Personal injuries and wrongful deaths result from many causes. They also take many forms, ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and cerebral palsy. Fortunately, victims have undeniable rights to hold the people or organizations that harm them accountable. Parents can seek insurance settlements for injured children, and a designated family member or estate executor can file a civil lawsuit on behalf of a person who needlessly lost his or her life.
Following is a quick summary of the major types of personal injury and wrongful death cases. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to any of these, you may have a legal champion among the attorneys who practice out of the Cleveland, Ohio, offices of Agee Clymer Mitchell & Portman. Let us know how we can help by calling (800) 678-3318 or connecting with us online. The initial consultation will cost you nothing.
Car wrecks, truck crashes, and motorcycle accidents likely come to mind most quickly when anyone hears “Cleveland, Ohio, personal injury lawyer.” This is entirely appropriately because people who hurt or kill others by violating traffic laws, driving recklessly, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs should be made to settle insurance claims, pay compensation for medical bills, and pay damages for pain and suffering.
When doctors, dentists, pharmacists, or nurses fail to follow the best practices for patient care, individuals can spend months or years suffering unnecessarily. Too often, medical mistakes kill. Just a few of the errors health care providers make that can justify a personal injury or wrongful death claim are:
Hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes also have legal duties to protect patients. Often, a medical malpractice lawsuit will name both a health care practitioner and the facility that employed the individual who committed the alleged error.
Homeowners and businesses must ensure the safety of visitors. “Slip and fall” is the catch-all term for this because the stereotypical case involves a customer slipping on an unmopped floor. The key to succeeding with such a claim lies in showing that the danger was known to exist but not fixed, which constitutes negligence on the part of the property owner or legal occupant. For instance, loose railings, broken steps, building code violations, exposed wiring, and heavy objects stored unsecurely overhead can give rise to slip and fall claims.
Companies that make or sell items that injure, poison, or kill consumers can be sued. Proving intent is not necessary. A plaintiff in a dangerous or defective product lawsuits only needs to prove that a problem should have been noticed and corrected before anyone got hurt.
In legalese, a harm is called a tort. This means that an intentional tort occurs when a person wants to hurt someone else and succeeds. Examples of intentional tort include: