The post Steps to Take After a Spinal Cord Injury appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>When trauma from a car crash, fall, or other accident results in an injury to the neck or back, it’s critical to take steps to minimize the damage to the spinal cord and the consequences on the injury victim’s life.
The victim of a spinal cord injury should not move until medical professionals arrive to help, but loved ones or companions accompanying the injury victim can take essential steps to minimize the damage as much as possible. If the victim’s back or neck appears twisted or they’ve lost the ability to move, help them by taking the following steps:
The paramedics will stabilize the head, neck, and back for safe transportation to the hospital for a thorough evaluation of the injury. Fast medical attention helps minimize further damage by reducing inflammation and bleeding around the spinal cord.
If the spinal cord injury occurred due to someone else’s careless, reckless, or intentionally wrongful actions, they are liable for the damages. Damages in a spinal cord injury case are severe, permanent, and life-altering. By taking the right steps after a spinal cord injury, you increase the chances of a successful claim for compensation for medical expenses, future medical costs, lost income, lowered earning capacity, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. After experiencing a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s actions do the following:
Because of the life-altering impacts of a spinal cord injury, the best way forward is a strong, proactive Cherry Hill car accident attorney who can negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault party or parties to maximize the amount of financial compensation and a sense of justice for the victim after the accident.
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]]>The post Can You Sue for a Slip and Fall Accident in New Jersey? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>A slip-and-fall accident can be expensive as well as painful, with missed days or weeks of work at the same time expensive medical bills begin coming in. If you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident in New Jersey, you may be wondering if you can recover your financial losses by suing the owner of the property or business where you fell. Can you file a lawsuit after a slip-and-fall accident that causes financial consequences as well as pain and suffering?
Injury victims commonly use the word “sue” to describe recovering their financial losses and compensation for pain and suffering after an accident—known as the victim’s damages in a personal injury case. In most cases, a lawsuit in court isn’t required to recover compensation. Instead, an experienced personal injury lawyer represents the victim through the process of recovering compensation from the appropriate insurance company. For example, in slip-and-fall claims, a property owner’s or business owner’s premises liability insurance covers the victim’s damages. Damages typically include medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Sadly, insurance companies commonly undervalue or wrongfully deny claims to protect their profits. A Cherry Hill slip-and-fall lawyer defends a client against those tactics by investigating all aspects of the fall, documenting the evidence of liability, and sending a demand package to the insurance company with the evidence and a carefully calculated list of economic and non-economic damages to make a compelling case for compensation.
In the majority of cases, the insurance company simply offers a settlement after negotiating with the attorney who represents their client’s best interests throughout negotiations. This helps the insurer avoid the additional costs of defending against a lawsuit in court.
In five to ten percent of slip-and-fall cases in New Jersey, a property owner, or the insurance adjuster assigned to their case, disputes the injury victim’s claim or offers an unsuitably low settlement amount. In these cases, the injury victim’s lawyer may recommend a lawsuit to take the case to court for a jury to decide. In New Jersey slip-and-fall claims, a lawsuit often results in a higher jury award for damages than the amount the victim would receive in a settlement, but it’s also a more complex and time-consuming process.
Deciding whether or not to file a lawsuit also depends on the timing of the claim. New Jersey has a two-year time limit for filing a court case for damages after a personal injury such as a slip-and-fall injury. If negotiations for a settlement take many months, the injury victim may choose to file a lawsuit to ensure that the case goes to trial before the two-year statute of limitations expires. The state may also extend the time limit for some cases, such as for underage victims who have up to two years after their 18th birthday to file a claim. Cases of delayed injury discovery may also gain an extension, for example, if a doctor diagnoses a nagging back ache as caused by a burst disc in a previous slip-and-fall accident. In that case, the two-year time limit for a New Jersey slip-and-fall lawsuit begins on the date of the discovery.
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]]>The post Who is Liable for a Dog Bite? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>When a dog causes serious injuries, the consequences to the victim’s life can quickly escalate, with physical and emotional consequences along with economic hardship related to lost work days and mounting medical expenses. These consequences are known as the victim’s “damages” in a dog bite claim. Fortunately, dog bite victims have legal recourse so they don’t have to suffer undue financial burdens after a serious dog bite. Instead, they can recover their losses through a successful claim for damages with the help of a Cherry Hill dog bite injury lawyer. But who is liable for damages from a dog attack?
