Personal Injury Cases in Florida
Have you suffered injuries or lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions in Florida? Are you looking to recover damages for the injuries and losses you sustained in an accident?
A Florida personal injury lawyer can review your case at no cost and advise you of your rights and options to obtain compensation from the at-fault party.
The Florida personal injury lawyers at The Russo Firm are here for you. We’ll review your case with you for free and tell you whether you have a valid claim. If so, you can rely on us to help you navigate the complex claims process and advocate for you to protect your rights and increase your chances of getting maximum compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you and your family during this difficult and uncertain time.
Why Choose The Russo Firm for Your Florida Personal Injury Case?
The Russo Firm has eight law offices across Florida, including our headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. For more than 25 years now, our attorneys have fought on behalf of injured clients throughout Florida and across the nation, so we have the skills, resources, and experience necessary to handle your claim effectively and maximize your financial recovery.
To date, we recovered more than $1 billion in total compensation for our clients, including a landmark $1.4 billion settlement in a whistleblower case against the makers of Zyprexa.
Other notable successes include:
- $520 million in a whistleblower case against AstraZeneca
- $200 million jury award for wrongful death in a boating accident
- $3.3 million recovery for a client severely injured in a drunk driving accident
- $2.4 million recovery for medical malpractice
- $2.0 million recovery for a trucking accident
Although past results don’t guarantee an outcome in your case, you can count on us to fight vigorously to help you receive the most allowed under the law.
Devoted to providing stellar client service, we’ve received many compelling testimonials from our past clients.
We’re also proud that several of our attorneys have earned awards and honors from prestigious legal organizations, such as the National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Florida’s Legal Elite. We’re also rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating a law firm can receive.
Our attorneys have decades of collective legal experience, and we have board-certified attorneys on our staff. We have gone against some of the largest and most powerful businesses and insurance companies in the country, securing substantial verdicts and settlements.
We also offer bilingual services, and our lawyers have a diverse range of legal skills. We have a dedicated team of paralegals and investigators to assist with cases, and we all share an unrelenting passion for seeking justice on behalf of our clients.
Since we understand you likely have concerns about paying for an attorney to represent you, our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay anything out of pocket upfront, and we’ll only accept attorney fees if we recover compensation for you. Under this arrangement, you can get top-rated, award-winning service from an experienced personal injury lawyer without having to worry about the cost.
To discover the difference The Russo Firm can make in your Florida personal injury case, call us at (954) 767-0676 or contact us online to request a free case evaluation.
The Types of Florida Personal Injury Cases We Handle
The attorneys at The Russo Firm handle all types of Florida personal injury cases, including:
- Auto accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Boating accidents
- Product liability
- Premise liability
- Slip and fall accidents
- Nursing home abuse
We also have pedestrian accident lawyers, wrongful death lawyers, and attorneys experienced in virtually every area of personal injury law. This includes top-rated national mass tort lawyers.
No matter your situation or circumstances, if another party hurts you or a beloved family member in Florida, The Russo Firm can help you determine the best course of action for recovering the full and fair compensation you deserve.
What Are the Elements of a Personal Injury Claim?
Personal injury claims often involve proving that the defendant was either negligent (failed to exercise reasonable care) or engaged in intentional conduct that resulted in harm.
To prove negligence, an injured party needs to show:
- Duty of Care: The injured party (plaintiff) must establish that the responsible party (defendant) owed them a duty of care. This duty is often based on the relationship between the parties or the circumstances of the incident.
- Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant breached the duty of care owed to them. This involves showing that the defendant failed to act reasonably or committed a negligent or intentional act that caused harm.
- Causation: There must be a direct link between the defendant’s breach of duty and the injuries suffered by the plaintiff. The plaintiff must show that the defendant’s actions were a substantial factor in causing the harm.
- Proximate Cause: Proximate cause, also known as legal cause, involves determining if the injuries were a foreseeable result of the defendant’s actions. The harm should be a natural and probable consequence of the defendant’s conduct.
- Damages: The plaintiff must have suffered actual damages, such as physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, property damage, or other losses. Damages are essential for a valid personal injury claim.
In cases where both parties may have contributed to the injury, the legal principle of comparative negligence may come into play. This involves assessing the percentage of fault for each party, which can affect the amount of compensation awarded.
Due to the complexities and challenges involved in proving negligence and establishing liability, you need to work with an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida to understand the legal requirements, protect your rights, and navigate the claims process effectively.
How Can a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you with your Florida personal injury claim though:
- Legal knowledge: Our personal injury attorneys have dedicated their careers to personal injury law. We have a deep understanding of the legal principles and procedures involved in such cases.
- Investigation: Our lawyers can conduct a thorough investigation to gather evidence supporting your claim. This may involve obtaining witness statements, medical records, accident reports, and other relevant documents.
- Case Valuation: Our attorneys can assess the value of your claim by considering various factors such as medical expenses, lost wages, future damages, and pain and suffering. They can help you understand what fair compensation might look like.
