Based on these data, it's safe to estimate that there are between 300,000 and 500,000 personal injury cases each year in the United States. In this country, a large proportion of civil litigation is made up of personal injury claims. These claims are covered by tort claims laws. For a case to be known, a person must have suffered an injury or damage must have occurred to a property, and this must have been the result of wrongful or negligent actions of a third person or entity.
Common cases include traffic accidents, construction accidents, dog bites, defective products, and medical malpractice. Unfortunately, in our current society, these types of incidents occur very regularly. Understanding the statistics around personal injury provides a clear picture of the types of incidents that take place in our country and what the consequences of these are. The National Center for Health Statistics, a department within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has stated that about 31 million people suffer injuries across the country each year requiring medical treatment.
Of these, about 2 million are serious enough to require some type of hospitalization. In addition, 162,000 of these injuries are fatal. As for construction accidents, these are thought to cause around 300,000 personal injuries per year, as well as 1,000 deaths. Finally, medical malpractice is believed to be behind the deaths of some 98,000 people each year.
This shows how many injuries and accidental deaths actually occur in our country each year. Therefore, it is not surprising that liability is often discussed in these cases. When this happens, a personal injury case or other form of litigation may be necessary. While no exact data is available, the U.S.
UU. The Department of Justice estimated that about 16,397 tort cases were tried nationwide, according to a sample of state courts across the country. It's important to understand how significant this is, as only 4% of personal injury cases go to trial. The majority reach an out-of-court settlement.
As such, the actual personal injury claims in this country, if the estimate is correct, would be 409,925, which is a staggering number. The remaining 28% covered “other cases. This highlights the variety of personal injuries that do occur. It also highlights the importance of accidents on the road.
Interestingly, judges seem to be more inclined to believe in the plaintiff (56%) than jurors (51%). These findings demonstrate two main things:. First, cases that aren't litigated often have higher payouts. Second, cases where the injury or potential for injury is worse also pay more.
Submit Your Injury Details for Confidential Legal Consultation Sponsored by Melinda J Helbock A, P, CatTorney Advertising. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nearly 175,000 Americans Suffer Unintentional Injuries Each Year. These injuries rank third among the leading causes of death, behind cancer and heart disease. A personal injury occurs when someone suffers harm (whether physical, financial, or emotional) at the hands of another person's negligence.
A common example of this is when someone is injured in a car accident involving a drunk driver. In such cases, the suffering incurred goes beyond what car insurance can accommodate, and the damages often seem incalculable. It is the personal injury lawyer's responsibility to help determine who is responsible and what is owed to the victim. Unless you're a lawyer, there's a lot you probably don't know about personal injury cases until you're involved in one.
DC Law understands how intimidating and overwhelming the personal injury lawsuit journey can be for those who are new to it. We hope that the information gathered here will serve as a useful introduction to the current state of personal injury, including the prevalence of personal injury in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 39.5 million doctor's office visits for unintentional injuries each year, followed by 29.4 million hospital emergency department visits. This represents millions of Americans suffering injuries, which vary in severity, due to an accident.
Unfortunately, unintentional injuries cause just under 170,000 deaths a year. In the U.S. That is, 19.9 people per 100,000 inhabitants. Unintentional poisoning can occur in a variety of ways, including harmful substances found in products.
Motor vehicle injuries, including but not limited to car, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, are the second highest cause of deaths due to unintentional accidents in the U.S. The Third Highest Cause of Accidental Deaths in the U.S. It is declining, resulting in 11.2 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. This can happen from falling off a ladder or tripping hazards.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), car accident cases are the most prevalent type of case among personal injury lawsuits in the U.S. As for the 75 largest counties in the country, about half of tort lawsuits involve a car accident. Car injury cases also have key differences compared to other types of personal injury cases. For example, victims of a car accident are significantly more likely to sue a person (for example,.
The driver of the other vehicle) rather than a company or manufacturer. In nearly three-quarters of car cases, one person is suing another person. This compares to non-car accident tort lawsuits, where only 28% of cases involve suing a person. Personal injury cases are resolved out of court, and 95-96% of cases are resolved before trial.
