Oakland is a small, diverse community, noted for its large oak trees and laidback lifestyle.
Situated between John’s Lake and Lake Apopka, the town is home to the Oakland Nature Preserve, the Oakland Avenue Charter School and a small, historic downtown. In its heyday, more than 100 years ago, the town was the center of social and industrial development, with the “Orange Belt” railroad line spurring an economic boom and the Union Club (also known as the Opera House) an extravagant entertainment venue for famous actors and actresses and renowned balls and parties.
However, downtown was decimated by a fire in the 1890s. The railroad pulled out due to a slump in business and the town reverted back to a largely rural community. Today, about 2,500 people call this town home – an increase of nearly 200 percent in just 15 years. It’s charter school for years has maintained an “A” rating. The community has become more family-dominated, with a decreased number of senior citizens and non-family households, according to the latest U.S. Census. The median household income has shot up roughly 75 percent, and new homes are selling for upwards of $300,000 post-housing bubble.
At Freeman Injury Law, our Oakland injury lawyers know one threat to the lives and livelihood of residents here is negligence. That is, individuals and companies that are careless, irresponsible, reckless or even criminal – resulting in serious injury and even death of innocent people.
Most often, this happens on our roads, where an increasing number of motorists are driving too fast, distracted, fatigued or impaired by alcohol or drugs. The Oakland Police Department reported in 2015 there were 57 crashes that year, resulting in 43 serious injuries. That was up from 47 crashes resulting in 32 injuries just one year before. It’s a serious problem, and while local authorities have been working on a number of traffic calming measures, responsible drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists need to remain alert and safely strapped in/ wearing the proper protective gear.
In other cases, we’ve seen doctors who were careless and business owners who failed to make sure their parking lots were well-lit and walkways were free of spills.
These are just a few examples. Some of the various types of Oakland injury cases our law firm is prepared to take on:
We understand you have a choice when it comes to injury lawyers. We pride ourselves in taking our cases personally. Our clients are family to us, and we fight tirelessly to hold accountable negligent drivers, product manufacturers, businesses and others.
Do You Have Grounds for an Oakland Injury Lawsuit?Establishing enough evidence to prove a personal injury case sounds pretty straightforward on the surface. However, it involves meeting tight deadlines and having a thorough understanding of both defendant’s and plaintiff’s legal responsibilities, as well as of local, state and federal statutes. That’s why it’s almost never a good idea to try to pursue such a claim on your own, especially if your injuries required hospitalization, surgery or time off work.
Still, what matters – at least initially – is not so much how badly you were hurt, but who was at-fault.
Most cases are going to involve proving negligence. This is the failure of an individual or business to act reasonably careful. For example, was that driver reasonably careful in coming to a complete stop before proceeding through the intersection? Was the store owner reasonably careful in checking to make sure the aisles were clear of debris? If not and that failure resulted in injury, you could be entitled to damages.
In cases of medical malpractice, the standard of proof is higher. Expert witnesses are necessary in medical malpractice cases to prove the physician or other health care provider failed to act with the appropriate level of professional care in that situation.
When it comes to work-related injuries, workers’ compensation claims do not require proof of negligence, as these benefits are part of a no-fault system in Florida. However, while these benefits typically include coverage of medical bills and a portion of lost wages, they might not cover all of your damages.
That’s why it’s often a good idea to explore whether any third parties (i.e., product manufacturers, other drivers, subcontractors, property owners, etc.) may have owed a duty of care that was breached.
If you have been injured in Oakland, we can help you formulate a strategy to recover your losses.
Freeman Injury Law – (800) 561-7777 -- Someone on YOUR Side