If you were involved in an accident in Florida that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for monetary compensation for your injuries. Perhaps you have been seriously hurt in a car accident, injured after slipping and falling on a wet floor, or the victim of an assault while on property owned by a business. As a result of your injuries, you may be faced with mounting medical bills, unable to return to work, and suffering from chronic pain. You may be wondering how you will be compensated for your injuries so that you can get back on your feet again.
Under Florida law, there are three main types of damages available in a personal injury claim: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic damages include losses for the actual cost to you resulting from your personal injuries, including:
- Property Damage
- Past Medical Bills
- Future Medical Care
- Loss of Wages
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity
Non-economic damages include losses that are less tangible in nature and more difficult to measure, including:
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Inconvenience
- Loss of Consortium
Punitive Damages are awarded at the discretion of the court and they are designed to punish the negligent party for gross negligence or especially egregious conduct. Punitive damages are reserved for those situations where an award of economic and non-economic damages will not be enough to fully compensate the injured victim or to deter the responsible party from committing the same actions in the future. Some examples of cases where punitive damages may be awarded include:
- Drunk Driving Crashes
- Texting While Driving
- Gross Medical Negligence
- Intentional Misconduct
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
Heidi A. Hillyer, P.A. handles a variety of personal injury cases in Florida. If you have been injured, we understand the difficulties you are facing. You can put your trust in us to make sure that you are fully and fairly compensated for your losses.