Where Can I Find the Best Personal Injury Attorney in Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls, South Dakota is home to at least 177,000 people and some of the most hardworking in the entire country. According to a recent study, South Dakota ranked fourth on the list of the hardest-working states in 2021. But unfortunately, many South Dakota residents lose their lives every year due to unintentional injuries. 

Studies have shown that unintentional injuries are the leading cause of injury deaths for ages 1 to 39 in South Dakota and the fourth-leading cause of injury deaths. To put things in perspective, in 2018 alone, at least 450 South Dakotans lost their lives due to unintentional injuries, and tens of thousands more suffered serious injuries. The numbers are even more devastating when you take a deeper look at some of the most common types of injuries in South Dakota. 

Slip & Falls 

Per the study, falls were the primary cause of unintentional injury death in 2018, claiming the lives of at least 149 people. If you live in Sioux Falls and you or your loved one has been injured due to a slip and fall, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation. We might be able to help. 

The saddest truth about most slip and fall accidents is that they usually occur due to someone else's negligence. As a result, it's becoming increasingly important to hold such individuals accountable for their actions. 

Some of the most common causes of slips and falls include: 

• Walking on wet surfaces, especially at grocery stores
• Bad weather conditions
• Neglect, particularly in nursing homes
• Unfastened wires
• Cluttered walkways
• Poorly-lit walkways
• Building structure conditions
• Damaged supportive handrails

Slip and fall accidents often come with serious injuries or even death, as mentioned before. Some of the most common types of injuries caused by slips and falls include:

• Broken bones
• Back injuries
• Deformation
• Strains and sprains
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Stretched or torn ligaments and tendons
• Dislocation

Regardless of the type of injury suffered, it's important that you document the scene and then seek immediate medical attention. If you're unable to document the injury, always remember that your health comes first. For this reason, seek immediate medical attention and then consult a Morgan & Morgan slip and fall attorney for a free consultation and case evaluation. Many victims of slip and fall accidents are receiving compensation for their injuries, and so should you. 

Car Accidents

Car accidents ranked second in the list of the most common injuries in South Dakota. The study revealed that in 2018 alone, at least 135 people died on South Dakota roads due to car accidents. A year earlier, at least 141 people had lost their lives on the state's roads. 

These figures further explain the importance of holding the other party responsible for their actions. This is because as much as some of these accidents are unavoidable, most occur due to negligence.

Unfortunately, even those who survive such accidents are never the same again. Some develop permanent disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorders, stress, anxiety, depression, etc. During these difficult times, it's important that you work with an experienced car accident attorney in Sioux Falls to get you the compensation you deserve and need. 

With the help of a seasoned car accident lawyer from Morgan & Morgan, you may be able to recover the following damages:

Medical expenses: These include all medical costs arising from the accident. For example, you may be able to recover the costs of therapy, ambulance, consultation with experts, medical equipment and accessories, in-home services such as caregiving, etc. 

Pain and Suffering: Depending on the extent of your injuries, a seasoned attorney can also help you obtain compensation for the pain and suffering you've endured from the car accident. Compensation for pain and suffering could also include future pain related to the injury. 

This is also why it's important to seek medical attention right after a car accident, even if you don't have any signs of injury or pain. Remember, some injuries may take time to show or need specialized equipment to notice. For example, a medical scan can detect damage to internal body organs that could potentially cause death if not taken care of immediately. 

Your car accident attorney from Morgan & Morgan will then use your doctor's report to estimate how much you may be entitled to as compensation for medical-related injuries. 

Lost wages: If you couldn't earn a living due to injuries caused by the car accident, you may be able to recover the lost wages. Your attorney will review your pay stubs if you're employed or business income if you're self-employed to determine the most appropriate compensation. 

Loss of companionship: This claim is usually filed by the spouse of the injured individual. For instance, they may be able to claim loss of companionship, also known as loss of consortium, if they can no longer engage in sexual activity with their loved one due to the injury. 

Poisoning

The study further revealed that poisoning was also one of the leading causes of injury deaths in South Dakota. In 2018, at least 57 people lost their lives due to unintentional poisoning in the state. The study concludes that poisoning is the leading cause of injury-related deaths among individuals aged between 25 and 64. 

Sadly, most of these deaths occur due to the opioid crisis and addiction to heroin. Speaking of the opioid crisis, it's becoming increasingly important to hold opioids manufacturers responsible for their dishonesty. These companies make billions of dollars every year, but sadly, most of their products have devastating effects on the consumer. 

For example, for many years, medications like hydrocodone, OxyContin, fentanyl, and morphine were advertised by pharmaceutical companies as “miracle solutions'' to pain relief. They invaded the market when consumers were looking for solutions to the problem of acute and chronic pain.

From ordinary workers to sportspeople, the demand for effective painkillers was high and still is today. The biggest problem, often referred to as the “Big Lie,” is that these companies exploited people's needs and lied about their products. They knew consumers needed an effective solution to pain and would spend anything to feel better.

As a result, some of these companies advertised their products without warning consumers about possible side effects. In addition, they intentionally left out some of the most critical information consumers needed to know about opioids — they were and still are highly addictive. 

After decades of continued use, millions of consumers have died due to overdose. According to the CDC, at least 841,000 people have died since 1999 due to the opioid crisis. The report further claims that in 2019 alone, at least 70,000 people lost their lives due to drug overdose.

Even more shocking is the fact that opioids were involved in at least 49,000 overdose deaths in 2019 alone. This accounts for more than 70% of all drug overdose deaths in that year alone. 

Closer home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, drug overdose deaths have reached a record high in 2022. According to a recent report by the CDC, fentanyl and methamphetamine are the most abused drugs in South Dakota. The study further reveals that the use of psychostimulants rose by 40% in 2021, leading to the deaths of at least 105,000 people in this state.

If you have lost a loved one due to the opioid crisis in Sioux Falls, SD, contact a Morgan & Morgan opioid lawsuit attorney for a case evaluation. We might be able to help. 

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are among the leading causes of injury-related deaths in this state. The report revealed that at least 21 pedestrians lost their lives in 2018. Unfortunately, some of these accidents occurred due to another person's negligence.

The most common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Left-hand turns
• Poorly-designed roads
• Failure to stop at stop signs or lights
• Inexperienced drivers
• Impaired driving

Such accidents can cause serious injuries, disabilities, or even death. So if you or your loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Sioux Falls, fill out our free consultation form today, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.