Most states fall into one of two categories for dog bite liability, either strict liability or “one-bite” rule states. States like New Jersey place pet owners under strict liability for their pet’s actions. This leaves the dog owner liable for a bite victim’s damages regardless of the dog’s history. Even if a dog has never bitten or acted aggressively before, the owner is liable for the damages the first time a dog bites anyone who is legally on the owner’s property or if their dog bites someone in a public space.
Other states, like Texas, have a one-bite rule that protects pet owners from liability the first time a dog bites under the premise that a dog’s owner couldn’t know that the dog is aggressive until after the first bite or first instance of aggressive behavior. In either case, proving owner negligence in a dog bite claim isn’t usually necessary. Pet owners are either under strict liability, or they are liable for damages the second time a dog bites.
In cases of a dog attack with no bites—such as an injury when a dog knocks over a person but doesn’t bite them, the victim would have to file a claim against the owner based on negligent behavior such as failure to restrain a large dog.
Medical providers classify dog bites on a scale according to the severity of the injury. This scale is important in determining the amount of compensation that should be awarded in a dog bite injury claim based on the expenses associated with each level of injury. The dog-bite injury scale is as follows:
Regardless of the level of the dog’s bites after an attack, if the attack results in injuries requiring medical care and time away from work, the dog’s owner is liable for damages in strict liability states or states with a one-bite rule if the dog has a history of at least one previous bite or incident of aggression.
When a dog bites a person and causes injuries, the damages to the victim are physical, emotional, and financial. After a dog bite, the dog’s owner is liable for compensation for any of the following damages:
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), dog bites cause an average of 43 deaths per year. When a dog causes a fatality, the owner is liable for wrongful death damages paid to close family members. Wrongful death compensation includes compensation for lost income for the remainder of the working years the deceased person had remaining, as well as compensation for funeral expenses.
In strict liability states like New Jersey, the dog’s owner is liable for damages even if their dog bites a person on their own property unless the person is illegally trespassing or in the process of committing a crime when the dog bite occurs. People who are not considered trespassers include the following:
Children are never considered trespassers on private property because property owners and dog owners should reasonably presume that children may enter their property at any time and have a duty to take reasonable measures to prevent injury, including by restraining their dogs.
In many cases, visitors approaching the area at the front of a house, using a front walkway, or approaching the front door of a home are not considered trespassers. This part of the property is known as the home’s “curtilage.” Legally, homeowners and renters must have a reasonable expectation that people will approach their front door and thus have a duty to prevent their dogs from harming them.
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]]>The post What to Do After a Dog Bite in New Jersey appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>When a victim sustains serious dog bites in New Jersey, they don’t have to suffer undue financial burdens caused by medical bills and time away from work. New Jersey holds dog owners accountable for their dog’s actions from the moment they take ownership regardless of a dog’s previous history. Unlike states that don’t hold a pet owner liable for damages the first time a dog bites, under the premise that the owner couldn’t know the dog was capable of biting a person before it happens at least once, in New Jersey, pet owners are liable even the first time a dog bites.
Before you can recover compensation for damages after a dog bite, like your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering, it helps to know what to do immediately after the attack and in the days following so you can protect yourself physically and financially.
Dogs have sharp, jagged teeth that function like serrated blades to tear apart tough meat. When a dog bites a person, wounds can range from bruises and abrasions to deep puncture marks and tears. Depending on the severity of the attack, the size of the dog, and the amount of time the victim is exposed to the attacking dog, injuries can range from mild bites and bruises to severe injuries leaving fractures, extensive scarring, the loss of fingers or toes, and sometimes causing death. Children and the elderly are at the greatest risk of severe injuries in a dog attack in New Jersey, but injuries can happen to victims of any age.
After a dog bite or a severe attack with multiple bites and injuries, it’s important to take the following steps at the scene of the attack as soon as the dog has been subdued or restrained:
Once at the hospital, it’s important to have a thorough medical examination. Be sure to tell the doctor about every symptom you feel, as well as the obvious bites and injuries. Ask for a detailed medical report listing the injuries, the doctor’s recommendations for treatment, and the prognosis for your recovery.
When a dog bites, scratches, or knocks down a person in New Jersey, animal control takes the dog into a 10-day quarantine at the owner’s expense. During this time, animal control officers and health specialists monitor the dog and test for infectious diseases, including rabies. Meanwhile, animal control investigates the dog’s history, including its vaccination records as well as any previous history of biting.
In the majority of dog bite cases, the dog is returned to the owner and animal control officers instruct the owner on putting preventative measures in place to prevent further incidents. These measures could include fencing and warning signs. Vicious dogs with a history of attacks, those with rabies or other infectious diseases, or dogs that caused fatal injuries may be euthanized.
