Careless conduct causes injuries and even deaths in Florida and across the United States on a daily basis. If you or your loved one has been hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to reach out to a seasoned Miami accident attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we have years of experience and know how to establish fault in personal injury cases. You can trust that we can uncover the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim.
Most personal injury cases are rooted in the theory of negligence. Negligence occurs when a person is injured or killed due to another party’s failure to use reasonable care. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. In order to establish negligence, the injured party has to demonstrate the following elements: i) the at-fault party owed a duty of care to the accident victim; ii) the at-fault party breached the duty of care owed to the accident victim; and iii) the at-fault party’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the accident victim’s injuries. In some cases, negligence takes place when a person fails to act when there is a duty to do so.
The burden of proof in negligence cases falls on the plaintiff, who must show negligence by a ‘preponderance of the evidence.’ Under this standard, also known as the ‘greater weight of the evidence’ standard, the party who has the more persuasive and convincing force and effect of the evidence in the case will prevail. Another way to think about this standard is to think about the scales of justice – if the plaintiff’s evidence outweighs the defendant’s evidence, even by a marginal amount, the plaintiff will win the case. Essentially, the plaintiff must prove that their assertions are more likely true than not. If they have proven the case to a 50.1 percent degree of certainty, they will succeed. However, if the plaintiff cannot reach this threshold, the defendant will win.
United States judges did not start to instruct juries about the preponderance standard until the mid-19th century. In American jurisprudence, however, this is now the standard typically used for civil cases. The only exception is certain situations that require clear and convincing evidence, which is a higher standard than preponderance of the evidence but less than the criminal standard of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami injury attorneys have the experience and dedication to handle your case. We understand the nuances of Florida personal injury case law and can apply this knowledge to use in your situation. You can rest assured that we will vigorously advocate for your right to compensation at every step of the way. For more information, call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or contact us through our website.
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Road Rage Accidents in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, September 6, 2017
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Pool Chemical Injuries in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, September 6, 2017