What Is Personal Injury?
Personal injury cases can take on many different forms. One of the most common examples of personal injury involves car accidents. In 2014 alone, 2.3 million people were injured in motor vehicle accidents and 32,675 people were killed. In addition to cases involving car accidents, personal injury cases can also arise when, for example, a customer slips while walking on a store’s sidewalk that has been improperly maintained or a nursing home resident is abused by his or her caregivers.
When people who allegedly suffer injuries due to the negligence of another person file a personal injury case, they may be eligible to receive several different types of compensation. For example, if their case is successful, claimants may be able to receive compensation for all medical bills they incurred as a result of the accident, compensation to cover wages they did not receive while they were in recovery and compensation for pain and suffering. However, past recoveries do not influence the outcomes of future cases.
Accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, often when they are least expected. It is for this reason that Ohio personal injury attorneys exist: to help victims that have been injured either directly or indirectly by the fault of another individual or company. Ohio personal injury attorneys handle many types of claims including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Vehicle accidents
- Airplane accidents
- Semi truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Dangerous drugs
- Defective medical devices
- Dog bite injuries
- Premises liability
- Much more
Understanding Wrongful Death
A wrongful death is the taking of the life of an individual resulting from the willful or negligent act of another person or persons. If a person is killed because of the wrongful conduct of a person or persons, the decedent’s heirs and other beneficiaries may file a wrongful death action against those responsible for the decedent’s death.
For example, in a wrongful death case involving an Ohio plane crash, four college students were killed. The family members of one of the students claim that the pilot, who was a student, was incapable of flying the aircraft safely and that the flight club and its owner failed to maintain the plane and inspect it properly before it took flight with the four college students in it. The family that filed the lawsuit is seeking $75,000 in damages from the owner of the aircraft, the student pilot’s estate, and the fraternity the college students were associated with.
In Ohio, only certain relatives of the deceased are able to file wrongful death cases. These include the surviving spouse of the deceased person, the deceased person’s children or the parents of the person who passed away, because it is assumed that these family members will have suffered damages as a result of their loved one’s death. Some of the damages these family members may be able to receive in connection with the case, include compensation for loss of support the deceased person would have provided; compensation for loss of society, including damages for loss of companionship, care, protection, assistance and guidance; and compensation for any mental anguish that might have been experienced.
An Ohio personal injury lawsuit is an option for victims who have suffered personal injury caused by the wrongdoing or negligence of another party.
An Ohio Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
If a victim suffers a personal injury caused by the wrongdoing or negligence of another party, he or she may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income or ability to work
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from an injury
If a victim dies as a result of a personal injury caused by the wrongdoing or negligence of another, his or her family members may be able to pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Mental anguish, and pain and suffering from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of relationship or a loved one’s financial support
- Funeral expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering or a loved one prior to death
People who have been injured due to another’s negligence are advised to seek the advice of an Ohio personal injury attorney to help them protect their legal rights.