In the context of an attorney negligence case, a lawyer who is certified as a specialist by the state bar of his or her particular state will be held to a higher duty and standard of practice than will a lawyer with a general practice.
Feb 02, 2015 · There are lawyers that specialize in civil rights cases, and if that is the type of case you have, you should seek an attorney that has experience in those types of cases. But if it is a general personal injury case (slip and fall, car accident, etc.) that involves a government agency, any personal injury attorney should be able to assist you.
Do I Need a Lawyer If I Am Dealing with a Negligence Lawsuit? Negligence can be a complicated and expensive problem. A local personal injury lawyer can help you through your case. From negotiations with the other party, advising you on how to proceed, to …
Aug 31, 2021 · No matter what type of negligence must be proven in a personal injury case, an experienced Las Vegas injury lawyer can dramatically increase your chances of success. They will have a thorough understanding of the state’s negligence laws …
Medical malpractice is alarmingly common in the United States. In fact, a Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors kill more than 250,000 Americans every year, making it the third-leading cause of death behind only heart disease and cancer. If you believe you or someone you love were the victim of medical malpractice, contact Morgan & Morgan.
Dec 22, 2020 · If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another person or company, you will want to engage a personal injury lawyer. Even though personal injury attorneys usually work on a contingent fee basis (i.e., no monthly bills to prepare and send), you will find that many are using personal injury case management software to help them better manage their cases, control …
There are a variety of defenses to an allegation of negligence. The most obvious is to dispute any of the components of negligence (meaning duty, breach, causation, or damages).
Two related defenses are contributory and comparative negligence . Depending on state law, one or the other will apply but the general idea is the same. Both defenses ask whether the person injured is in some way responsible for the injury they suffered.
In contributory negligence jurisdictions, any negligence on the injury person is a total bar to recovery ( meaning they get nothing). In a comparative negligence jurisdiction, the injured person can still recover but the recovery is reduced by how negligent they themselves were.
Everyone has heard of a story where someone acted careless, someone was injured, and a lawsuit followed to compensate the injured person. Negligence is the legal theory that allows injured persons to recover for the carelessness of others. A person is negligent if they were careless given the circumstances of the situation.
Negligence has four major parts that must be shown in order to recover for injuries. Those parts are Duty, Breach, Causation, and Damages. Even if those four parts are shown, and negligence is established, a defense might still mitigate how much a defending party must pay.
Breach. Breach occurs when an individual’s care falls below the level required by their duty. The person driving forty miles per hour in the above example breached their duty of reasonable care by driving so quickly during a rainstorm.
Not testing a toaster to make sure it does burst into flames would be negligent making. Designing a toaster to be built out of flammable material would be negligent design. Both can land a business in hot water. Lawyers are not immune to negligence claims.
Real estate lawyers deal with rights concerning land, water, and structures. Perhaps you need to determine whether a lien has been asserted against your property, or you need to carve out an easement. Maybe you need to divide one lot into two or more lots, or change the zoning classification, or move a boundary line.
Traffic Lawyer. Traffic lawyers are often considered a type of criminal-defense lawyer, but there’s a big difference between being accused of murder and being accused of running a red light, and different considerations come into play in formulating defense strategy.
The transactional lawyer will incorporate your startup, help secure funding, draft your employment and non-disclosure agreements, issue stock, spin off subsidiaries, and countless other tasks associated with operating your business. Unlike the business litigation attorney, the transactional lawyer does not go to court.
You want a defamation attorney if you need to take someone to court for defaming your character through libel and/or slander, or if you’ve been accused of causing harm to the reputation of another individual or business by making false and defamatory statements of your own.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, find yourself a personal injury attorney. These lawyers are experienced in dealing with insurance companies and helping you obtain the maximum recovery in light of the liability and damages issues involved. Personal injury lawyers don’t just handle car-accident cases. Typically, this is the type of lawyer you need if you’ve suffered a physical injury as the result of someone else’s negligence. Examples include “premises liability” cases (such as where you’ve slipped and fallen at a commercial establishment due to an unsafe condition), medical malpractice cases, and animal attacks.