Courts often encourage litigants to resolve disputes privately, requiring that all options be exhausted before a judge even schedules a date. One of the main reasons most litigants don't want to take cases to court is that these cases can take months and possibly years before receiving financial compensation. That is, of course, if you win. Going to trial can be risky and there's no guarantee you'll win.
Not to mention that going to trial is costly and becomes more expensive the longer the trial lasts. In general, litigants will employ the help of external mediators, such as a personal injury lawyer, to help reach a settlement. BJS personal injury case data shows us that plaintiffs are more likely to win personal injury cases in bank lawsuits (68%) vs. In non-jury trials, the decision of the judgment rests with a judge, while in jury trials, the jury is responsible for making the final decision.
Personal injury lawsuits largely reflect the various technologies, manufacturing, and social factors that occur over a given time. Several changes over the past decade have influenced the landscape of personal injury cases. Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have completely transformed the way people travel and get around. However, they have also introduced a number of issues that have led to litigation.
With the new transport, a whole new set of issues arises to consider. Drivers using the app to pick up passengers, for example, have struggled to be reclassified as employees rather than contractors. This classification entitles drivers to benefits that employees usually receive, such as health insurance and overtime pay. Both Uber and Lyft have been the subject of class action lawsuits regarding this specifically.
The latest personal injury lawsuit affecting Americans is related to COVID-19, which has been shown to spread through airborne droplets that are propelled when someone talks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. This understanding has led to the widespread use of masks, although it has been difficult to enforce. New questions have arisen about people's responsibility to slow the spread of the disease (ie,. Flatten the curve), such as wearing a mask or maintaining social distance.
These recommendations have not come without considerable rejection by people who oppose these measures, leading to fears that someone could spread the virus on purpose. In these cases, coughing on a person can be considered assault, which could be grounds for a personal injury case. There is no one-size-fits-all answer that will help you determine whether or not you could win a personal injury lawsuit, or how much you could get if you do. There are many factors that come into play.
For example, it depends to a large extent on whether you go to trial or not. Earlier, we mentioned that only 4% to 5% of personal injury lawsuits go to trial. Of those cases, almost 90% lose. But that doesn't mean that personal injury cases are hopeless.
In any case, it simply validates the need to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you navigate a complicated process. If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, contact the attorneys at DC Law today for a free evaluation of your case. They will help you determine the viability of your case, as well as calculate the compensation you deserve. Locations Across California, THE PECK LAW GROUP has more than thirty-two (3) years of practical experience in personal injury matters to enable us to effectively address the legal system and legal issues necessary to competently represent the interests of our clients.
Our Clients Have Also Received Millions of Dollars in Personal Injury Compensation. We know how to handle personal injury matters and will always be there to help our clients receive the maximum compensation they are legally entitled to. The Peck Law Group stays up to date and in touch with the legal community through various memberships and affiliations. The Peck Law Group is a respected and award-winning California law firm serving clients in Los Angeles, San Bernadino, San Fernando Valley, Orange County, Riverside County, Inland Empire, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Coachella Valley, Sacramento, Fresno and all other communities from California.
Personal injury cases involving product liability claims occur when someone is injured by a. In the U.S., Only 4% of Personal Injury Cases Reach Trial, and Most Resolve Out of Court. The second most common category of personal injury trial was medical malpractice, which had nearly 7,000 fewer lawsuits than car accident cases. Every year it requires medical care, nearly two million people suffer injuries that require some degree of hospitalization, and 162,000 people die from their injuries.
If you think you might need a personal injury lawyer but aren't sure, be sure to read about when you should get one. Of all personal injury cases, car accidents were the most common causes of injury. Slip and fall trials, classified as facility liability, ranked third, with 1,863 cases accounting for 11 per cent of personal injury trials and 7 per cent of all civil trials. Construction accidents caused another 300,000 personal injuries and 1,000 deaths, and medical errors claim the lives of up to 98,000 people each year.
With extensive experience in personal injury cases, Melinda Helbock knows how traumatic these events can be. If you have been in an accident or have suffered an injury, you can also choose to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you and potentially file a lawsuit on your behalf. . .
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