firm is crucial. Most people are not well-versed in the legal system, and a single mistake can derail a potential case.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

Sokolove Law handles a wide variety of personal injury cases because there are many different ways in which people are harmed. Injuries often occur unexpectedly and can happen almost anywhere — including at work, school, home, or while on vacation.

Many injuries bring catastrophic consequences. You and your family could suffer for years after such an injury. Even worse, those who may be at fault might not be held accountable without legal action, inviting other people to be injured in the same way in the future.

Sokolove Law will work on your behalf if you have been injured. Our lawyers have the resources and experience needed to increase your chances of a favorable outcome.

Common personal injury cases we handle include:

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice, according to a recent study from Johns Hopkins University, is the third-highest cause of death in the United States. Over 250,000 people die each year from medical errors made by doctors and/or other health care professionals. Countless others are injured by medical malpractice as well.

Medical malpractice can include:

• Administering the wrong dosage or type of medicine
• Birth injuries
• Failing to diagnose a medical issue
• Making an error during an operation
• Providing poor medical advice

Even a simple medical mistake can lead to permanent issues or death. For example, if a doctor makes a misdiagnosis, a patient may receive unnecessary or improper treatment or treatment that causes even more damage.

Auto Accidents

Car accidents bring harm to hundreds of thousands each year. In 2017 alone, over 40,000 people were killed in auto accidents. Cars can get smashed, flipped over, or explode during a collision. Even minor accidents can leave people with long-term physical and/or mental health issues.

Auto accidents also come with huge financial costs. For example, you may need medical treatment after an accident. Medical expenses can be costly and hurt your family’s financial well-being — even with insurance.

Fortunately, those who were injured in auto accidents have several ways to seek compensation.

Legal claims could be filed against:

• Manufacturers: Auto manufacturers sometimes produce defective vehicle parts. When these parts fail, those inside the vehicle can suffer serious injuries or even death. As a result, you may be able to hold the company accountable for your injuries.
• Insurance companies: If you file an insurance claim, the companies may pressure you into taking a low settlement for your accident. This allows them to keep profits high and sweep issues under the rug. In the process, you wrongfully lose out on compensation.

Commercial Truck Accidents

Every 15 minutes in the United States, tractor-trailers or semi-trucks crash and injure or kill someone, adding up to over 555,000 truck accidents annually. Thousands more accidents happen each year involving other types of commercial vehicles, like delivery vans, rideshare vehicles, or buses.

While accidents involving large trucks or commercial vehicles occur for a variety of reasons, many are preventable and are often the result of trucking companies violating safety standards to maximize profits.

However, accidents involving commercial vehicles, trucks especially, can be particularly deadly. These vehicles weigh 20-30 times as much as cars and can take longer to brake or change lanes. This puts passengers in lighter vehicles at a disadvantage in collisions with heavier vehicles like semi-trucks and causes accidents to result in more severe and catastrophic injuries.

Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are more common than you may think. In 2017, sports-related catastrophic injuries alone, which account for only a small fraction of all catastrophic injuries, totaled 86, according to data compiled by the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR).

Unlike other forms of personal injury, catastrophic injury results in significant, often irreversible damage to a person’s body or mental well-being.

Catastrophic injuries include:

• Amputation
• Permanent brain damage
• Third-degree burns
• Concussions
• Disfigurement
• Spinal cord injuries
• Death

These injuries often come out of nowhere, devastating you and your family in the process. The recent building collapse in Surfside, Florida, is a tragic example. The high costs associated with the treatment of these injuries — surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation — can add even more distress.

Workplace Injuries

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), approximately 4.6 million people are injured on the job each year. Around 12,600 workers get hurt every single day. Thankfully, workers’ compensation plans can help many victims get back on their feet. But the sad truth is that some workplace injuries could have and should have been avoided.

Common workplace injuries include:

• Cuts
• Falling
• Getting struck or crushed by equipment
• Strained or torn muscles
• Sprains

Other Types of Personal Injuries

Sokolove Law handles a wide array of personal injury cases. If you have been harmed, we may be able to help you. Below you will find other types of cases we have handled in the past. There are many other types of personal injury cases not listed as well. You still may have a case even if you do not see your injury listed. Consult our list of cases or contact Sokolove Law to learn more.

Consumer Fraud

Consumers may be the victims of fraud if their brokers or advisers made negligent or intentionally poor financial decisions on their behalf. As a result, the consumer has lost their hard-earned money or is denied money that they may need.

Common types of consumer fraud include:

• Complicated exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Disability denial
• Insurance fraud
• Unlawful termination

Dog Bites

Dogs that are not kept on leashes or that escape their enclosures may attack unsuspecting individuals without warning. Even dogs on a leash may pose a threat. Children and seniors are at a higher risk of getting bitten by a dog. More vicious dogs can seriously harm — or kill — people or other animals.

Statutes of Limitations and Personal Injury Claims

If you or someone you love is the victim of a personal injury, you may be able to seek compensation. However, you will need to file your claim within a certain time frame.

Statutes of limitations are laws that determine how long you have to file a claim. These laws vary for each state and by type of case so don’t delay in reaching out to our case managers.

Unfortunately, if you do not file your claim within the time limit, you will never be able to file one. However, you can ensure your claim is filed in time — and filed properly — by working with an experienced law firm like Sokolove Law.

Sokolove Law has helped thousands of people seek damages from personal injuries. In our firm’s 40-year history, we have helped thousands of victims recover a combined $8.8 Billion — a number that continues to grow. Since we are a national law firm, our team can also file claims in any state.

To get started, fill out our contact form or call (800) 995-1212 today.