Switch to ADA Accessible Theme Close Menu
Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
$3,830,000

Catastrophic motorcycle accident resulted in a jury verdict.

$1,748,000

Auto accident, multi-car crash

$1,200,000

Auto accident

$1,035,000

Auto accident involving defective airbag

$850,000

Auto accident

$700,000

Auto accident

$700,000

Auto accident

$600,000

Hospital turned away patient

$550,000

Auto accident involving tractor trailer

$450,000

Auto accident

$400,000

Car accident

$350,000

Golf Cart Accident

$300,000

Slip and Fall at Work

$210,000

Slip and Fall

$195,000

Auto Accident

$175,000

Accident involving pressure cooker

$106,890

Auto Accident

$100,000

Auto Accident

$100,000

Auto Accident

Call: 844-200-0000
Free Initial Consultation
Do you opt in to being contacted via SMS texting or phone call?
 
protected by reCAPTCHA Privacy - Terms

Personal Injury Law: Three Main Types of Available Damages in Florida

PI_Claim4

In personal injury law, the financial compensation a plaintiff receives after filing their personal injury claim is also called “damages.” The burden of proving damages always rests on plaintiffs and their attorneys. You are entitled to different types of damages in Florida as long as you can prove liability and negligence. You need to prove to the court all the damages and losses you incurred because of a person’s or company’s negligence so you can receive enough monetary damages to help you recover financially.

Individuals who file personal injury cases in Florida usually try to recover three main types of damages. These damages are;

  1. Economic damages
  2. Non-economic damages
  3. Punitive damages

Economic Damages

These damages are also known as special damages.

Generally, all damages that you can easily quantify mathematically are economic damages. These damages are awarded to victims to make it easy for them to recover from direct financial losses. Some of the economic damages you could be entitled to if you suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence include;

  • Medical expenses
  • Property damage
  • Loss of income
  • Loss of earning capacity

When calculating medical expenses, and before accepting any settlement offer, you need to factor in both the amount spent so far and any amount you will have to pay in the future. You need to ensure you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before calculating your medical expenses or accepting an offer. MMI means that either you have reached your maximum healing level, or you can calculate your future medical costs.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages are also known as general damages.

Unlike economic damages, it is not easy to mathematically quantify general damages. These damages are awarded after courts evaluate several intangible elements such as pain and suffering, the most popular type of non-economic damage. Other non-economic damages include;

  • Loss of companionship
  • Mental distress
  • Disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Loss of companionship/consortium/affection is a type of general damage that families of victims can claim.

Proving general damages in court can be a daunting task, but many people manage to do so and receive fair compensation because of qualified attorneys.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded to plaintiffs as a way of punishing at-fault parties for their misconduct.

According to Florida Statute 768.72, you can only claim punitive damages if there is enough evidence to provide a reasonable basis for recovery. Generally, you can only claim punitive damages in a case of serious gross negligence.

These damages are rarely awarded in Florida.

Need Help Claiming the Damages and Losses You Incurred After Suffering a Personal Injury?

After suffering a personal injury, people go through emotional, physical, and financial hardship. No one is ever prepared for such difficulty. Consequently, it is only fair that you receive fair compensation if someone else’s negligence caused your injury. If you sustained a severe injury due to someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to receive compensation for several damages. As the Fort Myers personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm, we can thoroughly scrutinize your claim and advise you during your initial consultation. Contact us for a free consultation today.

The Pendas Law Firm represents clients in the Tampa, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale areas.

Resource:

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2018/Chapter768/All

Read What Others Have To Say About Us

  • “I can’t express how much I appreciate this law firm. I had the honor to deal with attorney Daniel. He kept me updated on my case. I couldn’t ask for a better law firm. Daniel fought for me til the end and got me what I deserved. Thanks Daniel and your team for always being there to answer any of my questions. If I ever need a law firm again...”

    Terry Mcphillips
  • “Speedy & superb handling of clients & cases, kind & caring. Highly recommended professionals. They made everything very easy for us, were outgoing & polite. I would call them again if ever in need, rather than call the larger firms that need to advertise & brag about winnings…Pendas was a pleasant & more personal approach instead of...”

    Joseph Kestell
  • “Wow I called Pendas Law Firm the other day at their main intake line it was around 11 o’clock at night and I’ve got this wonderful representative his name was Jeffrey Alvarez. This guy was very professional and his compassion was out of this world I don’t know what I would do if I could not have got a hold of him...”

    Luis Sanchez
  • “Thank you for helping us in our time of need. This firm handled my father’s workers comp case, and helped us with every question we had, and we had a plenty. Thankful for the entire legal team!”

    Enilno Resu
  • “I just concluded a case with attorney Michael Sanchez and paralegal Camilo Lopez. I can only say they are exceptional. The customer service is unique, they have been battling alongside me since day 1. They are not only courteous and professional, but they also are amazing at their job. Thanks to them I got a great deal. I am glad I decided to use their services...”

    Israel Garcia
  • “Their attorneys are absolutely someone you want handling your car accident claim. They communicated with us promptly and thoroughly. I was very happy with our recovery. Already recommended them to others in the same circumstances, their staff speaks Spanish and you feel like in family.”

    Ian Brito
  • “Very Professional law firm. They explained to you every detail what to do according to the laws (worker’s compensation). Mr. Danilo Cruz is the best Lawyer and his team. They are very kind, friendly, responsible, I love this firm. They fight for their clients. AwesomeTeam!”

    Lau Rod