Living in Coral Gables comes with great perks — beautiful scenery, historic architecture, a vibrant downtown. But with the good comes the bad, and even in idyllic neighborhoods, crimes happen. Damage to property or harm to others occurs everywhere. When it happens to you, working with an experienced lawyer can help you seek justice.
What Laws Deal With Property Damage and Personal Injury in Coral Gables?
Several laws on the books in Florida and Coral Gables deal with damage to property and injury to people. Understanding these laws provides a foundation for pursuing legal action when you face these unfortunate situations.
Florida’s criminal mischief laws make it illegal to willfully damage someone else’s property. If the damage exceeds $200, it becomes a felony. Coral Gables ordinances also make it a misdemeanor to deface, damage, or tamper with someone’s property without consent. These laws allow police to charge and prosecute offenders.
Florida’s civil laws enable victims to file lawsuits and seek compensation for property damage from those responsible. The laws cover both intentional acts, like vandalism, and negligent acts like car accidents. Specific laws deal with damage from fires, explosives, animals, and more.
Personal injury laws in Florida allow victims harmed by another person’s intentional or negligent actions to recover damages. This covers physical injuries, emotional distress, lost wages, medical expenses, and other losses. Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, meaning each driver’s insurance covers their injuries regardless of who caused the accident. However, you can still sue an at-fault driver for additional compensation.
Why Hire a Coral Gables Property Damage or Personal Injury Lawyer?
Pursuing property damage or personal injury claims involves navigating complex laws and legal procedures. An experienced lawyer knows how to build a strong case to prove liability, calculate damages, negotiate fair settlements, and take cases to trial if needed.
Specific reasons to have a lawyer on your side include:
- In-depth knowledge of local laws and courts – Laws vary between jurisdictions. A Coral Gables attorney understands the nuances of local ordinances and state statutes and regularly works with local prosecutors, judges and insurance companies.
- Determining liability and damages – Lawyers investigate incidents, gather evidence like photos and witness statements, and determine how much compensation you deserve. This is critical for negotiating settlements.
- Dealing with insurance companies – Insurers don’t have your best interests at heart. A lawyer levels the playing field and fights for maximum compensation.
- Litigation experience – Most cases settle out of court, but a lawyer can take your case to trial if needed and has the courtroom skills necessary to win.
What Damages Can You Recover in Property Damage and Personal Injury Cases?
The specific damages available to you depend on the details of your case. But some common damages in property damage and personal injury lawsuits include:
Property damage
- Cost of repairs
- Replacement value for destroyed property
- Loss of use – compensation for time you couldn’t use your property
Personal injury
- Medical expenses
- Lost income and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disabilities or disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages for fatalities
Punitive damages may also be awarded in cases of intentional or grossly negligent acts. Your lawyer will fight to recover full compensation for all your losses.
What Defenses Could Someone Raise Against Your Claim?
When you pursue a property damage or personal injury claim, the at-fault party may raise certain defenses to avoid liability. Their insurance company will also look for ways to deny or minimize your claim.
Common defenses include:
- Contributory negligence – Argues you partially caused the incident through your own negligence. Florida uses pure comparative negligence, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Assumption of risk – Argues you knew risks were involved but proceeded anyway. This is hard to prove and rarely applies.
- Immunity – Government agencies often have immunity from lawsuits unless they waive it. Time limits to file claims against government entities can be very short.
- No duty – Argues the other party had no legal duty to protect you from harm. Businesses, for example, have duty to maintain safe premises.
- Lack of actual damages – You must prove and quantify your monetary losses. Defense may argue you have no compensable damages.
A skilled lawyer knows how to overcome or invalidate these defenses to maximize your recovery.
Finding the Right Coral Gables Property Damage or Personal Injury Attorney
If you need to pursue a property damage or personal injury claim in Coral Gables, it pays to take time to find the right lawyer. Look for attorneys with extensive experience in these cases who offer contingency fee arrangements so you don’t pay upfront. Meet with a few lawyers before deciding.
Ask about their track record with similar cases, settlement rates, and past results. Choose someone who listens, answers all your questions, and makes you feel comfortable placing your trust in them. With an experienced lawyer guiding you, you can seek the maximum compensation the law allows.
Don’t let damage to your property or injuries caused by someone else go unaddressed. A Coral Gables lawyer can help you use the law to hold negligent parties accountable while easing the claims process for you. Seek justice and get your life back on track.