A personal injury lawsuit arises when a person suffers an injury(s) due to another person’s actions. In most cases, these actions amount to negligence, where a person fails to provide the care that a reasonable person would in the same situation. In other cases, those actions can be classified as recklessness, which is more serious than negligence and is often associated with a person’s deliberate and unjustified actions without regard for their consequences.
You can seek compensation with the help of experienced personal injury attorneys if you are injured in an accident or through the actions of another person. Let’s look at the most common cases accident injury lawyers handle in Oakland.
Car Accidents
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there were over 39,500 car accidents that resulted in close to 43,000 fatalities in the United States in 2021. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on the other hand, says that there are about 7,500 people injured in car accidents every day.
These numbers mean that car accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries and the resulting lawsuits.
There are various reasons for the prevalence of these types of accidents, including reckless and distracted driving, poor vehicle maintenance, poor weather and road conditions, ignoring traffic signals, speeding, and driving under the influence.
You should always collect as much evidence as possible and get medical attention following a car accident because some injuries only present with symptoms later. You should then hire a vehicle accident lawyer to help you file a lawsuit and navigate the process of getting compensated. The right personal injury accident lawyer will also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf if they make an offer.
Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers must be acutely aware that pedestrians could be using the road at the same time and take necessary precautions to avoid hitting them. Pedestrian accidents are so serious because they are unprotected, unlike the vehicle’s occupants. For these reasons, the types of injuries a person can sustain range from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones and even traumatic brain injuries.
Some common causes of pedestrian accidents include speeding, failure to yield, ignoring traffic lights, and distracted driving. Even though drivers are often to blame for these accidents.
Motorcycle Accidents
As with pedestrians, there is nothing to protect a motorcycle when struck by a vehicle. Motorcycle accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and road rash. They can also lead to fatalities depending on their specific circumstances, such as the speed of the motorcycle and vehicle and angle of impact.
Because the catastrophic injuries they cause can lead to life-changing injuries, you should contact a motorcycle accident lawyer immediately following an accident. They will help you recover damages, including lost wages, inability to get back to work, medical bills, pain and suffering, and even property damage related to your motorcycle.
You can also file a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of wrongful death lawyers if a loved one passes away following a motorcycle accident. You can contact the attorneys at Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys for a no-obligation consultation to discuss the accident.
Slip and Fall or Premises Liability Cases
Property owners and operators must ensure their premises are safe for residents, guests, and anyone else with access, such as mail carriers. Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability cases filed and can be filed against businesses and individual owners.
The owner or operator must repair all issues that could cause accidents, remove them, or place adequate warning signs close to the hazard. Failure to do this could lead to serious accidents, including broken bones, head injuries, and others. Contact a personal injury attorney if you have been injured on a property so they can help you determine whether you have a case and who to sue if you do.
Animal Attacks and Bites
Most cases of animal attacks and bites involve dogs. Owners must take reasonable measures as outlined in the law to ensure their dogs do not cause these types of injuries, lest they be liable in case they happen.
Animal or dog bites are dangerous because they can cause various infections, with the main concern being rabies. There is no treatment for rabies, and it is almost always fatal once the victim starts showing symptoms. For this reason, you should seek medical attention immediately to get a series of shots that prevent an infection.
Bicycle Accidents
Oakland has a very supportive bike culture and has been designated the most bike-friendly city in California. Since there are so many cyclists in the city, bicycle accidents are common. Bike accidents occur when a vehicle strikes a bicycle while a rider is on it, or when cyclists strike them as they appear from intersections and parking garages.
As with motorcycle accidents, these accidents are very serious, resulting in road rash, broken bones, and head, neck, and spinal cord injuries. Accident injury lawyers CA can help you navigate the complicated laws surrounding traffic and bicycles so you can know who is liable and file a lawsuit.
Defective or Malfunctioning Medical Devices
We expect the best outcomes when a doctor assures us that a new medical device will improve our health, well-being, and quality of life. However, that is not always the case if the device is defective or malfunctions. Such devices can cause harm, including pain and tissue damage, negating the benefits the doctor told you about.
Personal injuries have devastating effects, especially if they lead to life-long pain or the victim becomes disabled. The lawyers at Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys lawyers can help you with different types of personal injury cases depending on the cause and the person responsible. Get in touch today for a free consultation through our contact page.