Many dog bite victims experience emotional trauma after the attack. Besides the physical injury symptoms, dog bite victims may notice emotional changes such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and depression. Many dog bite victims have to undergo addtional medical care which could include any of the following:
In rare cases, a dog attack results in fatal wounds, including wounds categorized as level-6 dog bites. These are the most severe injuries which include multiple deep, tearing bites in more than one location, sometimes with flesh consumed by the dog.
During the days immediately following a dog attack in New Jersey, you may be dealing with significant physical and emotional trauma, but this is also the time to take important steps to protect your legal rights. After suffering dog bite wounds, you are entitled to compensation paid through the dog owner’s property liability insurance, even if the attack occurred away from the owner’s property. During the days after a dog attack in New Jersey, take the following steps to ensure you receive the full compensation coming to you:
Insurance companies sometimes reach out to dog bite victims very soon after an accident with a low settlement offer in exchange for signing away the right to file a lawsuit. It’s always best to discuss your options for compensation with a Cherry Hill dog bite attorney before accepting an early settlement offer.
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]]>The post What Is New Jersey’s No-Fault Car Accident Law? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>New Jersey drivers must carry at least a basic minimum no-fault, PIP insurance policy providing both no-fault personal injury protection for themselves and liability coverage for damage caused to another vehicle in the accident. This “Basic Policy” choice provides liability coverage for another vehicle’s damage because, despite the no-fault insurance laws, fault in an accident does apply to property damage. In other words, the insurance of the person who causes the accident must cover the property damage caused in the accident, but not the medical expenses of injured victims. In New Jersey, “fault” only matters for property damage claims.
Drivers may choose to add coverage beyond the state’s required basic policy. By choosing a “Standard Policy” drivers obtain coverage not included in the basic policy such as greater amounts of available compensation for property damage and uninsured motorist coverage which protects drivers involved in an accident with a driver who is unlawfully without insurance coverage. Drivers may also select additional “collision” insurance coverage. Collision insurance covers the costs of repairing or replacing the driver’s vehicle even if they are responsible for the accident.
New Jersey’s no-fault PIP car insurance covers more than just the policyholder. A single policy also provides coverage for the following:
In both basic and standard insurance options, New Jersey’s no-fault insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages, and replacement costs for injury victims who have to hire household or yardwork help while they recover. It also provides funeral and death benefit coverage for car accident fatalities. No-fault policies in New Jersey do not provide compensation for pain and suffering.
New Jersey allows many options for policyholders to adjust their premium rates. For example, choosing a higher deductible lowers monthly costs. Policyholders may also choose to select their health insurance coverage as their primary source of medical care coverage after an accident to lower their auto insurance costs.
Many drivers in New Jersey choose the Basic Policy auto insurance coverage for the lower monthly premiums. This policy provides the following:
The Basic policy does not provide bodily injury coverage for others injured in an accident caused by the policyholder. It’s important to note that this leaves the policyholder personally responsible for injury damages to another in an accident and opens them up to a potential lawsuit. For New Jersey drivers with significant assets, it pays to choose more than just the basic coverage. Drivers can add up to $10,000 in personal injury liability coverage to their Basic policy for an additional amount added to their monthly premiums.
New Jersey’s PIP insurance is personal injury protection insurance only. Your No-Fault PIP insurance covers your medical expenses and lost wages but not damage to your vehicle. To recover compensation for property damage to a vehicle, accident victims must file a claim against the insurance policy of the at-fault driver. For accident victims with both property damage and injuries, this requires two separate claims, one against their own car insurance for their injuries and one against the at-fault driver’s insurance for damage to their vehicle.
Under the Basic Policy coverage in New Jersey, accident victims have only a limited right to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver to recover compensation for damages. Injured drivers who’ve selected the Basic Policy in New Jersey may only file lawsuits under the following circumstances:
Drivers in New Jersey who select the Standard Policy coverage can add an “Unlimited Right to Sue” option at an additional cost. This option allows injury victims to sue the party at fault in an accident even if they’ve suffered less severe injuries.
When filing a lawsuit for injuries either as part of the limited rights to sue under a Basic Policy or as allowed under the unlimited right to sue option, injury victims may file a claim for compensation for pain and suffering as well as for their tangible economic damages.