- Negotiation Skills: The personal injury lawyers at our firm are skilled negotiators who can engage with insurance companies or opposing parties to reach a fair settlement on your behalf.
- Legal Representation in Court: If the insurance company or opposing party refuses to negotiate a fair settlement, your personal injury lawyer can represent you in court. We can present your case and advocate for your rights during a trial.
- Navigating Legal Procedures: The legal process can be complex, and a lawyer from our firm can guide you through each step, ensuring that you meet deadlines, file necessary documents, and adhere to legal requirements.
Another intangible benefit of hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim is peace of mind. You won’t have to deal with the stress and burden of filing your claim properly, dealing with insurance companies, and trying to navigate the legal process. You can let your attorney handle all of that for you while you focus on getting better.
The Insurance Research Council conducted a study that showed lawyers helped personal injury plaintiffs receive 3.5 times higher settlement payout and increased a plaintiff’s chances of getting a fair settlement by 85 percent than those who did not use an attorney.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is one of the best decisions you can make to maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
What Types of Injuries Qualify for Compensation?
Various types of injuries may qualify for compensation in a personal injury claim, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Psychological injuries, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Fatal injuries
Consult a personal injury lawyer in Florida to assess the specific details of your case and determine if your injuries qualify for compensation. We can use the severity of the injury, the impact on your life, and the liability of the responsible party to evaluate your personal injury claim.
What Compensation Can I Receive From a Florida Personal Injury Claim?
In a Florida personal injury claim, the types of compensation you may receive, often referred to as damages, can come in two main types: economic and non-economic damages. Additionally, in certain cases, you may receive punitive damages.
Here’s an overview of each:
Economic Damages
- Medical Expenses: Compensation for past and future medical bills related to the injury, including hospitalization, surgeries, medication, rehabilitation, and other necessary treatments.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to the injury, including missed work days, reduced working hours, or a diminished earning capacity.
- Property Damage: Compensation to cover the costs to repair or replace personal property that was damaged or destroyed.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress the injury caused.
- Mental Anguish: Damages for emotional suffering, anxiety, and mental distress resulting from the injury.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the negative impact on the relationship between the injured party and their spouse, including loss of companionship, support, and intimacy.
In rare cases, the court may award punitive damages if it deems the at-fault party acted with extreme negligence or intentional misconduct. They punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. Florida law caps punitive damages, typically limiting them to three times the amount of compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater.
Florida follows a system of comparative negligence, which means that if you are partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may decrease in proportion to your level of fault. However, as long as you are less than 50% at fault, you may still recover compensation.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Determining the value of a personal injury case is complex and depends on a variety of factors specific to each case. More serious injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, generally lead to higher settlements. However, factors that can affect the amount of compensation you receive include insurance limits, share fault, and Florida laws.
The strength of your case against the at-fault party significantly impacts the potential value. This is why you need to work closely with a personal injury attorney in your area who can fully assess your claim and work diligently to ensure you get the highest amount of compensation possible.
How Does the Claims Process Work in Florida
- Report the incident:
- Contact your insurance company promptly. You should do it typically within 24 to 72 hours, depending on your policy. Your insurance representative will guide you through their specific reporting process.
- File a police report. This is crucial for claims arising from accidents, thefts, or other situations where there might be fault involved. Florida requires parties to report an accident involving injuries or fatalities or property damages of $500 or more. However, you need to report any accident to the police so you can obtain the police report for your claim.
- Gather documentation:
- Collect evidence to support your claim. This may include photographs or videos of the damage, medical records for injuries, police reports, witness statements, repair estimates, receipts for related expenses, and your insurance policy documents.
- Contact an attorney:
- If you sustained an injury or lost a close family member in the accident, contact an attorney right away. They can help you determine whether you have a claim and file it with the appropriate insurance companies.
- The insurance company investigates:
- An adjuster will be assigned to your case. They will contact you to discuss the details of the incident, gather information, and potentially inspect the damage (for property claims).
- Settlement offer or denial:
- The adjuster will assess the claim and determine its validity. They may request additional information or clarification throughout the process.
- If your claim is approved, you will receive a settlement offer. This is the amount the insurance company is willing to pay to resolve the claim.
- You have the right to negotiate the settlement offer if you believe it doesn’t adequately cover your damages.
- If the insurance company denies your claim, you will receive a written explanation outlining the reasons for the denial.
- Florida law requires insurance companies to acknowledge your claim within 14 days of receiving it and to provide a written response (approval, denial, or offer) within 60 days.
- If you disagree with the decision, you may file an appeal with your insurance company. If that fails, you can pursue legal action with an attorney.
- It’s crucial to keep detailed records of all communication, documents exchanged, and important dates throughout the claims process.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Contact The Russo Firm Today
Are you ready to secure the compensation and justice you deserve for your personal injury in Florida? Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys at The Russo Firm is here to guide you through the legal process and fight for maximum compensation.
Contact us today at (954) 767-0676 for your free consultation and let us help you obtain your rightful financial recovery.
The Russo Firm – Corporate Office
301 W Atlantic Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33444
P: (561) 270-0913