Florida Personal Injury Lawyers & Accident Attorneys
A personal injury is defined as any physical injury to an
individual that is the result of someone else's negligence.
Typically, personal injuries result from motor vehicle
accidents (ATV, automobile, boat, bus, motorcycle, truck,
van), animal and dog attacks, medical malpractice, nursing
home abuse, prescription negligence, product failures, slips
and falls and workplace injuries. A personal injury accident
can leave you with large medical bills, lost wages, damages
to your person or vehicle, as well as emotional and mental
trauma.
“Personal injury" is the
general title given to civil wrongs, otherwise known as torts, which cause
bodily injury or harm to a person or his or her property. A tort assigns
responsibility to an individual, group or corporation (defendant) for causing
injury to another person (plaintiff). The purpose of personal injury law is to
compensate the victim for their injury.
The compensation that a victim may receive is called “damages”. There are two
types of damages available to victims of a personal injury:
- Compensatory
damages:
referred to as actual damages in the US, and paid to compensate the personal
injury victim for loss, injury or harm suffered because of someone else’s
negligence, reckless behavior or malicious conduct.
- Punitive
Damages:
compensation in excess of actual damages, and awarded to
deter the defendant from pursuing a similar course of action
in the future.
Physical personal injury can
include loss of limbs, permanent or disfiguring scars and temporary or permanent
disabilities. Mental harm might include emotional trauma, mental anguish,
embarrassment, loss of enjoyment of life’s activities or nightmares. Whether
your injuries were caused by an accident, reckless action, or malicious intent,
you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries.
More than 31 million people
are injured in accidents every year, according to the National Center for Injury
Protection and Control. As many as 90,000 people die as a result of these
injuries. If you have been injured in Florida (FL), or have lost a loved one due
to negligence, you should consult with a Florida personal injury lawyer to
better understand your legal situation. Often, the initial attorney consultation
is free, and your attorney will help advise you of your options, while ensuring
your legal rights are protected.
Find A Lawyer