As you can see, New Jersey’s no-fault insurance laws are complex and nuanced. After an accident, it can be difficult to know how to file a claim or separate claims for property damage and personal injury damages. After a car accident in New Jersey, taking the following steps can help victims protect themselves physically and financially:
Don’t navigate this complicated process alone. A Cherry Hill car accident attorney in New Jersey can help a car accident victim obtain the maximum amount of compensation owed to them by examining all aspects of the accident, determining fault in the accident, and identifying the appropriate insurance companies to file claims against.
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]]>The post What Does New Jersey Law Say About Car Seats? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>Like all states, New Jersey has a set of specific laws for child car seat use for minors. The state bases these laws on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Children in car seats must ride in the back seat of the car in New Jersey whenever a vehicle has a back seat. New Jersey’s car seat laws for minors are as follows:
Although New Jersey state laws don’t specify at what age a child over eight years old may lawfully ride in the front passenger seat, the CDC recommendation states that children under the age of 12 should ride in the back seat.
Infants, toddlers, and young children may legally ride in the front passenger seat of trucks or sports cars without a backseat but the front passenger airbag must be disabled for children to ride safely. The force of an airbag deployment may cause serious injury to small children in both forward and rear-facing car seats.
Data from NHTSA shows that many parents skip the child booster seat requirement and prematurely move children from car seats to seat belts. As many as 16.6% of children between ages four and seven were moved from car seats to seat belts without transitional booster seats when not yet large enough for the seat belts to fit correctly. A car’s lap belt should fit across the child’s lap and not across the stomach. Shoulder belts should fit snugly across the child’s shoulder and not against the neck or face. A booster seat lifts a small child into a more favorable position for a vehicle’s seat belts to fit properly.
Many parents worry about their child taking the final step toward the milestone of riding without a car seat or booster. If a child is over the age of eight, New Jersey law no longer compels them to ride in a child booster seat, but if they are under 57 inches tall, they may still ride in one to maximize safety.
If you are unsure if your child over age 8 is ready to transition out of a booster seat, you can perform the following test: Have the child sit back against the backrest in the back seat. If the bend of their knees is at the seat edge and they can place their feet flat on the floor then the seatbelt should fit them in the correct position to maximize their safety in a collision. Correctly positioned shoulder and lap seatbelts should rest across the shoulder or collarbone with the lap belt across the child’s hips or lap rather than the stomach.
If a child isn’t old enough or mature enough to maintain the correct posture and position in a seatbelt and begins to slouch or stretch out while wearing a seat belt, they should continue to ride in a size-appropriate car seat or booster.
The NHTSA also warns parents that back seat sizes may differ between vehicle makes and models. It’s important to test a child’s fit in a seat belt when transitioning to a new or different vehicle. Children may still require a booster seat in some vehicles while they’re able to have a good fit with seat belts alone in others.
During the NHTSA’s Child Passenger Safety Week in September, the organization warned that their data reveals that 46% of child car seats are incorrectly installed, despite the majority of parents believing they’ve installed them correctly. These data show some improvement since the 2017 study which indicated that as many as 59% of car seats were incorrectly installed.
New Jersey residents with infants and young children should locate a child car seat technician in their area to inspect their child’s car seat and make corrections to installation errors. Common car seat mistakes include the following:
Failing to properly install and rigidly adhere to using child safety restraint systems appropriately increases the risk of child injury or death in New Jersey car accidents. In the event of a car accident, contact the Cherry Hill car accident attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti to help evaluate your case circumstances.
New Jersey parents face fines for child car seat violations, including for placing children in forward-facing car seats before age two or when weighing less than 30 pounds. Parents in violation of the state’s car seat laws face fines of up to $75.00 under the state’s updated laws.
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]]>The post What Are New Jersey’s Dog Bite Laws? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>How do dog bite victims in New Jersey hold dog owners accountable? The Cherry Hill personal injury lawyers at Cuneo & Leonetti are prepared to help.
Most personal injury claims in New Jersey and elsewhere require injury victims to prove negligent actions on the part of the person or business entity at fault. For dog bites in New Jersey, the state’s strict liability laws for pet owners mean that a dog’s owner becomes accountable for the dog’s actions the moment they take ownership of their pet. Because pet owners have strict liability, a New Jersey dog bite victim doesn’t have to prove that the owner was careless, reckless, or negligent. Instead, the victim of a dog attack in New Jersey only needs to prove the following to recover compensation:
With strict liability laws for dog bites in New Jersey, even when an owner takes reasonable measures to restrain or confine a dog, they are still liable for the damages if their dog bites. The state also requires dogs who’ve bitten a victim to undergo quarantine for 10 days at the owner’s expense while an animal control officer evaluates the dog’s health.
