Living through a personal injury can be a traumatic experience. Sometimes, a single unfortunate moment in time can result in lifelong physical, emotional, and financial challenges.
In North Carolina, personal injury cases are common and arise from a variety of situations. From motor vehicle accidents to slip-and-fall events and even medical malpractice, injuries occur every day. Often, when negligence or wrongdoing causes an injury, the injured party is entitled to compensation.
In order to get the help that you need and deserve after suffering an injury, it’s important to understand which events may be considered grounds for a personal injury case. To help you evaluate your post-injury situation, we’ve prepared this brief guide on the most common personal injury cases in North Carolina. Let’s review which cases occur most often and the basic characteristics of each type.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
In 2021, there were over 276,000 motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina, resulting in over 114,000 personal injuries.
The vast majority of motor vehicle accidents are avoidable, resulting from factors such as negligence, distracted driving, and intoxicated driving. As a result, personal injury claims are incredibly common after motor vehicle accidents.
Car crash victims often suffer severe injuries and major life disruptions. That means that motor vehicle injury case settlements often produce substantial payouts.
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by another driver, it’s important to quickly seek medical attention. Carefully document your recovery in order to help build a case for fair compensation.
Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip-and-fall accident involves a person tripping or slipping and falling down because of unsafe conditions. This type of accident may be caused by icy or snow-covered ground, uneven surfaces, slippery floors, or poor lighting.
Proving that negligence occurred in a slip and fall case involves showing that the property owner failed to provide a safe walking surface. For example, they may have known about a dangerously sharp edge on the ground, but they didn’t fix the problem or post a warning sign on the premises.
Proving negligence might involve medical records, eyewitness statements, and photos of the area where the fall occurred.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice refers to a healthcare provider’s failure to meet the expected standard of care. Examples of malpractice include:
- Misdiagnosing a condition
- Surgical errors
- Prescribing or providing the wrong medication
Healthcare professionals aren’t required to be perfect, but they must not be negligent or careless. When something goes wrong with your diagnosis and/or treatment, the results can be incredibly harmful.
In these events, it’s crucial to seek the financial compensation that you’re entitled to.
Medical malpractice cases are complex but worth exploring if you feel that you may have been wronged by a healthcare provider and have proof to support it.
Product Liability
Manufacturers and businesses are responsible for providing safe products to their customers. If a company made a flawed product that injured you, then you have the right to take legal action.
Product liability cases may involve defective products or products that lack proper warnings. These cases often involve children’s toys, medical devices, and motor vehicle parts.
Proof in a product liability case involves showing that you were injured and that the injury was the result of a product’s defect. Even if the manufacturer had no intent to cause harm and attempted to make a safe product, they are still responsible for any design flaw or defect that led to an injury.
Workplace Injury
A workplace injury is an injury that occurs at your place of work while you’re performing an activity related to your job. Common workplace injuries include overexertion injuries, machinery accidents, and reactions to dangerous substances, such as toxic chemicals.
When you’re injured at work, you may end up needing extended leave and disability benefits. You may even end up leaving the job permanently. Funds secured in a personal injury case can help you deal with the challenges you face during your injury recovery.
Importance of Hiring a North Carolina Law Firm
If you’ve been injured in North Carolina and need legal representation, it’s important to work with a law firm that’s based right here in the Tar Heel State.
At Curcio Anderson Law, we have a long history of successful representation for North Carolina residents who have been wrongfully injured. We’re experts in the state’s laws and regulations, and we know how to navigate the North Carolina court system.
To schedule a free consultation, contact Curcio Anderson Law today.