Hollywood, FL Personal Injury Lawyer

What is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law, also known as tort law, is about seeking justice when someone gets hurt because of someone else’s actions. If you’re injured because of someone’s wrongdoing, you can ask for money to cover the costs of your injuries.

Why Choose Our Hollywood Personal Injury Attorneys?

We understand that recovering from a personal injury can be a challenging time, both physically and emotionally. That’s why we offer experienced legal representation to help you navigate the complexities of the legal system and obtain the compensation you deserve. When you choose a Hollywood personal injury lawyer from our law firm, you’ll have access to:

1. Extensive experience: We have over 30 years of experience practicing personal injury law, which means he has the knowledge and expertise to handle your case effectively.
2. Strong negotiation skills: We’re known for our strong negotiation skills, which can help you obtain the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries.
3. Focus on client care: We’re passionate about helping clients and work hard to get them the best possible outcome.
4. Understanding of insurance companies: Our Hollywood personal injury attorneys understand how insurance companies work and know how to negotiate with them effectively.
5. Assistance with short-term needs: Each Hollywood personal injury lawyer at our law firm understands the short-term financial difficulties that can arise after an accident and can help you access the resources you need.

People Who Might Be Liable for Your Personal Injuries in Hollywood, FL

Determining who should be held liable for your injuries depends on many different factors and circumstances unique to your case. Generally, a potentially liable party should be someone who committed an act of negligence. In other cases, liable parties might have acted intentionally. A personal injury attorney can assist you in determining which parties to hold accountable.

Negligence

Anyone whose negligence contributed to your injuries might be sued and held liable. Negligence encompasses 4 crucial elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Each element must be sufficiently established for you to prove negligence successfully.

The duty element refers to the legal duty of care or obligation the defendant owed you when you were injured. The breach element is the action or inaction on the defendant’s part that violated their duty of care. Causation is the link between the breach and your injuries. Essentially, the defendant’s breach of duty must be the direct and proximate cause of your injuries. Finally, you have to have some real damages, and damages that are hypothetical or mere possibilities will not cut it.

Furthermore, negligence tends to be important in personal injury cases involving accidents. Car accidents, slip and fall incidents, and cruise ship injuries are just a few common examples of personal injury cases in Florida involving negligence.

Intentional Acts

It’s important to note that your case might be different if your injuries were caused by someone’s intentional conduct rather than an accident. In that case, liable parties include people who hurt you on purpose. These kinds of cases are sometimes tied to pending criminal charges against the defendant.

Often, cases that might appear “intentional” to a non-lawyer should actually be pursued as negligence claims. This is a common misconception when it comes to suing for things like drunk driving accidents or gross negligence.

Recoverable Damages in Hollywood, FL Personal Injury Cases

Damages in personal injury lawsuits will vary based on the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries. Personal injuries often include economic losses that plaintiffs must pay for but often cannot afford. They may also include non-economic injuries that technically did not cost the plaintiff money but may still be monetarily compensated by the courts. Our Hollywood, FL personal injury attorneys are familiar with various damages and can help you accurately calculate the damages in your case.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are designed to compensate plaintiffs for actual amounts of money lost or spent because of their injuries. Often, this includes significant medical bills, especially if injuries are severe. Economic damages might also include the value of damaged or destroyed property, lost income from missing work, and reasonably anticipated future costs related to your injuries.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic losses and injuries may also be compensated even though these damages do not typically involve money. For example, physical pain, emotional suffering, humiliation, and other negative personal experiences may be claimed as part of your non-economic damages. Sometimes these damages are limited in car accident lawsuits, but our attorneys can help you prove that your case meets the threshold to claim these damages.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are designed to punish defendants for extremely bad behavior and are rarely awarded. According to Fla. Stat. § 768.72(2), punitive damages may be awarded if the plaintiff can show that the defendant is guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Essentially, defendants usually must have committed very shocking acts of negligence or intentional wrongdoing for punitive damages to be considered.

Personal Injury Claims Process in Hollywood, FL

While taking on a personal injury claim can be complex, understanding the process of personal injury claims in Florida can empower you to seek the compensation you deserve. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

1. Consultation and Evaluation: Schedule a meeting with one of our personal injury lawyers at David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. and make sure to bring documentation related to your medical treatment, including costs and records.
2. Evidence Gathering and Compensation Calculation: Your personal injury attorney will work with you to gather evidence supporting your claim, such as police reports, witness statements, and medical records. They will also calculate the appropriate compensation based on your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
3. Negotiation Phase: Armed with evidence and a calculated compensation amount, Hollywood personal injury attorneys will attempt to negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party or their insurance company. Remember, insurance companies may attempt to offer lower settlements initially.
4. Litigation: If negotiations fail to reach a fair resolution, your FL personal injury attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit. This involves presenting your case in court, where your lawyer will leverage their skills to argue for the compensation you deserve.

It’s important to remember that seeking legal counsel from a qualified personal injury lawyer throughout this process is highly advisable. That’s where David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. comes in. We can guide you through each step, ensure your rights are protected, and fight for the best possible compensation.

When to Consider Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Hollywood, FL

Personal injury law is a broad legal field that tends to encompass many accidents, injuries, and incidents. Generally speaking, if you were injured because of someone else’s actions, omissions, or intentional conduct, you should speak to our Hollywood, FL personal injury lawyers about your case as soon as possible.

If you’re recovering or require extended medical care, you might not necessarily be able to seek immediate legal assistance. However, acting as quickly as you’re able is a good idea. The statute of limitations, or how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit, is found under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3) and states that personal injury cases generally have to be filed within four years of the date of injury.

While four years sounds like a long time, it often passes faster than people realize. When you take into consideration the time it takes to recover from your injuries, find legal help, and prepare your case, several years might go by before your lawsuit is ready. If the deadline on your case is coming up, it might be possible to have the statute of limitations tolled under very specific exceptions so you can buy some extra time. You should discuss your case with an attorney to see if tolling is possible in your situation.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Take on Your Personal Injury Case

Our experienced personal injury lawyers understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you face after an injury. We are committed to fighting for the justice you deserve. We handle a wide range of personal injury cases, including:

• Catastrophic Injuries: Providing support for life-altering injuries.
• Truck, Motorcycle, and Car Accidents: Seeking fair compensation for auto accident victims.
• Slip and Fall: Holding negligent property owners accountable.
• Premises Liability: Ensuring property owners are responsible for your safety.
• Pedestrian Accidents: Advocating for pedestrians injured by vehicles.
• Plus more

Don’t hesitate to contact our personal injury law firm, we’re here to help.

Speak to a Hollywood Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Personal injury lawsuits span a broad spectrum of law and accidents. You should speak to our Hollywood, FL personal injury lawyers as soon as possible about your situation so we can determine the most effective approach. For a free legal consultation, call The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. so we can get you on the road to recovery.