Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Personal injury law is a broad area of the law that allows injured victims to file civil claims in order to seek compensation for their losses. There are many different types of personal injury cases, and numerous theories of law are used in building strong personal injury claims for plaintiffs. In many personal injury situations, the plaintiff will argue that the defendant was negligent and therefore responsible for injuries. In other types of accidents, the plaintiff may be able to argue a theory of strict liability in which she will not even need to prove that the defendant was liable in order to obtain financial compensation.
At Johnston Law Firm, P.C., we handle a wide variety of personal injury cases, including but not limited to:
- Car accidents;
- Truck accidents;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents;
- Wrongful death;
- Medical malpractice;
- Product liability;
- Sexual abuse;
- Insurance bad faith.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Between 2013 and 2014, for instance, the total number of fatalities rose from 20 to 39. To be clear, the number of fatal injuries in auto accidents nearly doubled. What causes most of these accidents? The WTSC cites impaired driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving as among the most frequent reasons that car and truck crashes occur.
When we talk about car accidents, we are often referring to many different types of crashes that happen on highways like I-205 or I-5, as well as local roads running through Vancouver. Auto accident claims can help victims of truck accidents, car accidents, and motorcycle accidents to seek compensation from the liable party.
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
In Vancouver, medical malpractice claims are governed by Washington State law. Generally speaking, patients who have suffered serious injuries as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Examples of common medical malpractice cases include but are not limited to:
- Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis;
- Medication errors;
- Surgical errors;
- Hospital infections;
- Anesthesia errors; and
- Birth injuries.
Generally speaking, Washington State law requires a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case to prove the following in order to be eligible for compensation:
- Healthcare provider failed to exercise a degree of care or skill that is expected of healthcare providers in the same field in Vancouver; and
- Healthcare provider’s failure to provide that care was the proximate cause of the patient’s injury.
Product Liability Claims
What happens if you go to a retail establishment in Vancouver and purchase a product that causes an injury? Consumer products should be safe to use, but many products contain dangerous defects that can harm individuals in Washington. The Washington State Department of Health provides a recall list to help consumers know if foods and other products in the area have been subject to a recall.
If you did get hurt because of a dangerous item, you should know that there are three different kinds of product liability lawsuits:
- Design defect (there is a problem with the very design of the consumer item);
- Manufacturing defect (the design of the product is safe but a defect occurred during manufacture);
- Marketing defect, or failure to warn (the product is not inherently unsafe, but it lacks a proper warning about ways in which it might cause harm).
Free Confidential Case Evaluation
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503-546-3167
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We’re conveniently located in downtown Portland, and we offer flexible hours by appointment.