Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer
Vanessa L. Prieto represents clients who have been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. This includes motor vehicle (car and truck) accidents, slip and fall accidents, and product liability cases. Whatever your accident or injuries, our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can assist you in dealing with the responsible parties–and their insurance companies–in seeking full compensation for your losses.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Claim
Torts are a form of civil law that apply to claims for damages arising from personal injury. When someone brings a tort claim, they are seeking damages–i.e., financial compensation–for these injuries. Damages in a personal injury case may include:
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The full costs of receiving any medical care arising from the accident, including past, current, and projected future expenses for treatment and rehabilitation.
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Loss of income due to the accident, including lost wages from time missed from work and any estimated future decrease in your earning capacity due to long-term or permanent injuries.
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The cost of repairing any damaged property, such as your vehicle.
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Non-economic damages to cover your pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
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In rare cases, an accident victim may be entitled to punitive damages if the negligent party’s misconduct was intentional or demonstrated gross negligence.
Our experienced personal injury firm can help you in determining the full amount of your damages. In many cases, the negligent party will have insurance that can cover some, if not all, of your losses. Even in such scenarios, it is still crucial to work with an attorney who will look out for your best interests–as you can be assured the insurance companies will not.
How Personal Injury Lawsuits Work in Florida
Florida has strict legal deadlines to bring a personal injury claim. There is a four-year statute of limitations on most such lawsuits, which usually begins starting on the date of your accident. Any claims filed outside of this four-year window are barred, meaning a Florida court will not even hear the case.
It is also important to know that Florida follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule in personal injury cases. Comparative negligence is a legal principle that requires a judge or jury to apportion fault for an accident among all of the responsible parties, including the victim. Under the “pure” form of comparative negligence, any compensation received by the victim is reduced to account for their share of the fault. But even if the defendant is found just 1 percent responsible, they can still be required to pay some amount of damages to the victim.
Contact Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney Vanessa L. Prieto Today
When you have been injured in an accident, it is important to seek out qualified legal advice as soon as possible. Even if you think your damages are minor, or may be covered by your own insurance company, it never hurts to talk with a lawyer. So if you need advice or representation from a skilled Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer, call the Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices, LLC, today at 954-800-2362 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.
