Personal Injury Damages You Can Recover in Florida

Were you recently injured in an accident in the state of Florida? Are you concerned about the accident’s impact on your life? Are you wondering if there’s any way to recover your losses and damages?

Thankfully, there are many types of personal injury damages you can recover in Florida, but doing so is easier said than done. It takes the right knowledge and approach from an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Compensatory damages in a Florida personal injury case

In a Florida personal injury case, compensatory damages are a broad category that come in two specific forms:

1. Economic damages: examples include property damage, lost wages, and medical bills.
2. Non-economic damages: examples include loss of limb, permanent disfigurement, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be in a position to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. As a general rule of thumb, it’s easier to recover compensatory damages as opposed to punitive damages (more on this below). 

Are there any caps on economic and/or non-economic damages?

In the state of Florida, there are no limits or damage caps on economic and non-economic damages – as long as you have the necessary evidence to prove your damages. That’s why it’s critical to work with an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer who will help you collect the right proof and fight aggressively for your full compensation. If you’re curious to know how much your case is worth, you can schedule a consultation today with our Orlando injury lawyers who can estimate the full value of your injuries and related losses.

What are punitive damages in a Florida personal injury case?

To understand how punitive damages work, you must first understand “gross negligence”.

The Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute defines gross negligence as follows:

“A lack of care that demonstrates reckless disregard for the safety or lives of others, which is so great it appears to be a conscious violation of other people’s rights to safety. It is more than simple inadvertence, and can affect the amount of damages.”

Examples of gross negligence include but are not limited to:

• Driving while under the influence of drugs, prescription medication, and/or alcohol.
• Distracted driving, such as a result of texting or talking on a cell phone.
• Drowsy driving, which often comes into play in a car-commercial truck accident.
• Reckless driving, such as excessive speeding or driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

Unlike compensatory damages, there is a cap on punitive damages in Florida: You can seek up to 3x the amount of compensatory damages or any amount up to $500,000. Consult with a knowledgeable Orlando injury attorney to help you decide how much to seek in punitive damages. 

Steps to recover all your damages in a Florida personal injury case

Now that you understand the different types of damages you can recover in a Florida personal injury case, you must implement a plan for doing so. 

Your goal is to obtain all the compensation you deserve. Here are some steps that can help you and your attorney build a strong injury case:

• Seek immediate medical care: Don’t wait to seek care, as doing so gives the impression that you’re not injured. It also allows the other party, such as an insurance company, to argue that you were not injured in the accident itself. Call 911 from the scene and accept transportation to a local hospital for a thorough examination of any internal and external injuries.
• Collect evidence: Evidence comes in many forms, such as photos and/or video of the accident scene, property damage, and injuries. Also, be sure to request a copy of the police report and contact any witnesses of the accident.
• Keep good records: It’s best to do this as you go along, as opposed to hoping you can collect what you need at the last minute. Records include things such as medical reports, medical bills, and any correspondence you’ve received from insurance companies. 
• Don’t accept a lowball offer: It’s likely that the at-fault party’s insurance company will give you a lowball offer. They do this with hopes that you’ll accept less compensation than you deserve. Don’t accept any “final payment” unless you’re sure that you want to close your claim. If you accept, it eliminates the possibility of obtaining additional compensation in the future.
• Consult with an attorney: There are many benefits of consulting with an experienced Orlando injury lawyer, including the fact that they’ll manage the entire process from start to finish and provide clear answers to all your questions. This allows you to focus more on your injuries and health recovery. Best of all, your attorney will ensure that no one takes advantage of you during this vulnerable time in your life.

Our Orlando injury lawyers will fight aggressively to recover all your personal injury damages

At The Law Offices of Pardy & Rodriguez, P.A., our Orlando personal injury lawyers offer 35+ years of combined experience representing injured accident victims across Florida. We are a Firm Dedicated To You, so you can be sure we’ll fight aggressively to recover all the damages you deserve after a serious accident. Contact us online or give us a call today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about the steps you can take to pursue maximum compensation for your losses.