It’s not just car accidents that give rise to personal injury lawsuits! Personal injury legislation applies to any harm brought on by someone else’s carelessness. This is especially important in Florida, where the personal injury laws consider the significant costs associated with treating severe injuries and require compensation.
It is advisable to contact a qualified New Port Richey personal injury lawyer immediately if you or someone you know is now suffering injuries due to someone else’s negligence. It is possible to represent yourself, but having a personal injury law expert on your side will improve your chances of succeeding and getting the right compensation.
Here are some critical facts to know about Florida’s personal injury laws.
Florida’s No-Fault Laws Do Not Discharge People from Responsibility
The only goal of no-fault insurance is to guarantee that anyone injured in a car accident receives quality medical attention. It doesn’t stop anyone from holding someone accountable or seeking compensation, especially if they have catastrophic injuries. The best action is to immediately speak with a personal injury attorney if you believe that you or someone you know has injuries caused by someone’s negligence.
You have up to 4years to file your personal injury claim
It takes four years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. Since your case needs to gather evidence as quickly as possible, it is a good idea to call your personal injury attorney as soon as possible following the accident.
Although this appears obvious, there are a few exceptions to the constraints. It might even go on for a while longer in some uncommon situations. But in typical personal injury cases, missing the deadline may lead to the dismissal of your claim regardless of your evidence.
Florida applies rules of comparative negligence.
Comparative negligence states that fault and negligence can be shared by all parties involved in an accident. This “sharing arrangement” is based on the behaviors that cause the accident, allowing insurance companies to pay claims appropriately.
The comparative negligence rule will vary depending on the state. For instance, although some states do not let a party who is “less” at fault receive compensation, others can. Under Florida’s pure comparative negligence rule, the amount of compensation may be diminished depending on your level of fault in the accident.
Florida Has a Punitive Damage Cap
In Florida, punitive damages are rarely awarded in situations involving personal injuries. These damages are typically reserved for defendants whose actions are deemed to be willful, malicious, or grossly negligent. In addition to determining intent, the court will review related cases to see if the plaintiff also won them.
The court, in this case, grants punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages (both economic and non-economic) to deter the defendant from repeating the same behavior in the future.
Last words
You should immediately contact your personal injury attorney if you or someone you know has suffered severe physical and mental harm due to someone else’s carelessness. This will enable you to collect damages that you can use to cover the expense of treating injuries.
