Millions of people are injured or killed in personal injury accidents every year. Personal injury claims fall under the umbrella legal discipline of tort law, which establishes liability for negligent or intentional misconduct that result in injuries, deaths, or damages. The following are some of the most common types of personal injury claims:
- Auto Accidents and Other Traffic Accidents. Millions of motor vehicle accidents occur every year. In fact, in 2012, there were more than 5.6 million police-reported motor vehicle accidents, resulting in 33,561 fatalities and 2,362,000 injuries.
- Work-Related Accidents. Each year, thousands of U.S. workers die in workplace accidents, with millions more injured. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, in 2012, there were 4,383 fatal work injuries and nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.
- Medical Malpractice. Medical malpractice fatalities have increased significantly in recent years. In fact, according to a recent study, medical mistakes are currently the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. Each year, between 220,000 and 440,000 deaths are attributed to preventable harm in hospitals.
- Intentional Torts. Intentional torts such as assault and battery are often criminal and civil offenses. Whereas many personal injury claims involve negligence, intentional torts, on the other hand, involve intentional misconduct. Regardless of whether the action is a criminal offense, the victim may still be entitled to personal injury damages in a civil case.
- Slip and Falls. According to the National Safety Council, in 2007, more than 21,700 Americans died as a result of falls and more than 7.9 million were injured by a fall. Moreover, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults 73 and older and the second leading cause of death from ages 60-72. Falls are also the leading cause of spinal cord injuries for seniors, with a new study showing that falls accounted for 41.5 percent of spinal cord injuries during the study period.
- Product Liability. Not only are product liability claims a common type of personal injury case, but they often yield some of the highest payouts. Product liability claims involve dangerous or defective products, or products that did not include the appropriate warnings. For instance, lawsuits are currently mounting against the manufacturers of testosterone therapy products for the failure to warn about stroke and heart attack risks, as well as talc body powder manufacturers for the failure to warn about cancer risks. Other common product liability claims involve auto defects and unsafe pharmaceuticals.
At Ankin Law, LLC, our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping accident and injury victims throughout Illinois obtain full and fair financial recovery for their injuries and damages. If you were injured in a personal injury accident, do not delay. Contact our office at (312) 600-0000 and schedule a free consultation with one of our Chicago accident lawyers.
