Personal injury lawyers are often called “ambulance chasers” because they specialize in cases involving disability and injury. After hearing about that nickname you may wonder how do personal injury attorneys benefit society? The fact is, they do in many ways. So, why are there so many personal injury lawyers? Personal injury lawyers are available to help protect people in case of accident or injury.
Car accidents are the leading cause of personal injury lawsuits. However, they are not as common as people think. Car accident injuries make up about 20% of all personal injuries at the federal level. Next are product liability suits at 13 and medical malpractice at 10%. These causes can also overlap. A car accident injury can also be caused by a defective product, or could be exacerbated due to a doctor’s error. If you’re still wondering how do personal injury attorneys benefit society, protecting people in situations like this is how.
Each year there are approximately 3 million workplace injuries and illnesses. However, the vast majority of these do not lead to lawsuits. Every year, there are approximately 28,000 birth injuries for babies.
Personal injury lawyers are often given a bad reputation because most of these lawsuits don’t go to trial. In fact, 98% of them settle outside the courtroom. Some people believe that defendants settle because it is cheaper than paying attorney fees to defend themselves in court. They don’t feel any liability.
Personal injury lawyers are often criticized for the high cost of personal injuries lawsuits. The U.S. spends approximately $239 billion annually on civil suits. This includes the award to plaintiffs, but also attorney fees and higher insurance costs. Finding a firm with personal injury experience can help protect your rights.
Personal injury cases can be costly so insurance is a good option. Personal liability coverage is available to homeowners and renters who have homeowner or renter’s insurance. This protects against personal injury lawsuits. Additional coverage is available through umbrella insurance. Businesses have liability insurance. Individual professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, and other professionals, have malpractice insurance. To protect their employees and themselves against any injuries or illnesses caused by work, many businesses have workmen’s comp and disability insurance.
Personal injury claims are generally legitimate and pose a risk to both individuals and businesses. If you have been injured find a firm with personal injury experience.