Examples include “premises liability” cases (such as where you’ve slipped and fallen at a commercial establishment due to an unsafe condition), medical malpractice cases, and animal attacks. 10. Real Estate Lawyer. Real estate lawyers deal with rights concerning land, water, and structures.
Criminal Defense Lawyer. Courtroom proceedings are considered criminal in nature (as opposed to civil) when the state (through prosecuting attorneys) charges you with the commission of a crime. If you’ve been arrested, read your Miranda rights, and taken into custody by the police, you need a criminal defense lawyer.
Negligence means there was a failure to provide the expected standard of care. However, several different types of negligence may apply.
Comparative negligence laws allow an injured person to recover compensation even if they are partially responsible for the accident. In these cases, a percentage of fault will be assigned to each party involved, and their compensation will be reduced accordingly. For example, if you sue someone for negligence and are awarded $100,000 but found 30% responsible, you will only get 70% or $70,000.
In cases involving gross negligence, defendants exhibit extreme carelessness or a reckless disregard for the health and safety of others. Gross negligence is a much more severe form of negligence because it is willful behavior. Examples include a driver speeding in a school zone and causing an accident or a surgeon amputating the wrong limb. When a defendant to a personal injury claim was grossly negligent, the plaintiff is often entitled to punitive damages, which are awarded to punish the defendant.
No matter what type of negligence must be proven in a personal injury case, an experienced Las Vegas injury lawyer can dramatically increase your chances of success. They will have a thorough understanding of the state’s negligence laws and know which types apply to your case.
Employers can be held vicariously liable for employees’ actions if they cause injury to another person if they were considered working at the time.
A corporate lawyer will be able to help you with issues related to the formation of your corporation, general corporate governance issues and corporate compliance issues.
The Social Security Disability system can be a particularly complex system in which to navigate. An attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability issues can help you with any step in the Social Security Disability process, including assisting you with eligibility issues, launching an appeal of a decision to deny you benefits and dealing with the reduction or termination of your benefits.
Suing someone, or responding to someone’s lawsuit against you? An attorney who specializes in civil litigation will be your best legal option. You may also find that different attorneys will specialize in different litigation areas as well. For example, a corporate litigation lawyer should have the expertise to help you with commercial litigation issues.
Unlike lawyers who specialize in a particular area of law, a general practice lawyer has a practice that handles a wide range of legal issues. Different general practice attorneys will have different areas of law with which they are most comfortable, so if you consult with a general practice lawyer, it’s always prudent to discuss his or her experience in handling the type of legal issue you’re facing.
The estate planning lawyer specializes in wills and trusts, and can help you to draw up a will to pass on your assets. Among other estate planning legal services, this type of lawyer can help you set up a trust which will help take care of your children’s financial needs.
If you’ve been injured while on the job, or have had to face the death of a loved one as a result of a workplace accident or occupational disease, a lawyer who specializes in workers compensation law can help you navigate the issues you face, such as the extent of the employer’s fault and the amount of benefits to which you are entitled.
Also known as an IP attorney, an intellectual property lawyer can advise you with regard to issues relating to intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design and trade secrets.
Some examples of negligence by an anesthesiologist include: Administering the wrong type of dose of anesthesia. Administering anesthesia too late.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional provides treatment that deviates from accepted standards of care within the medical community, thereby causing injury to a patient. If a doctor, surgeon, hospital, or another party was medically negligent, they may be liable for any ensuing losses.
