COKER · SCHICKEL · SORENSON · DANIEL
has successfully represented clients in Complex
Civil Litigation since we began the firm in 1977. Our results can be
seen by the cases we have concluded before juries or in mediated
settlements. See our Noteworthy Cases.
We dedicate our experience, expertise, commitment, and resources to
help clients get recovery in a wide variety of situations of serious
injury or harm. These practice areas include:
There are numerous causes of traumatic brain injuries, including: motor vehicle accidents, defective products, medical errors, work accidents and other dangerous situations. Cases of this nature require experience and the resources needed to take the case to trial and win what is needed to pay for specialized medical care. (back to top) New Case Inquiry
Personal injury cases include claims for bodily injury or property damage as the result of the negligence of someone else. Personal injury encompasses a broad range of cases, from automobile accidents, slip and falls, construction accidents, to many other forms of injury. Most personal injury cases include physical, emotional, and financial hardships. (back to top) New Case Inquiry
Automobile liability coverage is the portion of your automobile insurance that protects you if another driver or a pedestrian makes a claim against you as a result of an automobile accident. Automobile accidents are an everyday occurrence. Despite the frequency of accidents, being injured in a collision can have serious effects on a victim’s life. Victims of automobile accidents often face high medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, severe injury, or even death. Even if you are not sure that the other driver was at fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation. (back to top) New Case Inquiry
Insurance companies have a responsibility to
its policyholders to provide them with "good faith and fair
dealing." Insurance claims are based on the legal responsibility
insurance companies have to their policyholders. If they fail to
treat them fairly or cause them harm or loss, then legal assistance
should be sought.
Bad Faith claims arise when an insurance company refuses to abide by
the terms and conditions of the policy in the payment of a
legitimate claim to a policyholder. In addition to suing for breach
of the contract, proving that an insurance company denied benefits
the policyholders is entitled to by the terms of the policy, can
result in a claim for additional damages, including punitive
damages.
(back to top) New Case Inquiry
Products liability refers to the liability of
any or all parties along the chain of the manufacture of any product
for damage caused by that product. This includes the manufacturer of
component parts, an assembling manufacturer, the wholesaler and the
retail store owner. Products containing inherent defects that cause
harm to a user of the product are the subjects of products liability
suits.
There are three types of product defects that incur liability in
manufacturers and suppliers: design defects, manufacturing defects,
and defects in marketing. It is irrelevant whether the manufacturer
or supplier exercised great care; if there is a defect in the
product that causes harm, one or both of them can be held liable for
it.
(back to top) New Case Inquiry
Florida has a statute that defines the standard
of care as that level of care, skill, and treatment that is
recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent
similar healthcare providers under similar circumstances. In other
words, the standard of care may sometimes be described as doing what
a reasonably prudent doctor (or nurse, dentist, etc.) would do under
the circumstances. In a malpractice trial, the judge tells the jury
about this definition, and after hearing the evidence of what
happened, the jury decides what they believe a reasonably prudent
similar healthcare provider would have done under the circumstances.
This decision by the jury is normally aided by the testimony of
expert witnesses from both sides, who explain the medical issues
during the trial.
Dealing with medicine is not a black-and-white issue. It’s technical
and complicated and it takes a team of educated and proven
professionals to represent your side of the case. Each health care
provider, including hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other providers
must provide care at the level of the standard of care required by
their field. When they fail to provide that level of care and it
causes serious and permanent injury, a claim may be viable. These
claims are subject to numerous rules and requirements that are not
common to other types of serious injury claims and can involve a
variety of medical specialties and subspecialties, including but not
limited to obstetrics, emergency medicine, neurology, cardiology,
oncology, and pediatrics.
If a health care provider violates his or her standard of care, he
or she can be responsible for the damages caused, including pain and
suffering to the individual, loss of wages and medical bills, and in
the event of the death of a loved one, the mental pain and suffering
of the immediate family survivors. (back to
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When you are hurt while performing your duties
as an employee, there is a specialized area of legislation that
governs from whom and how much you can recover. This differs from
other types of injuries. Workers’ compensation is a benefit that is
available to nearly all employees who suffer an injury arising out
of and in the course of their employment.
Accidents can occur in almost any job setting. Regardless of how an
accident occurs, serious injuries can cause the victim to
temporarily or permanently lose the ability to perform his or her
job. Medical care and rehabilitation are often expensive. Injured
workers often do not receive the appropriate wage loss or medical
treatment needed. Workers’ compensation can help injured workers
receive pay while they recover and also get help paying for their
treatment. If you are denied the benefit you deserve after an
on-the-job injury, we can help. (back to
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Appeals
After a decision is rendered in civil or criminal case, the party who loses is entitled to have the decision reviewed by a higher court. Appeals are different than other forms of litigation – it is presented to a multi-judge appellate panel and is decided almost entirely on written briefs. (back to top) New Case Inquiry