Supreme Court Weighs In On Punitive Damages In Florida
The Supreme Court in Florida has made an important decision regarding punitive damages. This could change the way lawsuits are handled in the Sunshine State, and it may result in plaintiffs receiving less money after filing lawsuits for personal injury. It’s important to understand how these changes may impact you – especially if you are thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit in the near future.
If you’d like to learn more about the latest developments in the world of personal injury lawsuits, it’s best to get in touch with a qualified attorney who has experience with these matters. With their help, you can gain a solid understanding of how your lawsuit will progress in Florida. Not only that, but your attorney can also help you take all the necessary steps to recover as much compensation as possible.
What Are Punitive Damages?
In order to understand why these recent developments are important, you first need to understand the basics of punitive damages. Punitive damages represent additional financial compensation that a defendant may be ordered to pay to personal injury victims. These are separate from general and special damages, which represent things like financial losses and emotional distress.
As the name suggests, punitive damages are intended to punish the negligent party for their misconduct, which puts the victim in danger. Punitive damages are not guaranteed, and they are typically only ordered when judges want to send a clear message that such misconduct is completely unacceptable.
Supreme Court Introduces New Rule for Punitive Damages
According to a decision posted on January 6th of 2020, the Supreme Court in Florida has now approved a law that will allow interlocutory appeals on whether or not lawsuits can include demands for punitive damages. The end result is that many plaintiffs won’t bother seeking punitive damages, as this appeals process can add months to their lawsuits. Some have stated that this will make personal injury lawsuits more expensive for both defendants and plaintiffs.
Others have noted that no one actually asked for these changes, and that the Supreme Court seems to have acted on their own initiative rather than working alongside the Florida Bar Association or the state Legislature. At least one judge has pointed out that because of these new changes, injured victims may need to wait for many more months before receiving much-needed compensation for medical expenses and missed wages. It is worth mentioning that even before these new changes, personal injury victims faced long wait times before receiving their settlements.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
For help recovering compensation, reach out to the Orlando personal injury lawyers at Payer Law. Over the years, we have helped numerous plaintiffs receive considerable settlements for their injuries. We know that suffering an injury can be troubling, especially if you’re facing expensive medical bills, months of missed work, and other damages. Book your consultation today, and we can guide you towards a fair, adequate settlement – regardless of changes in punitive damages laws.
Source:
insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2022/01/13/649243.htm
