In Plantation, Broward County, victims of slip-and-fall incidents may be eligible for various damages to compensate for their losses. These damages fall into two main categories: economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Damages
The term “economic damages” describes the accident’s measurable cash losses. Among them are:
Health Care Costs
Current Medical Bills: This includes any out-of-pocket expenses for any hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, and prescription drugs resulting from the injury. The CDC estimates that falls cause more than 8 million hospital ER visits annually.
Potential Medical Costs: If serious injuries necessitate continued care, victims may recover future medical expenditures for long-term care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
Lost Wages
Lost Income: The victim may be eligible for compensation for any earnings they lost while recovering from their injuries if they prevent them from working. Provide pay stubs, tax returns, or employment statements as proof of this.
Loss of Earning Capacity: Compensation for future earning capacity may be sought when an accident causes a long-term or permanent handicap that impacts the victim’s ability to make a living. Expert evidence may be required to calculate the possible future income loss.
Property Damage
Property Losses Personal Property: If personal property such as gadgets, clothes, and glasses was damaged during the fall, the victim may be entitled to reimbursement for the cost of replacement or repair.
Non-Economic Damages
Intangible Losses Non-economic damages, which make up for the non-monetary components of the victim’s suffering, are more subjective. Among them are:
The Pain and Discomfort
Physical Pain: Compensation for the physical pain experienced due to the accident. It can differ significantly depending on the severity of the damage.
Emotional Distress: Accident victims may also be able to recover damages for psychological effects such as anxiety and sadness.
Loss of Life’s Pleasure
Quality of Life: The victim may be eligible for compensation if the damage impairs their capacity to enjoy hobbies, everyday activities, or general quality of life. For example, a person who is active but unable to engage in sports or leisure activities because of an injury might receive this type of damage.
Absence of Collaboration
Spousal Relationship: The wounded person’s spouse receives compensation for the companionship, affection, and sexual interactions they have lost due to their injury. It acknowledges how the injury has affected the marriage.
Penalties
Punitive damages may be granted under specific circumstances. Their purpose is not to make amends to the victim; instead, it is to punish the defendant for careless actions and to discourage future occurrences of the same kind of behavior. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are uncommon in slip-and-fall lawsuits and usually need substantial proof of willful misbehavior or severe carelessness.