Personal Injury Lawyer in Palm Bay
An Overview of Personal Injury Law
What is personal injury law? This is a field that covers injuries caused by the negligence or intentional conduct of another. It may include all types of
car accidents,
drunk driving accidents,
dog attacks,
drowning and near drowning accidents, slip and fall accidents, defective product injuries and other related incidents that cause injury of an emotional and/or psychological nature.
A person who has suffered some sort of injury may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party, whether this is an individual or a business entity. The injured party, the plaintiff, seeks to hold the responsible party, the defendant, accountable for their conduct by seeking compensatory damages for various items:
- Medical expenses, including future medical treatment and care
- Lost earnings, including future loss of earnings or loss of earning potential
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of companionship (in wrongful death claims)
The specific value of a claim and the type of compensation a plaintiff can seek will vary depending on the unique circumstances of the case, the extent of injury and various other factors. Most of the time, cases of this nature are settled out of court and are paid by the responsible party's insurance company. There are exceptions, however, and it is therefore important to discuss your particular case with a Palm Bay personal injury lawyer who can offer insight applicable to your particular situation.
Grounds for Accident and Injury Claims
An injured party in Palm Bay, Florida may be able to file a personal injury claim based upon one of three primary grounds: negligence, intentional conduct or strict liability. Negligence is the most common grounds for personal injury claims. This is defined as any failure to act as a reasonable person would in the circumstances, resulting in a lack of proper caution or care that leads to the injury of another. Speeding or running a red light may be considered forms of negligence. Although the driver did not intentionally cause a car accident, if the resulting collision caused catastrophic injury to another person that injured party may be able to seek financial compensation from the negligent driver due to his or her failure to act with proper caution in the circumstances.
Though typically associated with criminal law as opposed to civil law, intentionally causing harm to another person may offer the injured party grounds for a personal injury lawsuit to seek financial compensation for medical care and other damages the injury caused. Various types of assaults and attacks may be covered under this area of personal injury law.
Finally, strict liability may grant an injured party the opportunity to sue for damages regardless of the specific intent or negligence of the defendant. In Florida, strict liability claims are typically related to dog bites, where a dog owner can be held accountable even if the dog showed no previous aggression, and product liability claims if a manufacturer produced a product that had a defect and caused injury to a consumer as a result.
Palm Bay Injury Attorney
Regardless of the particular nature of your injuries or the type of claim you are dealing with, it is important to review the matter with an experienced attorney. You may have the right to seek justice and financial compensation, but this is a complex field and having the proper guidance of a skilled professional can make all the difference in your ability to seek the results you desire.
Contact a Palm Bay personal injury attorney at our law offices today for a free, confidential consultation. We also work on a contingent fee basis; you pay no legal fees unless we win your case.