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An injury caused by the recklessness of another person has the potential to turn your life upside down. In addition to the physical pain and emotional distress you are dealing with, a serious injury can cause medical bills to pile up and even affect your ability to work.
If you suffered a severe injury because of someone else’s negligence, call an experienced Cocoa personal injury lawyer today. Our attorneys at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law have spent many years representing insurance companies and big corporations, so we know exactly what to expect from the defense and how to use it to your advantage. Let us put our expertise to work for you.
A personal injury claim can arise from many different types of incidents. Some of the most common types of injury cases include:
Someone who is seriously injured in an accident of any nature should immediately seek medical attention to ensure their injuries are properly treated and documented. After seeing a doctor, the next step should be reaching out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Acting promptly can help ensure the best chance at compensation.
State law requires most personal injury claims must be filed within four years of the accident. A seasoned Cocoa personal injury attorney in the area could assist in filing the legal action within the court’s required time limits.
To prove fault and liability in a personal injury case, the plaintiff must prove four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
Florida Statutes §429.29 describes a “duty of care” as a person’s obligation to never injure another person or place them in harm’s way. Almost every individual owes this duty of care to others. In the instance of personal injury cases, this is a critical topic of interest.
Once an attorney establishes a “duty of care,” they will need to prove the negligent party breached that duty. To do this, the plaintiff must show that the defendant was reckless or left a property in unsafe conditions.
An example of a breach of a duty of care would be running a stop sign and hitting another driver as a result. Drivers owe others on the road a duty of care when they get behind the wheel. Failing to stop at a stop sign violates this duty and constitutes negligence.
After showing that the defendant breached a duty of care, the plaintiff also must establish that injuries resulted from this breach. The plaintiff will need to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the injuries and losses they are claiming. Proving causation may require expert witness testimony.
The physical and emotional losses that the plaintiff experiences as a result of the injury are known as damages, which they can seek compensation for from the defendant. Once the victim has successfully established all four aspects of negligence, a court could order the defendant to pay a damages award to compensate for their losses. These damages could include lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
Cocoa is a comparative negligence jurisdiction, meaning that a plaintiff’s potential recovery amount could be reduced proportionately by the amount they contributed to an accident. A dedicated personal injury lawyer in Cocoa could work to ensure that a plaintiff is compensated fairly for their injuries.
After sustaining a severe injury, your main priority should be rest and recovery. However, this can be difficult when insurance adjusters and the negligent party refuse to cooperate and cover the expenses for which they owe. Medical bills, physical therapy, and loss of employment are just a few sources of financial strain you may be facing after a severe injury.
A Cocoa personal injury lawyer could help you pursue compensation for these costs, as well as any others that you may be facing as a result of someone else’s negligence. Reach out to Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced attorney.