An estimated 80,000 dog bites occur in the United States every year. Dogs have different instincts and reactions than people and sometimes differ between breeds. Dog bites typically occur for the following reasons:
Understanding the reasons dogs sometimes bite can help victims avoid future bites. However, in New Jersey, even when a dog has no previous history of biting, the owner is still liable for damages. Some states have a “one-bite” law that exempts dog owners from liability the first time a dog bites under the premise that the owner couldn’t know the dog was aggressive until after the first bite. However, New Jersey pet owners are liable for damages the first time a dog bites with no exemptions.
Dogs have sharp-edged, jagged teeth that work like serrated blades. Dog bite injuries may puncture the skin and/or penetrate into deep tissue like muscles and ligaments. Because a biting dog often shakes the body part they are biting, bite injuries may go beyond punctures and cause tears, bruises, and even bone fractures. Common damages claimed in New Jersey dog attack claims include the following:
Victims of dog bites in New Jersey often suffer severe emotional trauma as well as physical injuries. A successful dog bite claim cannot erase the physical and emotional injuries to the victim, but it provides financial compensation and a sense of justice. Contact a Cherry Hill dog bite attorney today for help navigating your legal case and circumstances.
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]]>The post What is the Average Car Accident Settlement for a Back and Neck Injury? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>A back or neck injury has a significant impact on the victim’s ability to work as well as on their daily routine. When the car accident injury occurred due to another driver’s negligence or recklessness, the person at fault for the accident is liable for the victim’s damages. “Damages” in a car accident claim refers to all of the consequences of the accident on the victim’s life.
Many car accident victims ask, “What is the average settlement for a car accident claim for a back or neck injury?”
Researchers estimate a yearly average of 869,000 cervical spine (neck) injuries occur from car accidents each year as well as 2,800 spinal disc injuries, 23,500 back and neck fractures, 1,500 dislocations, and 2,800 spinal cord injuries. Common back and neck injuries from car accidents include:
Back and neck injuries from car accidents are likely underestimated since many people fail to seek treatment for less severe injuries, or treatment goes unreported when injury victims don’t seek compensation for their damages.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in car accidents, occurring even in mild accidents with little property damage to vehicles. Whiplash injuries result from the rapid back-and-forth—or whip-like— movement of the head and neck during the force of a collision. Whiplash causes pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders and may also cause neurological symptoms like memory and concentration problems, numbness, tingling, and headaches.
The most common symptoms of accident-related back and neck injuries are pain and stiffness. Other injuries appearing within hours or days of the injury include the following:
Anyone who has been in a car accident should seek medical attention immediately and undergo a thorough evaluation; however, if you experience any of the above symptoms, report them to your medical provider.
When car accident victims fail to seek medical care for a back injury or a doctor fails to diagnose and properly treat a back injury, the result can be spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis occurs when the channel in the center of the vertebrae column narrows due to uncontrolled swelling and chronic inflammation. Spinal stenosis is degenerative and progresses over time if it remains unaddressed.
Most states have a fault-based insurance system that requires those at fault for a car accident to take responsibility for the damages caused to others. Payouts for compensation on car accident claims typically come from the at-fault party’s car accident liability insurance. Even in no-fault insurance states like New Jersey, victims of debilitating injuries or those with optional unlimited lawsuit insurance may file lawsuits against liable parties. Common damages claimed for back and neck injuries after a car accident include the following:
Loss of enjoyment of life compensation is common in serious back and neck injury claims due to the dramatic impact of limited mobility on the victim’s normal way of life. A back or neck injury may make it difficult or impossible to enjoy the physical activities previously enjoyed before the accident.
Many variables are factored into the settlement amount for compensation in a back or neck injury claim. Depending on the severity of the injury, the amount of medical treatment required, whether or not the effects are temporary or permanent, and the injury victim’s previous average salary or wages all impact the amount of a settlement offered by the insurance company of the party at fault for the accident. The average wages in the state where the injury occurred also affect an individual’s settlement amount. For example, the average settlement for a severe back or neck injury in New Jersey is close to $1 million, while it’s $3 million in New York and $305,000 in North Dakota. This is largely due to a wide difference in average pay rates.
After a car accident with a back or neck injury, it’s important first to document evidence of liability on the part of the negligent driver that caused the accident. Taking photos at the scene and obtaining a copy of the police report is important evidence. Then, an injury victim can maximize their settlement amount by having a thorough medical exam after the accident with a detailed report, keeping careful records of all medical costs and related expenses, documenting their lost work days and wages, and keeping a pain journal to record the impacts of the injury on their daily life.
