7 Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Car Accident,Defective Products,Dog Bites,Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect,Personal Injury,Premises Liability,Truck Accident,Work Injury - May 18, 2021 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
Nobody expects that they will sustain an injury when they go about their daily activities. Unfortunately, there are times when the careless or negligent actions of individuals, businesses, or entities in Illinois cause significant injuries to others.
There are countless ways in which personal injury cases arise in this state. However, we have found that there are some causes of personal injury cases that are more common than others. Here, we want to discuss some of the most common types of personal injury cases in Illinois.
Motor vehicle accidents
Data available from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows us that vehicle accident are a leading cause of injuries each year in this state. During the latest reporting year, we can see that there were more than 312,000 total vehicle collisions. Out of these incidents, there were more than 89,000 injuries and 1,010 total fatalities.
Vehicle accidents occur in a wide variety of ways, and they can affect more than just drivers and passengers inside traditional vehicles. Additionally, motor vehicle accidents can also affect motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, scooter riders, and more.
Commercial vehicle accidents
We separate out commercial vehicle accidents from traditional motor vehicle accidents due to the extreme weight discrepancy between these larger vehicles and traditional passenger cars on the roadway. Data available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows us that tractor-trailers can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When a commercial vehicle collides with traditional passenger cars on the roadway, it is not uncommon for those involved to sustain severe injuries.
Defective products
Product defects can lead to severe injuries for consumers. We depend on the safety of the items that we purchase for our use or consumption. Unfortunately, there are various ways in which faulty products make their way into the hands of consumers. Products can become defective due to the following:
- Defective designs. Companies are responsible for ensuring that their products are thoroughly tested before they are released to consumers. Unfortunately, there are times when defective designs make it through the testing process and onto store shelves.
- Manufacturing errors. When a well-designed product experiences a manufacturing error, this can completely alter the safety of the product for consumers.
- Advertising issues. Consumers rely on product labels to give them pertinent information about a product’s use. Incorrect labeling can lead to problems with the instructions, warnings, hazards, side effects, ingredients, dosages, and more.
Dog bite incidents
Dogs have powerful jaws that can inflict significant injuries on a person’s body. Some of the main injuries in these instances include massive blood loss, significant lacerations or puncture wounds, amputated fingers, and torn ligaments, muscles, veins, or arteries. In Illinois, this state operates under a strict liability system when it comes to dog bites. This means that a dog’s owner will be held liable for any injury inflicted by their dog biting somebody else, regardless of whether or not the dog has ever bitten anybody before or shown a propensity for aggression.
Premises liability incidents
Property owners have a duty to ensure the safety of their premises for everyone who has the right to be there. Unfortunately, there are times when property owners breach the duty of care that they owe others, and this can lead to significant injuries. Slip and fall incidents are the leading cause of premises liability cases, but injuries can also occur due to defective store displays, inadequate security, poor lighting, elevator and escalator accidents, and more.
At workplace injuries
Data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that there were around 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries or illnesses during the latest reporting year. The vast majority of these injuries are relatively minor, but there are many workplace injuries that result in devastating consequences for victims.
Nursing home abuse
We rely on nursing homes to care for our elderly loved ones when we are no longer able to do so. Unfortunately, there are times when nursing home staff members neglect or abuse the residents under their care.
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