An injured patient or the family of a patient who has passed may be awarded damages for the harm caused by a negligent medical professional, hospital, or other party. These damages are intended to compensate the victim for losses they’ve suffered, and may include: Medical expenses: - Medical expenses may cover hospital stays, doctor visits, physical therapy, prescription drugs, assistive devices, and other past and future costs associated with your injury. - Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity: If you’re forced to take time away from work to recover from your injury, you may be eligible to collect compensation for lost wages. If you’re unable to earn the same amount of money as you did prior to your injury, you may be awarded compensation for diminished earning capacity. - Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate the victim for physical pain caused by their injury, as well as emotional distress (e.g., anxiety, fear, depression, and other mental suffering). - Loss of Consortium: Surviving family members may be awarded compensation for the loss of aid, companionship, and other benefits of a family relationship. - Other Damages: You may be awarded other various damages including loss of life’s enjoyment, disfigurement, and punitive damages (intended to punish severe negligence or recklessness).
Breach of Duty: The physician must have violated their duty to the patient.
Failure to meet these and other standards may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. In addition, hospitals can be held vicariously liable if an employee or staff member causes injury to a patient, provided the employee was acting within the scope of their employment at the time the negligent act took place.
Failing to order tests: A doctor can be found negligent for failing to order standard tests after observing certain symptoms. Failing to interpret test results correctly: Medical professionals are responsible for interpreting test results correctly.
Unfortunately, that trust isn’t always rewarded. In some instances, the actions (or lack thereof) of a healthcare professional may rise to the level of malpractice.
Criminal lawyers are attorneys who defend individuals and organizations against government charges in federal and state courts. Criminal lawyers understand the rules around arrest, arraignment, bail, pleas, proof, and related issues. Some of the most common crimes requiring criminal lawyers include homicide, sexual battery and assault.
Workers’ compensation lawyers specialize in helping workers navigate the unique laws that apply to people who have been injured on the job. A workers’ compensation lawyer typically has a large number of cases to manage, each with its own deadlines, so look for a firm using a modern cloud-based law firm management system. The Department of Labor administers four major disability compensation programs.
Medical Malpractice. If you’ve been hurt by a medical professional, a personal injury lawyer specializing in medical malpractice can help you seek compensation for the harm done. The most common medical malpractice cases include misdiagnosis, inaccurate treatment, and medical negligence.
Some of the most common types of cases handled by employment lawyers are contracts, wrongful termination, workplace harassment, retaliation, and workplace discrimination.
Intellectual property attorneys (“IP attorneys”) help companies, artists, and inventors with legal issues concerning copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets and the like. IP attorneys spend a lot of time working with clients to help them avoid infringing upon the rights of others and making sure that their intellectual property is properly protected under the law.
Immigration lawyers help immigrants, and employers seeking to hire them, with legal issues related to the status of immigrants and their families. Immigration lawyers help with visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum and refugee status. Immigration laws change constantly, so it’s important to consult an experienced attorney in these situations.
The general term “civil litigator” refers to an attorney who represents clients in civil (not criminal) court, either as plaintiff or defendant. The most common kinds of civil litigation involve contract ...
Because of their complexity and expense ( the cost of expert witnesses) negligence claims against lawyers are often difficult prove. However, in the case of obvious errors (missed statute of limitations or failure to appear for trial), such cases can be justified and won.
To prove a case of professional negligence against an attorney, the plaintiff must not only prove the existence of a duty and the breach of that duty (i.e., the lawyer's conduct fell below the standard of practice), the plaintiff must also show that the lawyer's conduct was the proximate (or direct) cause of the plaintiff's damages.
The only practical way for a lawyer to demonstrate he or she did not owe a duty to a person claiming to be a client is to establish that the other person was never a client or that the lawyer's actions which are claimed to have been negligent occurred before or after the existence of the attorney-client relationship.
BREACH OF DUTY. In professional negligence cases, including attorney negligence, the law uses a concept known as "the standard of practice" to determine whether there was a breach of duty. The concept creates an imaginary line along the spectrum of professional practice within the profession under examination.
