Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Lakewood Ranch, FL and the Surrounding Area
Lakewood Ranch Personal Injury Lawyer James M. Horne specializes in assisting those who have suffered due to others’ negligence, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Suffering a personal injury because of another’s negligence can have devastating consequences for you and your family. Personal injury victims face an uncertain future as their medical bills pile up while they are out of work. Life does not stop when you get hurt. Your monthly bills will still be in the mail, and you must pay your rent or mortgage. As time goes on, you may wonder how you will get through this challenging time in your life.
Lakewood Ranch injury lawyer James M. Horne is ready to help you win financial compensation for your injuries. At James Horne Law PA, we believe every case is unique and deserves personalized attention. Most importantly, we are not afraid to take your case to court if that’s what it takes for you to receive the compensation you deserve. We represent all our clients aggressively inside and outside the courtroom. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Types of Personal Injury Cases in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch injury lawyer James Horne has significant experience handling many types of personal injury cases. Below is a list of just some of the types of cases we have handled at James Horne Law:
- Car crashes,
- Truck accidents,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Bicycle accidents,
- Slip-and-fall accidents,
- Drunk driving accidents,
- Animal attacks,
- Lack of security,
- Negligent employment or retention,
- Wrongful death claims,
- Nursing home abuse, and
- Medical malpractice actions.
No matter what type of personal injury case you have, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in Lakewood Ranch who has a demonstrated track record of obtaining tremendous results for victims like James Horne does.
Damages in Lakewood Ranch Personal Injury Claims
Florida law allows personal injury victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include:
- Lost wages,
- Loss of future earnings capacity,
- Lost employment benefits,
- Medical bills,
- Future medical expenses and
- Repair or replacement value for damaged property.
In short, economic damages can be calculated by adding up your financial losses. Noneconomic damages are meant to compensate you for the emotional and psychological harm caused by your accident and injury. Because non-economic damages compensate you for subjective losses, they are not easy to show. Non-economic losses include:
- Physical impairment,
- Pain and suffering,
- Disfigurement,
- Loss of ability to enjoy life,
- Inconvenience, and
- Mental anguish.
There is no formula for determining the value of noneconomic damages. Instead, the specific circumstances of your case will determine how much your noneconomic damages are worth.
In some cases, the plaintiff may also have the right to ask for punitive damages. A claimant cannot collect punitive damages for ordinary negligence. Punitive damages are imposed when the defendant’s conduct is either reckless or intentional.
Wrongful Death Claims
Wrongful death damages are determined by statute. Section 768.21 of the Florida Statutes lists the type of damages recoverable in a wrongful death case, including:
- The value of lost support and services of the decedent;
- The value of future lost support and services;
- Funeral and burial services costs;
- Loss of earnings;
- Damages for the loss of companionship and protection, as well as mental pain and anguish, for the spouse of the decedent;
- Loss of net accumulations of an estate if the decedent had a spouse or children;
- Damages for the loss of parental companionship, guidance, and support for the decedent’s minor children;
- Damages for mental pain and suffering for the parents of a minor child who died and
- Any damages or funeral expenses charged to the estate.
You may also have a right to bring additional claims against all parties who contributed to the death of your loved one. You should talk to a Lakewood Ranch personal injury lawyer as soon as possible about your rights to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.
Limitations on Personal Injury Actions
Defense attorneys will use every trick in the book to either avoid or limit their client’s liability. One of the ways they will try to avoid paying you money is by claiming the statute of limitations has expired. The statute of limitations for a negligence claim in Florida is four years from the date of the accident. That means you have four years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. However, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is two years.
Missing the statute of limitations can stop your case in its tracks. If you do not file a claim within the allotted time, you lose your right to recover damages. Making sure you meet filing deadlines is just one reason you should contact a personal injury lawyer near Lakewood Ranch right away.
Insurance defense lawyers will also try to limit their client’s liability by blaming you for the accident. Florida is a pure comparative negligence state. That means a plaintiff can still recover damages even if they were partially at fault for the accident. However, the plaintiff’s award will be reduced by their percentage of fault. Insurance defense lawyers will use this law to argue that the jury should reduce your award so that their client does not have to compensate you for all your damages. For example, if your total damages are $100,000 and the jury finds you were 20% at fault, you will receive $80,000 in damages.
Why Should You Have an Experienced Lakewood Ranch Personal Injury Lawyer?
A lawyer’s experience and a track record of positive results are indispensable when you need a personal injury attorney. You have only one chance to recover damages for your accident. Choosing the wrong lawyer could negatively impact the outcome of your claim.
From your first interaction with James Horne during your free consultation, you will understand why he is an award-winning attorney. Your well-being and recovery are his primary concerns.
James Horne thrives on courtroom battles, where the stakes are the highest. Many personal injury lawyers claim to be aggressive advocates for their clients, but few will push insurance defense attorneys to trial if settlement offers are unfair. Instead, they might counsel you to take a lowball offer or refer your case to another attorney who will take it to court. James Horne does things differently. He goes to work immediately to create the strongest case for you and does not stop until you’ve achieved a just result. James’s compassion and tenacity are why he is among the 5% of attorneys who received the SuperLawyers designation and is listed as an AV-Preeminent lawyer by the renowned Martindale-Hubbell lawyers’ directory.
Contact Us
Contact James Horne Law today by phone or online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.