No one should take on the insurance system alone after a serious accident with a back or neck injury. Experienced Cherry Hill car accident lawyers can help maximize the amount a victim recovers in a settlement or court award for their damages.
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]]>The post The Most Common Slip and Fall Accident Knee Injuries appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>Knee injuries are a common outcome of a slip-and-fall accident. Not only is a knee injury painful and temporarily or permanently debilitating, but they’re also difficult to treat and often require a long time to heal. When this type of injury occurs in a preventable fall caused by a business owner’s negligence, the business or property owner is liable for the victim’s damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. After a slip & fall injury, contact the Cherry Hill personal injury attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti to help move forward with your legal case to financial compensation.
Sprains are common after a slip-and-fall accident. Fall victims often land on one or both knees, sometimes causing a sprain. Knee sprains occur when the ligaments connecting muscle to bone in the knee stretch beyond their normal capacity, resulting in pain, swelling, tenderness, and limited range of motion during healing time.
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL is a crucial ligament in the knee connecting the femur to the tibia. This thick band sometimes stretches or breaks when the knee twists or bends backward during a slip-and-fall. Fall victims may hear a popping sound when the ACL tears. A torn ACL causes serious pain and an inability to walk or move the knee without pain. Torn ACLs sometimes require surgery and lengthy recovery times.
Although ACL tears are the most common and debilitating, other ligaments in the knee such as the lateral and medial collateral ligaments or the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) may also tear during a slip-and-fall accident.
The meniscus is an important part of the knee joint. It’s a piece of stretchy cartilage that provides a cushion between the tibia and femur and supports both bones at the knee joint. Meniscus tears may happen when a strong twisting motion occurs at the knee joint during a fall. Depending on the severity of the damage, a torn meniscus can heal on its own with elevation and immobility, or it may require surgery.
The knee has two important tendons connecting the muscles to the top and bottom of the patella (knee cap). These tendons may bruise or tear when a fall victim lands on their knees. When the quadriceps tendon or patella tendon tears during a fall, it causes significant pain and temporary immobility. For a torn tendon injury due to negligance, a Cherry Hill slip and fall lawyer can help recover your potential financial compensation.
A fractured patella (knee cap) injury is serious and painful. Fractures occur in the knees when a fall victim lands on a hard floor or ground surface, directly on the kneecap or knee joint. Knee fractures take a long time to heal and require a brace or cast to retain immobility during the healing process.
Less serious but painful and embarrassing injuries to the knees include bruises from bleeding under the skin after a hard fall, lacerations from landing on sharp objects, and abrasions or skinned knees from a fall on a rough surface. While these injuries are commonly treatable at home, if a bruise, cut, or abrasion causes serious pain, it’s important to have the injury evaluated by a doctor to rule out a sprain, torn ligament, or an infection.
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]]>The post What Are the Most Common Personal Injury Cases? appeared first on Cuneo & Leonetti LLC.
]]>When an individual or business entity fails to act the way a reasonable party would have under the same circumstances and the result is an injury to someone else, the negligent party is liable for the damages. Common personal injury claims include those for injuries sustained through the following:
Payment for compensation in personal injury cases typically comes from the at-fault party’s insurance policy. For example, an auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) policy in a car accident or a property owner’s liability insurance for a dog bite or slip-and-fall accident.
In particularly egregious accident cases, a personal injury claim may be a catastrophic injury claim. Catastrophic injuries typically have long-lasting implications on the injury victim’s life, like permanent disability or impairment. Catastrophic injury claims often demand larger settlement amounts to provide for diminished future earning capacity due to disability as well as ongoing healthcare-related expenses, equipment, and medication. Examples of common catastrophic personal injury cases include the following:
A catastrophic injury claim holds the liable party accountable and helps provide compensation for severe damages. While financial compensation can’t erase the harm and pain of a catastrophic injury, it provides a sense of justice as well as a financial cushion so the victim can focus on maximizing their physical recovery.
Sometimes an injury is so severe that it results in a fatality. In this case, if the injury that caused the death would have qualified for a negligence-based personal injury claim had the victim survived the injury, then the victim’s close surviving family members may file a claim for wrongful death damages if they can show economic losses from the death as well as grief and anguish. Damages in wrongful death claims include:
If you or a loved one sustained a serious injury and you’re experiencing significant damages it’s best to speak to a Cherry Hill personal injury lawyer about your options.
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