If you have been injured in Florida by another party’s negligence and recklessness, then you are likely going to want to file a Florida personal injury claim. Florida personal injury claims serve to recover costs associated with an accident such as medical costs, property damages, pain and suffering, and missed wages. Punitive damages are an extra amount of money that is paid out on top of the damages you receive from your personal injury claim. It is important to note, not every personal injury claim warrants punitive damages, and it is much harder to receive money associated with punitive damages.
If you have been injured or if you lost a loved one in a Florida accident and you believe that the details of the accident were egregious enough that the person who inflicted the harm on you acted in a way that was more than a mistake, call the Florida personal injury attorneys at the Vaughan Law Group. It is possible that your case could merit punitive damages, and when you meet with the Orlando car accident attorneys at Vaughan Law Group, you will be able to learn more about your legal options.
How Do You Get Punitive Damages from your Florida Personal Injury Claim?
There are strict guidelines when it comes to punitive damages. It takes extenuating circumstances that exceed a simple blunder or error in judgment. It is up to your attorney to prove that “gross negligence” took place. To do this, it is essential that there is solid evidence showing the malice or disregard the defendant had when the accident took place. The purpose of punitive damages is to send a message and to punish an individual for their extremely thoughtless and appalling behavior and actions. In the state of Florida, punitive actions can also be called “exemplary damages.”
Obtaining punitive damages means that you must be equipped with an aggressive and experienced legal professional who understands the system and knows how to fight. The evidence that is necessary is substantial and so working with the right attorney is very important to the success of your case. Cases where drunk driving or extreme forms of aggressive driving that result in an accident with severe injuries can potentially be awarded punitive damages. Specifically, when this behavior results in the loss of life, a wrongful death claim can be pursued and it is very possible that punitive damages are included in the settlement.
Every state handles punitive damages differently. Florida places caps on punitive damage amounts. The number of compensatory damages you were awarded would play a part in figuring out how much punitive damages you could receive. Compensatory damages are those that you would be calculated for your damages such as loss of income or medical costs as well as pain and suffering. They are dependant on how much negligence existed in your case.
Talk to a Qualified Orlando Personal Injury Attorney Today
The process of gathering the evidence and documentation and then building a strong case is intricate and at times very complex. The law is complicated with many considerations, so when you are ready to file a claim working with the right attorney will have a big impact on the outcome of your case. Schedule your free consultation with a knowledgeable Orlando serious injury attorneys at Vaughan Law Group by calling (407) 648-1426.
