A personal injury can do more than just land you in the hospital with formidable medical bills. It can affect the way you live for the rest of your life as well. If you’ve sustained an injury as a result of another person’s negligence, filing a personal injury claim in Ocala may help you receive adequate compensation for your suffering.
Understanding Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury claims hinge on the concept of negligence. If you have become injured as a result of another person’s negligence, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim. Negligence is defined as the failure to use reasonable care.
A personal injury is an injury to your body, emotions, or mind.
Personal injury claims may stem from various incidents, including:
- car accidents
- medical malpractice
- slip, trip, and fall incidents
- dog bites
- assault and battery
- slander
- libel
When you’ve suffered an injury like this, it can affect every area of your life. You may have physical pain that interferes with working, walking, or sleeping. You may suffer emotional trauma that causes panic or anxiety. You may be left with a traumatic injury to areas of your brain that affect cognitive reasoning or judgment.
All of these conditions may be disabling and prevent you from living the same quality of life you lived before sustaining the injury. This is frustrating to endure, but it’s made worse when your injury happened because of another person’s negligence.
You deserve compensation for pain and suffering, compensation for lost wages, and restitution for medical bills you incurred as a result. But, to receive them, you must first file a personal injury claim.
Facts On Personal Injury Rates In Florida
One person is injured every second in America, according to the National Safety Council. These injuries include those caused by motor vehicles, drug overdoses, falls, drowning, workplace hazards, and more.
In 2017, this added up to more than 47 million injuries that cost upwards of $1 billion to treat. Of these, a large portion happened in public. In Florida, a leading cause of accidental injury is unintentional falls involving such objects as escalators, curbs, stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and building design.
Thousands of Florida residents were hospitalized with unintentional fall injuries in 2012. Worse, the average cost associated with treating these injuries was $46,067.
That’s a lot of money for you and your insurance company to shell out because a stranger left a ladder behind or an escalator collapsed. If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in Ocala at the hands of another, filing a personal injury claim may help you recoup your losses.
Four types of incidents that cause personal injuries in Ocala:
- Equestrian Accidents: Known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” Ocala’s thriving equestrian industry brings the risk of injuries during training or competitions. Florin|Roebig would investigate accidents by scrutinizing facility safety standards, equipment conditions, and trainer credentials. They would secure expert testimonies on equine safety and gather documentation to demonstrate negligence by stables, event organizers, or equipment manufacturers, ensuring their clients receive comprehensive compensation through a large settlement or jury verdict.
- Forest and Trail Accidents: With Ocala National Forest and various trails nearby, hiking and recreational activities can pose risks, particularly when trails are poorly maintained. Florin|Roebig would examine the condition of the trails and the adequacy of warning signs and safety measures. They would build their case by reviewing maintenance logs, consulting with outdoor safety experts, and collecting accounts of previous similar incidents to argue negligence by the relevant authorities.
- County Fairground Injuries: The Southeastern Livestock Pavilion and county fairs attract crowds, which may expose visitors to accidents on rides or due to insufficient safety measures. Florin|Roebig would assess whether fairground operators or event organizers followed safety protocols and maintained rides properly. Their investigation would include expert testimony on fairground safety standards and a review of ride maintenance records, ultimately proving liability and winning a favorable settlement or jury verdict.
- Rural Road Accidents: Ocala’s rural roadways and agricultural areas increase the likelihood of car accidents involving large farming equipment or inadequate road maintenance. Florin|Roebig would meticulously analyze accident scenes, interview witnesses, and review road maintenance records. They would also consult accident reconstruction experts to demonstrate how road conditions or equipment operator negligence led to the injury, ensuring substantial compensation for their clients.
How To Know If You Have A Personal Injury Claim
Laws regarding personal injury in Ocala, Florida are specific and may be confusing to someone who’s unfamiliar with them. If you think you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim, it’s best to consult personal injury lawyers to help guide you through the legalese.
The important points regarding personal injury claims include:
- statute of limitations — In most instances, you have four years to file a personal injury claim in Ocala.
