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Florida Car Accident Damages
Alan Sackrin Has Obtained Compensation For The Injured Since 1982
What Kind of Damages Can You Recover After A Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident involving a negligent driver, Florida law provides that you can recover damages, including financial compensation for such things as:
- Reimbursement for medical costs and expenses (care, therapy, equipment);
- Your lost wages from your job;
- Your pain and suffering;
- Your mental anguish;
- Physical impairment;
- Permanent disfigurement.
Even if your injuries are relatively minor, damages may still be available to you. You may also be able to recoup your property losses for things like your totaled or wrecked car (or truck or van or SUV, etc.).
What are “car accident damages” under Florida law?
Under Florida law, money that is paid to a victim for the purpose of making him or her whole again are called damages, and they are either awarded by a jury or they are paid via a settlement.
The Florida Legislature has enacted specific laws on damages, like Chapter 768 of Florida Statutes.
In addition to those damages mentioned above, there are other losses that part of a car accident damage claim under Florida law, including:
- Special Damages – Recovery of the cost to hire people to perform the tasks the injured party can no longer provide, including mowing the lawn, cleaning the house and/or pool cleaning. (the injured party should keep records and receipts of these items and costs)
- Loss of Consortium – if the injury is severe, a spouse may recover compensation for the loss of the comfort, attention, society and services formally provided by the injured party
- Future lost work – future earning capacity
- Future Medical expenses – future foreseeable medical and health care costs (long term physical therapy, surgeries, medications, nursing care, etc.)
- Future Pain and suffering
- Property damage – value of property that was harmed or destroyed in the accident (e.g., car)
Additionally, if the accident victim has tragically died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident, the accident victim’s family as well as the victim’s estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit against those who are responsible for the accident. Under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, (Chapter 768.16 et seq of Florida Statutes) certain family members are legally allowed to file the lawsuit after their loved one has passed away due to an accident: parents and spouses are able to file a Wrongful Death Lawsuit, for example, while cousins cannot.
Further, Florida law provides for punitive damages when a serious accident has permanently injured or killed a person anywhere within the Florida borders (including waterways and Florida ocean waters as well as Florida skies). Punitive damages are available only in certain situations – there must be a finding of gross negligence or intentional conduct before damages can be assessed as punishment upon the party or parties responsible for the accident.
Punitive Damages – What about those huge, multi-million dollar damage awards covered in the media?
Periodically, the television, print, and internet media announce that an accident injury victim has been awarded millions in a jury verdict or claims settlement. While there may be times when the long term care and medical expenses alone will tally to a very large, six-figure amount; however, oftentimes the multi-million dollar injury damages are large amounts because of punitive, or punishment, damages.
Punitive damages are used in courts as a way of serving justice where the defendant has done an act so unacceptable that it will be legally allowed in order to discourage and dissuade this defendant and others similarly situated as that defendant from doing this action again in the future. Punitive damages are awarded not to provide justice to the plaintiff alone but also as a means of protecting the interests of society as a whole.
According to Florida Statute 768.72:
(2) A defendant may be held liable for punitive damages only if the trier of fact, based on clear and convincing evidence, finds that the defendant was personally guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Intentional misconduct” means that the defendant had actual knowledge of the wrongfulness of the conduct and the high probability that injury or damage to the claimant would result and, despite that knowledge, intentionally pursued that course of conduct, resulting in injury or damage.
(b) “Gross negligence” means that the defendant’s conduct was so reckless or wanting in care that it constituted a conscious disregard or indifference to the life, safety, or rights of persons exposed to such conduct.
(3) In the case of an employer, principal, corporation, or other legal entity, punitive damages may be imposed for the conduct of an employee or agent only if the conduct of the employee or agent meets the criteria specified in subsection (2) and:
(a) The employer, principal, corporation, or other legal entity actively and knowingly participated in such conduct;
(b) The officers, directors, or managers of the employer, principal, corporation, or other legal entity knowingly condoned, ratified, or consented to such conduct; or
(c) The employer, principal, corporation, or other legal entity engaged in conduct that constituted gross negligence and that contributed to the loss, damages, or injury suffered by the claimant.
(4) The provisions of this section shall be applied to all causes of action arising after the effective date of this act.
See Sample Damage Settlements Won by Alan Sackrin:
In 2011, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that limits the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in a Florida lawsuit and unlimited punitive damages awards will not be allowed in the State of Florida under current law unless “the fact finder determines that at the time of injury the defendant had a specific intent to harm the claimant and determines that the defendant’s conduct did in fact harm the claimant, there shall be no cap on punitive damages.” (Florida Statute 768.73(1)(c).)
Recent examples of Florida punitive damages awards include the tobacco litigation where tobacco companies were ordered to pay large amounts of money not only in justice to those injury victims who had filed claims against the companies, but also as a punishment damage for the benefit of society as a whole. Tobacco victims have been pursuing punitive damages in lawsuits after the State Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs could be awarded punitive damages in these actions.
Quick Florida Car Accident Facts:
According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, for example, in 2009 statewide there were 20,085 alcohol related traffic accidents resulting in 1,004 deaths and 14,130 injuries. Additionally, damages from auto crashes total $150 billion annually because compensation for a car accident, in most cases, includes recovery of medical expenses, property damage, lost wages and lost earning potential, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of consortium and emotional distress. Learn more from Alan Sackrin, an expert car accident lawyer.
Want to Know More?
Since 1982, Alan Sackrin has represented clients throughout Florida in recovering monetary damages for car accident injuries. Alan is a Board Certified Civil Trial Expert that strives to maximize the amount of compensation his clients’ receive for their claim. Alan brings a high-level of skill, knowledge and expertise to his client’s car accident cases and he offers a free initial consultation.
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