Common Sources of Personal Injury Lawsuits
You have the right to seek compensation whenever someone’s negligence results in your injury or a loved one’s death. Unfortunately, there are many causes of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in Orlando, Florida. Here are six common examples:
- Elder neglect and abuse. USA Today Network reported in February that Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration allowed nursing homes with poor inspection records to continue operating for years. According to a federal audit, the Florida agency didn’t verify that homes corrected the violations cited during inspections. One horrible example is a report finding that nursing home staff failed to assess when a resident needed oxygen.
- Medical malpractice. Accidents happen, and doctors aren’t perfect. But when a medical professional acts negligently (in a way that a reasonable professional would not act) and injures a patient, that patient has the right to compensation. Negligence can arise anytime during the initial diagnosis, treatment and after care.
- Car and motorcycle accidents. Floridians are the worst drivers in the country, according to a 2017 survey compiled by SmartAsset, a personal finance company. SmartAsset based this determination on DUI arrests, fatal car crashes, speeding tickets and other traffic tickets. Even though Florida operates under a no-fault insurance system that provides drivers with $10,000 in medical coverage, some accidents result in greater damage.
- Products liability. Manufacturers are responsible for producing safe products. If a product is defectively designed or manufactured, if consumers are not warned about a product’s dangers, or if consumers are not properly instructed on how to safely use a product, then the manufacturer might be liable for any resulting injuries. Likewise, a retailer or marketer can also be liable for their role in distributing and promoting defective products.
- Slips and falls. A slip-and-fall accident is the classic example of a personal injury claim. Imagine that a restaurant employee spills soda on the floor and doesn’t mop it up or block off the slippery section. A customer slips and falls on her way to the bathroom and injures her ankle. She could sue the restaurant for her injuries.
- Worker injuries. Florida law requires all employers to purchase workers’ compensation insurance that compensates employees for on-the-job injuries. There are often disputes about whether the employee’s injury occurred “in the course of employment” (meaning, was it actually work-related).
Remember that you only have a limited amount of time to file your personal injury or wrongful death claim in Florida. Contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Contact Us Today
Contact a Tampa personal injury attorney at The Pendas Law Firm today for a free consultation if you or a loved one were injured or killed because of elder abuse, medical malpractice, negligent driving, a defective product, a spilled substance, or another type of incident. We will help recover the compensation that you deserve, including medical costs, funeral expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, Daytona Beach and Bradenton areas.
Resources:
news-press.com/story/news/investigations/2018/05/09/florida-regulators-find-problems-nursing-homes-but-dont-follow-up/594169002/
abcactionnews.com/news/state/florida-has-the-worst-drivers-in-the-nation-ranked-1-two-years-in-a-row