- comparative negligence — Any amount of compensation you seek in Ocala can be impacted by comparative negligence if the court finds you’re partly to blame.
- type of injury — For instance, Florida has adopted a no-fault policy regarding car accidents. To file a personal injury claim, your injuries must meet certain criteria that include permanent injury, significant or permanent scarring, or significant and permanent loss of a body function.
- limited liability — As an example, a dog owner in Ocala is legally responsible if their dog bites you. This responsibility may be lessened or made void, however, if you were unlawfully on their property at the time the injury occurred.
Personal injury claims in Florida are less straightforward than they are in other states, and not every claim will lead to compensation. This is why it’s vital to seek legal representation if you’ve been hurt by the actions or inactions of others. The personal injury lawyers you choose in Florida may be the deciding factor in whether you win or lose your case.
Why File A Personal Injury Claim In Ocala?
There are many reasons why someone might file a personal injury claim. In Florida, there are three specific instances that allow you to file a claim.
In legalese, these are referred to as torts, and they include:
- negligence torts — civil or criminal, depending upon the severity of your injury
- intentional torts — examples include assault and battery
- strict liability torts — examples include faulty airbags or tainted lettuce
You may have compensation due if your case meets any of these requirements. Subsequently, if you tripped and broke your hip in a shopping mall because the floor was warped or uneven, you may have a case.
If you were mugged on the beach at night, and your attacker stabbed you in the arm in the act of stealing your cell phone, you may have a claim. And if your vehicle malfunctioned, causing your brakes to fail and your car to crash into a tree, the car manufacturer may be liable.
You should never assume that the personal injury you suffered isn’t covered under Florida personal injury law. Instead, reach out to personal injury lawyers in Ocala and share your story. You could very well be due just compensation.
How Much Compensation Can You Win?
In Florida, if you can prove your personal injury claim, there are certain limits on how much money you’re allowed to seek in damages.
Types of damages you stand to win in a personal injury claim include:
- compensatory damages — These are the damages that most people envision when they think of a personal injury claim. Compensatory damages cover things such as medical bills, therapy, property loss, and more. Florida sets no caps on how much money you may claim in compensatory damages. However, the amount you’re seeking must be backed by solid proof, such as medical bills.
- non-economic damages — These are damages that may affect you in ways other than financially. Often the result of medical malpractice, and non-economic damages include such complaints as loss of companionship and mental anguish. Injuries that affect your ability to live the same quality of life that you had before your injury occurred are considered non-economic.
- punitive damages — Punitive damages are essentially doled out as punishments for the person or corporation who’s responsible for your personal injury. In Florida, you may only seek up to three times the amount of your compensatory damages, or $500,000. It’s difficult to prove punitive damages in personal injury claims in Ocala, however, and these damages are rarely awarded.
The best way to understand exactly how much compensation you’re due is to trust your personal injury lawyers. If you have a valid claim, they’ll lead you through the process of filing and pursuing it, helping you get the most substantial settlement possible.
Our Featured Case Results
List Of Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Ocala
With law offices throughout Florida, our award-winning staff at Florin|Roebig is constantly at the forefront of the legal industry, providing thorough and efficient representation for multiple clients.
Our legal team includes:
- Wil H. Florin, B.S.C.
- Tommy D. Roebig. B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Neil P. O’Brien, M.B.A.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Luca G. Esposito
Holding top spots on such lists as Elite Trial Lawyers, Best Law Firms in America, and Best Lawyers in America, and by organizations that include US News and World Report and the National Law Journal, Florin|Roebig Trial Attorneys are waiting to hear the specifics of your case.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Trust Florin|Roebig To Settle Your Personal Injury Claim
If you need advice or assistance in filing a personal injury claim in Florida, trust the seasoned professionals at Florin|Roebig to help you pursue just compensation. Since 1985, our accomplished trial attorneys have been obtaining top settlements for clients just like you. Consult with us today to learn more.