When we talk about personal injury cases, we typically refer to injuries that have affected the mind or body. You might think about personal injury in regards to traffic accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls or workplace injuries. It might not even cross your mind that a sexually transmitted disease could lead to a personal injury case.
The Responsibility to Do No Harm
One of the biggest responsibilities associated with socializing with others is to do our best to avoid causing harm to others. In essence, this means that you should never aim to hurt somebody, no matter their relationship to you. If you have a sexual relationship with somebody, you are obligated not to knowingly pass on a sexually transmitted disease, including syphilis, herpes, AIDS, crabs, gonorrhea or HPV.
Sexually Contracted Diseases
As prevalent as antibiotics and other treatment methods for sexually transmitted diseases may be, these medical conditions are still easy to contract. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 19 million new infections develop annually. Nearly half of these cases occur in individuals under the age of 24.
The unfortunate truth is that many people do not even realize they have ever contracted an STD, especially because many of them do not come with overt symptoms. Human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is easily hidden. Some people have herpes for years before ever even realizing it. On the other hand, there are many people who do know that they have these conditions and simply fail to inform their sexual partners.
Doing Harm by Knowingly Spreading STDs
Knowingly choosing to spread STDs, including HIV, can lead to serious health issues and even death. For this reason, some states have passed laws that require those with STDs to inform their partners before engaging in intercourse or to abstain from sex altogether. This is where calling a Palm Springs personal injury law firm comes in.
The states with these laws may allow the petitioner to come to court with substantiated evidence that the defendant knew about their STD status and should be held liable for passing on a health condition. The plaintiff in cases like this would be responsible for proving that they had no idea the defendant was passing on a sexually transmitted infection. Evidence that you can take to a personal injury case involving sexually transmitted infections includes visible symptoms, positive tests and a medical history indicating symptoms.
With your Palm Springs personal injury attorney, you can protect your rights as a plaintiff. If you have been knowingly infected with a medical condition, an attorney can help prove your case in court.