The failure to fulfill these duties to others is called "negligence.". The law provides a remedy for people who are injured by the negligence of others - the civil lawsuit. Generally speaking, in order to prove a case of negligence in a civil court, the plaintiff must prove four elements: (1) duty; (2) breach of duty; (3) proximate cause;
Finally, the lawyer's geographic location is taken into account because the standard of practice to be applied is the one for the "community" in which the lawyer practices.
If the professional's conduct falls above this standard of practice imaginary line, it is deemed to have not been negligent. If the professional's conduct falls below this. imaginary standard of practice line, the professional is deemed to have been negligent and may be liable to any person injured by his or her negligence.
Since these are professions that ascribe to a set of standards , they have greater professional responsibilities that may be challenged in the courtroom or in litigation.
This lawyer is an expert in tort law, which deals with civil legal liabilities and damages.
Family Lawyers. These are lawyers who handle all kinds of domestic cases, such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, adoption, paternity, alimony, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and emancipation. But family attorneys may also handle reproductive rights cases, and their work may intersect with other areas of the law.
Different types of lawyers specialize in different areas of law. Some lawyers mostly do the work outside of the courtroom, such as drafting contracts and wills, preparing documents to comply with a process, negotiating deals, and advising clients on a legal problem. There are also lawyers who present cases in court or litigations ...
Real estate lawyers provide legal guidance for individuals or companies seeking to buy or sell a property. They work with their clients and the real estate agents to draft documents and ensure that the paperwork is legally binding. They may also negotiate for the buyer or seller, or represent a property owner during a foreclosure dispute.
But family attorneys may also handle reproductive rights cases, and their work may intersect with other areas of the law. For instance, if there’s a criminal investigation of child abuse or a domestic violence case, or if there’s a juvenile delinquency case, a family lawyer may also work with a criminal lawyer. 3. Estate Planning Lawyers.
Last but not least, a criminal defense lawyer is skilled in handling all stages of a criminal lawsuit. They provide valuable counsel to their clients from the time they are arrested, through the investigation, charging, arraignment and sentencing. Their work isn't quite done if their clients wish to appeal their case. A good criminal defense attorney knows how to navigate the nuances of the law, which allows them to keep their clients out of prison.
An automotive lawyer may also reach out to the repair shop and/or mechanic on a vehicle owner’s behalf before filing a claim. By opening communication lines, the lawyer may be able to persuade the repair shop to either fix the damage or to settle out of court, so no one has to experience the added stress of a trial.
In a misdiagnosis negligence case, the vehicle owner will need to prove that the mechanic failed to exercise the same level of care that any other reasonable auto repair mechanic would have used in the same or a similar scenario. The vehicle owner will also have to prove that the misdiagnosis was foreseeable, the mechanic’s carelessness caused the property damage, and that the damage done to the car is quantifiable.
However, if the mechanic or repair shop refuses to accept responsibility or claims that it is not their fault, then the vehicle owner may seek legal recourse for a misdiagnosis. The most common option of legal recourse is to sue the mechanic for negligence.
Mechanic repair lawsuits refer to a large umbrella of cases that involve issues regarding vehicle repairs and mechanics or automobile repair shops. For example, a car owner may sue a mechanic for performing unauthorized or unnecessary repairs, providing false or misleading payment estimates, or for breach of warranty.
Each state has its own set of auto repair laws that go by various names, but are primarily enacted for the purposes of protecting the average consumer. For instance, many states have laws that address unfair and deceptive practices in car repairs.
Thus, you may be able to sue for mechanic malpractice or negligence if your mechanic failed to disclose exactly what work was being done on your vehicle, gave you price rates that were missing certain estimates, or if they neglected to repair your vehicle in a timely and reasonable fashion.
Prior to joining LegalMatch, Jaclyn was a paralegal and freelance writer. After several years of working for both criminal defense and entertainment law firms, she enrolled in law school. While in law school, her law journal note was selected for first-round publishing, and can be found on various legal research databases. Jaclyn holds a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, specializing in both intellectual property law and data law; and a B.A. from Fordham University, ...