South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
More than a dozen people injured or killed due to the negligence of government workers and/or agencies in Florida will finally receive the payment promised in settlements or litigation, some having waited years for legislative approval.
The reason for the wait has to do with damage caps imposed by the state on injury claims against the government. In cases where the government’s sovereign immunity protection is waived, the most a plaintiff can expect to receive is $200,000.
However, in cases where there has been a catastrophic injury or death, that amount barely covers medical expenses. Sometimes, that amount isn’t enough even for that, let alone loss of earnings or damages for pain and suffering. The only way a higher amount can be paid – even if the government agency concedes negligence and agrees to pay it – is with legislative approval. That means a bill must be introduced and approved by state lawmakers.