Bernstein & Maryanoff

Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
Explaining Intentional Torts

Most people think of obtaining help from Florida personal injury lawyers when someone makes a mistake and they are injured as a result. However, there is also an entire body of Florida law that deals with injuries that are inflicted with intent, and these laws are basically described as intentional torts. Below you'll find a brief overview of these types of injury situations, and if you have been intentionally harmed by someone you need to seek the help of experienced Florida personal injury lawyers.

Intentional Torts – A Brief Overview

Intentional torts describe situations where someone is harmed purposely, and there are several examples of these occurrences. Below are just a few common occurrences that lead to Florida personal injury lawsuits:

• Battery – Battery is the intentional infliction of bodily harm on another person, and it generally deals with beatings that are administered on someone with the intent to hurt them in general.
• Assault – Assault is an intentional tort that relates to the intentional creation of fear in someone else that an attack that will cause great bodily harm is imminent. No actual harm needs to be inflicted, but the threat of this potential harm needs to be real and the fear of such harm needs to be reasonable.
• False imprisonment – False imprisonment situations concern those instances where someone is prevented from leaving a place against his or her will. The feeling that he or she is trapped is a requirement for a defendant to be found liable for this type of action.

Damages for Intentional Torts

The damages that can be sought for intentional torts are largely similar to actions that result from negligence. For instance, a person who has been harmed intentionally and who files a successful Florida personal injury lawsuit can recover damages for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and any other type of loss.

However, there is one critical difference between torts of intent and torts that involve negligence. That difference is that it's possible for a plaintiff to recover punitive damages from a defendant who is found liable of committing one or more of these acts. Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant and to deter him, her or others from committing the same acts in the future. Punitive damages do not need to be tied to any form of financial loss in order to be recovered.

If you have been harmed by someone as a result of intentional conduct, you need to seek the help of Florida personal injury lawyers who have been holding those who engage in this conduct accountable for many years. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.