Coral Springs Injury

Accident Attorneys Advocating for Victims in Coral Springs

Coral Springs, Florida: the very name conjures up images of a beautiful, seaside resort city. For the most part, Coral Springs does its best to live up to these expectations. However, with a population of over 120,000 residents, several very busy highways, and more than its fair share of shops, restaurants, and other public venues, accidents are not uncommon. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident, slip and fall, workplace accident, boating accident, or another harmful event, the experienced Coral Springs personal injury lawyers at Cohn & Smith can help you gather evidence and develop an aggressive strategy for holding the negligent party liable.

Florida’s negligence law has four requirements. The plaintiff must show that the defendant in a personal injury lawsuit had a legal duty of care, such as the duty of a business owner to make periodic inspections of its property. Also, there must be evidence that the defendant breached the legal duty owed to the plaintiff. The plaintiff must have been harmed in some way by the defendant’s conduct, and there must be proof that the defendant’s breach of duty was a proximate cause of the accident. This is a way of saying that the accident was foreseeable because the defendant acted carelessly.

Pursuing Fair Compensation for Injuries Suffered in an Accident

If the elements of negligence have been established, the next step is determining the amount of damages to which the plaintiff may be entitled. The goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to cover the costs associated with the accident, as well as accounting for the subjective pain and trauma that a victim experienced. Thus, damages often include reimbursement for medical expenses incurred due to an accident, replacement of lost wages while the plaintiff was off work recovering from their injuries, and compensation for pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney in Coral Springs can help you identify the full scope of the damages that you may be able to seek.

Since Florida follows the doctrine of pure comparative fault, a plaintiff’s own negligence may be taken into consideration by the jury in determining the damages to which they are entitled. The jury is allowed to reduce the amount that the defendant must pay the plaintiff in proportion to the percentage of fault that is assigned to the plaintiff. For example, in a slip and fall accident that occurred in a retail store, theoretically the jury might assign 75% of the fault to the store owner, if they did not discover a spilled liquid that had been there for several hours, and 25% of the fault to the plaintiff, if they did not notice the spill because they were looking at their phone. If the jury finds that the plaintiff’s total damages are $120,000, the defendant will be ordered to pay $90,000 of that amount.

In any type of personal injury case, it is important to talk to a qualified attorney as soon as possible. Evidence tends to disappear over time, making it harder for the plaintiff to prove their case. Additionally, an insurance adjuster who represents the defendant will be quick to request statements from witnesses and may phrase questions in a way that will cast as much blame as possible on the plaintiff. You should enlist legal representation early in the process so that you avoid falling into pitfalls that might reduce your compensation award later.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in the Coral Springs Area

At the law firm of Cohn & Smith, P.A., we know all too well the tactics that the insurance industry uses to try to minimize the value of personal injury claims against negligent drivers, business owners, doctors, and others. To get started on trying to hold the party whose carelessness hurt you fully accountable for your injuries, call our Coral Springs personal injury attorneys today at 954-431-8100 or contact us online. The first consultation is free, and most cases are accepted on a contingency fee contract. This means that you do not owe us a legal fee unless we recover a settlement or judgment in your favor. We can assist South Florida residents who need a car accident lawyer or representation in a wide range of other personal injury claims.