PERSONAL INJURY I Frequently Asked Questions

I. General Information about Personal Injury

II. What to do if in case of injury or accident

III. Injuries Due to Motor Vehicles
A. Description
B. Avoiding an Accident
C. Fault
D. Uninsured or Underinsured Motorists
E. No-Fault Insurance

IV. Injuries Due to Products
A. Personal Injuries from Dangerous or Defective Products
B. The Plaintiff's Burden in a Dangerous or Defective
      Product Personal Injury Case

V. Injuries Due to Slips/Falls
A. Description
B. Liability Principles
C. Personal Injury Cases

VI. Animal Attacks
A. Personal Injuries
B. Burdon of Proof
C. Determining Fault

VII. What is a Claim Worth?

VIII. Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer-
      How Do I Choose The Best One For Me?

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Injuries Due to Products

Personal Injuries from Dangerous or Defective Products
If you have been injured when using a product was in a defective or dangerous condition when you purchased it, you may be able to recover damages from the manufacturer or seller in a products-liability-based Personal Injury suit. The law on this is based on the responsibility of a manufacturer or other provider of goods to ensure they are providing safe products for the consumer. They will compensate users of the goods for injuries caused by defective or dangerous products if it is proven that placed them into the buyer's hands, making them accountable. Injured persons can be advised by competent Personal Injury lawyers that will know whether they may have a claim against a product manufacturer or seller and may assist them in recovery of the damages to which they are legally entitled.

The "Product Liability" law governs the liability of the manufacturer (or other provider) for products that injure anyone that uses them. This includes both manufacturers and dealers, as they are the ones that are in the best position to ensure the safety of their products. Any product produced and sold that has been determined to be dangerous leads these to be held accountable for consequential injuries. In order to find if it is the manufacturer or dealer that is responsible for an injury, it is best to consult a knowledgeable, experienced Personal Injury lawyer. It is the Personal Injury lawyer that should advise anyone on whether or not a claim against a product provider should be filed as they have the experience and ability to assist clients in obtaining settlements to recover the compensation to which they are legally entitled.

The Plaintiff's Burden in a Dangerous or Defective Product Personal Injury Case

Simply claiming a product was defective in design or production is not adequate for a product liability action. It has to be proven by the plaintiff that the manufacturer was at fault and the product caused the injuries. This includes that the product was used as intended by the manufacturer or the manufacturer should have been able to predict that the product could be "misused" and a warning should have been established in the literature or packaging of the product. The product's possible dangers are the manufacturer's responsibility. It is the plaintiff's responsibility to prove the product was the cause of the injuries with credible evidence. Design defects are much more difficult to prove. It often requires expert testimony and proof that the entire product line is subject to having the same defect, causing unreasonable hazards. Showing that the product was the single cause of the injuries may be complicated. If more than one cause is possible, it must be proven that the product defect was the main reason for the injuries.

Injuries Due to Slips/Falls - Description

Injuries incurred on other's property may be the legal responsibility of the owners or occupiers of the property. Depending on the rules and principles in the jurisdiction where the injury occurred, liability for damages including lost wages and medical bills, as well as pain and suffering may be recovered. A competent Personal Injury lawyer knows the Premises Liability Laws and will able to determine if damages due to an injury caused by a slip or fall may be sought. Common causes of slips and falls include ice and snow, spilled liquid, uneven stairs and broken steps. Slips and falls are usually complex. There are several legal issues and complications that need to be addressed. Personal Injury attorneys with premises liability experience are best qualified to advise you on your rights and the possibility to obtain positive outcomes in slip and fall cases.

Liability Principles

No matter how a person ended up on your property, you may be liable for an injury. It doesn't matter if you invited someone onto your property (an invitee), someone comes onto your property with your permission for their own purposes (a licensee) or someone comes on without any permission (a trespasser). Owners are required to warn others of possible dangers, even trespassers, if it may be proven that you knew someone is likely to trespass on your property.

Premises Liability Laws in some states focus on the visitor's status on the property.
Licensees need to be warned of hidden dangerous areas, and the owner may not necessarily need to have these areas fixed. Trespassers may recover damages if they may prove the owner knew others would enter his or her property without permission. Even though proper warning signs need not to be placed in the case of trespassers, it is still wise to do so in case children wander onto your property. Children that are injured on your property are more likely to recover damages, even if they are trespassers. This fact increases the property owners duty to warn in the case of children.

The condition of the property and activities of the owners, visitors and licensees are given consideration in some states. Reasonable care must be given to any visitor or licensees, but not to trespassers. Owners must continually inspect property and repair or place warnings on any dangerous conditions. The injured party must show neglect to the standard of reasonable upkeep by the owner to prove a premises liability case and prove the owner had knowledge of the danger. The injured party must also show that they took reasonable care for their own safety. It is very difficult to prove owners knew of dangers and that injured parties took reasonable care to avoid the danger.

Personal Injury Cases

When someone slips on a foreign substance or due to a dangerous condition, and injures themselves when falling, they have a slip and fall Personal Injury case. Common causes of these are icy sidewalks, often in front of a business, or grocery store slips on various food items that have fallen on the floor. Owners of the property may or may not be liable for the damages due to these injuries. Even though they have a duty to maintain the property and exercise reasonable care to protect their consumers and other visitors, conditions of the property should be easily perceptible, as the injured parties have a responsibility to protect themselves against injuries.

The owners or possessors of the property may also avoid liability by showing that the danger had occurred without reasonable opportunity for the owner or possessor to clean up or fix the condition before the injuries occurred. This time frame may vary in each individual case, and it is the injured party that has to establish that the owner or possessor of the property had a reasonable period of time in which to find out about the danger and to place a warning about it or fix the problem.

DISCLAIMER: The information you obtain at our firm web site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. It is recommended that you should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

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