Qualities to Look for in a Florida Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Given the sheer number of spinal cord injury attorneys in Florida, the process of choosing just one to handle your case can seem overwhelming. Researching multiple law firms can take weeks, and just because a practice has a professional website doesn’t mean they have the knowledge and litigation experience to provide exceptional representation.
Unfortunately, many law firms take on an excessive number of cases to maximize their profits. As a result, they are unable to devote enough time to each individual client. We take a different approach at Donaldson & Weston by limiting our caseload so each client receives the attention they deserve. Below are a few more factors that set us apart:
- We give our clients a direct line of contact to their personal injury attorney;
- We are available after office hours and on weekends;
- We work with carefully vetted medical and technical experts who can provide highly credible deposition and testimony;
- We have a reputation as tough litigators, which makes insurance companies think twice before taking us to court; and
- We have represented hundreds of clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Are Punitive Damages Recoverable After a Spinal Cord Injury?
Sometimes the conduct of the defendant in a personal injury case is so egregious that the court awards punitive damages against him or her. While punitive damages are not available in cases that involve ordinary negligence, they might be recoverable in cases that involve gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
It may be determined that the defendant acted with gross negligence if he or she exhibited a conscious disregard for your rights, life, or safety. Gross negligence can exist even if the defendant did not set out to harm you or another person. For example, if you were hurt in a car accident with a drunk driver, your Florida spinal cord personal injury lawyer might suggest pursuing punitive damages because the dangers of impaired driving are well known and it is a leading cause of traffic fatalities. Your claim for punitive damages would be especially strong if the driver has an excessively high BAC and had previous DUI convictions.
Another scenario when punitive damages might be available is if you were hit by a driver who fled the scene. Auto accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Fleeing the scene of an accident that causes injury is a serious criminal offense in Florida because it can delay the victim’s medical care and possibly lead to death, and it therefore might constitute gross negligence.
Yet another common cause of spinal cord injuries—violent attacks—may warrant a punitive damages award on the basis of intentional misconduct. If the defendant knew that his or her behavior had a high chance of causing injury or death but ignored the dangers and engaged in the behavior regardless, this might constitute intentional misconduct.
At the end of the day, there are countless circumstances when punitive damages might be available. Our Florida paralysis personal injury attorneys can review your claim, perform an investigation, and determine if a punitive award might be worth pursuing given the facts of your case.
Far too many personal injury claimants accept a settlement early in the proceedings only to find out later that they received an unfair payout. Don’t let this happen to you. A personal injury attorney will help you compile all available evidence of liability and damages and will use prove negotiation strategies to fight for the highest possible compensation. For a free case review, send us a message or call our personal injury attorney at 561-299-3999.
