Understanding Gross Negligence

In order to have a chance at recovering financial compensation in a personal injury lawsuit, one must first establish that the defendant’s actions did not meet the standard of care, and therefore, he or she acted negligently. In some cases, a defendant’s actions can be taken one step further. When someone commits an action that falls substantially below the standard of care, he or she could be considered grossly negligent.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury as a result of someone committing an action he or she knew was dangerous, you may be able to hold them liable for gross negligence. To learn more about your legal options and how you can recover financial compensation to help pay for your losses, contact an Imperial Beach personal injury lawyer of Ritter & Associates today at (619) 296-0123.

Differentiating between Negligence and Gross Negligence

It is a common misconception that a grossly negligent action means the defendant acted with the intent to harm the individual. However, it is important to understand that gross negligence does not mean the defendant acted maliciously. