South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers

The basis of a personal injury claim usually consists of showing that someone acted carelessly in causing an accident. In legal terms, this concept is known as negligence. To prevail, a victim and their attorney would need to prove that the accident would not have happened if the defendant had used the appropriate care. This may be the general standard of reasonable care that applies in ordinary situations, or it may be a different standard of care that applies in a specific context. Personal injury claims must be brought within the Florida statute of limitations to preserve a victim’s rights. A prompt investigation also can be critical in uncovering evidence that shows a defendant’s liability.

Our Miami personal injury attorneys have represented many victims of serious accidents caused by a driver’s careless behavior. A car accident may result from an action as simple as speeding down a highway, running a red light, or looking down at the phone to check a text message. Most reasonable people would understand that these behaviors put the safety of those around them at risk, but they still happen often on South Florida roads. Fortunately, a car accident victim may be able to recover many forms of damages, which may be both economic and non-economic. Some examples of economic damages include medical costs, the reasonable costs of anticipated medical treatment in the future, and the income that the victim lost while they were recovering. Non-economic damages most notably include the pain and suffering that the victim endured.

A broad range of state and federal regulations control the trucking industry, including drivers and the companies that employ them. Failing to comply with these regulations may cause catastrophic injuries. For example, a truck driver may overload or improperly load a truck, causing debris to spill or the truck to malfunction when it goes out on the road. In other situations, a trucking company may encourage a driver to break the hours of service rules by making deliveries when they are required to rest. A truck accident case often involves suing both the driver and the company. The trucking company may be directly liable if it acted negligently, such as by retaining a driver with a poor record, or it may be vicariously liable if the driver was working when they caused the crash. The personal injury lawyers at our Miami firm will carefully investigate the circumstances of the accident to determine all of the parties that may be liable.

The pleasant weather in South Florida makes motorcycle riding an attractive pastime, as well as a convenient way to get to work or handle errands. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we have represented many riders who have been struck by careless or aggressive drivers. Sometimes a driver strikes a motorcyclist because they are not paying attention, or sometimes they may fail to respect their right to share the road. A motorcyclist may suffer devastating injuries as a result, such as brain injuries, broken bones, crushed limbs, and road rash. After a motorcycle accident, a driver and their insurer may argue that the rider was partly at fault. This would reduce their liability by the victim’s percentage of fault. We are experienced in anticipating and fighting back against these types of tactics.

Like motorcyclists, bicyclists are exposed to the elements when they venture onto the road. Bicycles also have a slim profile, similar to a motorcycle, so a driver may misjudge their location. However, there is no excuse for knocking over a bike on a city street or in a residential neighborhood because a tragically involve children on bicycles, who may suffer lifelong consequences. Our Miami personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for all of the damages that a family needs in these situations, including the costs of future care and any medical equipment that may be needed to cope with a disability.

Drivers are legally required to yield to pedestrians and to pay attention to their presence in the vicinity of crosswalks. We have seen many situations in which a driver seriously injures or even kills a pedestrian because they failed to yield the right of way when required. If you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, the compassionate advocates at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you pursue a wrongful death claim for compensation. Even if the victim is fortunate enough to survive, they may face a lifetime of medical treatment, reduced earning capacity, and substantial pain. We are ready to help you fight for justice and take these burdens off your shoulders.

The thousands of miles of coastline that surround Florida make the state a mecca for boating enthusiasts, including not only Florida residents but also countless tourists from around the U.S. and the world. Operating a boat is often not as straightforward as it may seem, and boaters must obey rules that are similar to the rules of the road that apply to drivers of cars and trucks. The careless operation of a boat can lead to collisions, capsizing, and other serious boat accidents that may result in drowning, near-drowning, or permanent injuries to a victim’s head, back, or limbs. A victim should take legal action to hold accountable those who harmed them.

Property owners in South Florida have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. Our personal injury attorneys can help Miami residents and other victims bring claims based on a failure to meet this duty. A classic example is a failure to clean debris from the floor of a store or claims often require proving constructive notice, which means that a reasonable property owner would have noticed and addressed the hazard. Showing constructive notice often comes down to investigating how long the hazard existed and what the business, or a similarly situated business, normally would do in that situation. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we understand how to gather evidence to prove these claims.

Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and other health care providers are only human, and sometimes they make mistakes. A misdiagnosis, a surgical error, or a mistake in the emergency room can cause life-changing consequences, however, and a victim has a right to seek damages from a health care provider that failed to meet the standard of care in their profession. A medical malpractice claim usually involves presenting expert testimony by a specialist who is qualified to discuss what the defendant did wrong and how this caused the patient’s injuries. Florida imposes strict procedural requirements on medical malpractice claims, which must be followed carefully to preserve your right to compensation. This is an important reason why you should hire a personal injury lawyer in the Miami area rather than handling your claim on your own.

Most people would like to think that nursing homes provide their loved ones with caring, diligent attention each day, but news reports on these facilities reveal that this often does not happen. People who work at nursing homes may neglect or even abuse these vulnerable members of our society. Sometimes the mistreatment goes unreported, which means that a resident’s loved ones should be alert to signs of abuse, such as bruises, weight loss, a decline in personal hygiene, or changes in personality. A victim or their family can bring a nursing home abuse claim against a facility and any staff member who was responsible. They may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering, as well as the costs of medical treatment required to treat the effects of the abuse.

The construction industry is a major presence in South Florida, and unfortunately it poses certain risks. Accidents can happen even when the proper safety precautions are taken, and our personal injury lawyers can help Miami construction workers pursue damages through third-party claims outside the workers’ compensation system when appropriate. These claims often provide a greater scope of remedies than workers’ compensation benefits do. For example, a victim may be able to receive damages for their pain and suffering, which are not covered by workers’ compensation. Thus, a victim of a construction site accident may want to consult an attorney about the possibility of pursuing a claim against a third party, such as a manufacturer of defective equipment.

Whether you were on the job, at home, or in another setting, an encounter with an unreasonably dangerous product can cause unexpected and serious injuries. These products can range from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to household appliances, children’s toys, or vehicles and their components. A product liability claim brought by a personal injury attorney in Miami usually will allege that a manufacturer or another entity in the chain of distribution is strictly liable for the injuries caused by the defect. This does not necessarily mean that they were negligent but simply that the product was defective when it left their control in a way that made it unsafe. A defect may occur during the design process or while a product is being made or assembled, or it may occur during the marketing process in the form of inadequate instructions or warnings.

When an accident claims a victim’s life, their family members may be able to pursue legal recourse. A wrongful death action is similar to a personal injury claim in terms of the underlying elements that a victim needs to prove. However, it must follow certain procedural requirements under Florida law, and it will seek distinctive types of damages. A successful claim brought by a personal injury lawyer in the Miami area may recover compensation for the victim’s burial and funeral expenses, in addition to the losses suffered by their family members, who may have relied on the victim for companionship, support, and guidance. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we can compassionately guide grieving families through these claims.

If you have suffered an injury due to another person’s carelessness, the injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are here to help. Our staff is dedicated to our South Florida clients and making sure that their rights are protected in the legal system. We aim to provide professional and zealous legal representation to maximize your chance of receiving the compensation that you deserve. We serve clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as throughout the State of Florida. We do not charge any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. You can call us at 877.499.4878, or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury attorney in the Miami area.