Most Common Personal Injury Cases

Legal Article

Most Common Personal Injury Cases

No matter how you or your loved one was injured, it is likely that you will be working through complicated medical decisions, significant pain and discomfort, various emotions and mental health issues that most people are not prepared for, and significant financial insecurity. Because of the numerous severe issues that you will likely deal with after an accident, it is easy to become overwhelmed almost immediately. With more than two decades of experience, this is where Antonoplos & Associates team of Washington D.C. attorneys can offer some relief.

Catastrophic injury

All injuries that stem from reckless or negligent actions have the ability to affect the rest of your life. The most catastrophic of these incidents will affect the rest of your life. People often assume catastrophic injuries are those which stem from the neck or spine that end up leading to paralysis. However, this is not the only type of catastrophic injury. At Antonoplos & Associates, our team of attorneys considers a catastrophic injury to be any injury that will significantly affect the life of the victim for at least a few years. Below is a list of injuries our attorneys have helped the seriously injured and their families recover from.

  • Medical Malpractice
  • Dog Bites
  • Amputations
  • Burn Injuries
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Neck and Whiplash Injuries
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Bulging and Herniated Discs
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Wrongful Death

Our wrongful death attorneys see lawsuits most commonly arise from one of the following situations.

  • Car Accidents: The most common causes of wrongful death lawsuits are traffic accidents, where another driver’s negligent or reckless conduct leads to a collision. At times, death is instantaneous, while other situations will lead the decedent to pass away from their injuries later on. In either scenario, the deceased’s family or personal representative is able to seek compensation from the responsible driver.
  • Defective Products: A product that was manufactured or designed improperly or lacked the necessary labeling for warnings and usage may cause death. In this situation, the decedent’s heirs or personal representative can seek damages from the manufacturer, distributor, or other entities involved in the production of the item.
  • Workplace Accidents: Workers’ compensation laws step in to offer financial benefits to most people who suffer injuries on the job. Similarly, the heirs of the worker who passed away from a work-related incident will likely be eligible to receive death benefits from the individual state workers’ compensation fund. However, there are two main scenarios where the family or personal representative of a person who died from a work-place incident will need to bring forth a lawsuit. The first case is where an employer fails to purchase the necessary workers’ compensation insurance. The second reason would be if the intentional conduct of another employee is the cause of death.

Product Liability

Any product can be defective. However, whether because of the nature of use or how common a product is, there are certain products that may experience more issues than other. At Antonoplos & Associates, our Washington, D.C. product liability lawyers have significant experience working on the following product liability cases:

  • Defective Car Parts: Such as seat belts, airbags, brakes, tires, steering components, fuel systems, and software.
  • Defective Medical Equipment: Including certain mesh implants, dialysis machines, heart valves, pain pumps, hip and knee replacements, and hernia patches
  • Dangerous Drugs: Including certain birth control pills and anti-psychotics.
  • Defective Household Products: Such as electric blankets or heaters, power tools, yard equipment, appliances, fire or smoke detectors, cleaning products, and personal grooming tools.
  • Defective Children’s Products:  Including toys with lead paint, choking hazards, and child safety seats.
  • Contaminated Food: Including produce or pre-packaged food containing E. coli and Salmonella.
  • Dangerous E-Cigarettes: Such as those containing lithium-ion batteries that may explode.

Premises Liability

Premises liability refers to a specific set of laws that state if someone is hosting you on their property, they must keep you from reasonable harm. There are many different types of injuries a property owner can be responsible for including falling objects, improperly installed carpet, or even dangerous animals. At Antonoplos & Associates, our Washington, D.C. premises liability lawyers have worked with clients in various types of premises liability cases involving:

  • Head and brain injuries
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Torn ligaments and muscle strains or sprains
  • Broken, dislocated, and fractured bones
  • Serious cuts and lacerations
  • Animal Bites
  • Drowning or chlorine burns
  • Electrocution
  • Burns
  • Infections or foodborne illnesses

Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse and neglect often lead to elderly individuals suffering from:

  • Contusions and lacerations
  • Broken bones, including broken hips
  • Concussions or more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Bedsores/pressure sores
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Antibiotic-resistant infections
  • Asphyxiation

Workplace Accident

Most workplace injury cases in Washington, D.C. lead to serious injuries such as:

  • Lacerations and contusions
  • Ligament Sprains
  • Muscle or tendon strains
  • Bone fractures
  • Concussions
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Nerve damage
  • Paralysis
  • Amputation
  • Skin reactions
  • Burn Injuries
  • Back and spine injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Eye injury/vision loss
  • Hearing loss
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive stress injuries
  • Gunshot wounds
  • Internal organ damage

After you are injured on the job, contacting an Antonoplos & Associates Washington, D.C. workplace accident attorney is critical. Our firm can help you understand what you must document. Including your diagnosis, treatments, and any lifestyle changes you made as a result of your injury. To enhance these claims, our lawyers will compile the economic and non-economic impacts of your injury. This allows our firm to accurately value your claim and seek an appropriate amount of compensation.

Federal Litigation

There are many different types of lawsuits that you can bring in front of state and federal courts. However, how your case progresses through the court system will depend on different factors of your case and how these factors play into the parties involved in the lawsuit. In some cases, the fact that federal jurisdiction exists may be enough to have your case transferred from state to federal court. The rules associated with state and federal courts have benefits and drawbacks, which you should weigh with the help of a knowledgeable and experienced attorney. By working with a federal litigation attorney at Antonoplos & Associates, we can help you evaluate your case and help guide you on whether you should file your lawsuit in state or federal court. In most cases, a lawsuit is eligible for federal court if it meets one of multiple of the following criteria.

  • Diversity: If there is a state legal matter, but those involved are from different states, the federal court will handle the case, but apply state law.
  • Constitutional Questions: The case raises U.S. Constitutional issues.
  • Civil Rights: You can still use state laws, but federal law also permits legal action.
  • Class Actions: These are intricate cases with multiple parties, often requiring federal resources.
  • Environmental Law: Finally, federal regulations are given priority over state law.

Contact Our DC Law Office for More Information

Finally, for more on common types of personal injury cases, contact us at 202-803-5676. You can also directly schedule a consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. Additionally, for general information regarding personal injury law, check out our blog.