Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Augustine
At Morgan & Morgan, our St. Augustine injury attorneys have years of
experience, and a successful track record representing people who have
been injured through the negligence of others. We have recovered many
multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for the people in Florida
we represent.
No matter how hard we try to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe,
other people act negligently, leading to serious injury accidents.
Distracted drivers cause traffic collisions, manufacturers market
dangerous and defective products, and negligent healthcare providers
injure patients every day.
Fortunately, negligent parties who injure
others can be held accountable under the law for the harm they cause.
Get in touch with us for a free case
evaluation today.
Our attorneys handle a variety of injury cases, including:
When Can You File a Lawsuit?
Not every accident or injury gives rise to a valid claim. Another
party’s negligence must have been the cause of your injuries. To pursue
a injury lawsuit, you must establish that:
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The party who caused your injuries had a duty to you. For example,
all drivers have a duty to other motorists to exercise reasonable
care. Property owners have a duty to make reasonable efforts to
maintain their property free of hazards to others. Medical
professionals have a duty to perform with the same level of skill and
care as would a reasonably competent practitioner in the same field,
under similar circumstances.
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That party breached its duty. Aggressive drivers who cause
accidents by driving over the speed limit and running red lights have
clearly breached their duty of care. So have doctors who neglected to
order standard tests, and have failed to diagnose serious health
conditions as a result, and drug manufactures who fail to test their
products adequately before a release onto the market.
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You suffered physical, emotional, or financial injury. No matter
how appalling the actions or negligence of the other party, if there
were no injuries suffered, then there is no personal injury claim.
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The negligent party’s actions caused your injuries. In a claim,
you must establish the facts that the party you are suing is
responsible for causing the injuries you have suffered. The owner of a
vicious dog, for example, who failed to control the animal, is
responsible for injuries caused to a victim bitten by the dog.
What Damages Can You Claim in a Lawsuit?
Damages in a personal injury claim are intended to place the victim in
the position he or she would have been in if the accident or injury had
never occurred. Three basic types of damages may be recoverable in
personal injury cases:
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Economic damages: This may include past and future medical
expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, mileage to and from
medical appointments, and replacement value of lost personal property.
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Non-economic damages: These are damages with no set dollar value,
such as pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of
enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and loss of consortium (family
relationship).
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Punitive damages: Awarded in a small percentage of cases,
punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for behavior
that is extremely harmful, such as driving drunk or talking on a
cellphone while driving. In Florida, state law limits punitive damages
to three times the amount of compensatory (economic and non-economic)
damages, or $500,000, whichever is greater. In extreme cases of
shocking, outstandingly bad behavior, however, the court may award
whichever is greater in punitive damages – 4 times the amount of
compensatory damages or $2 million.
Get a Free Consultation with Our Attorney in St. Augustine
Morgan & Morgan is a leading Florida personal injury law firm. Our
seasoned trial lawyers are not afraid to take a case to trial to pursue
the maximum in compensation for our clients. We are dedicated to
protecting the people – not powerful corporate entities.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe us no fees
until we win your case for you. If you or your loved one has been
seriously injured due to an act of negligence, contact us for a free
case evaluation.
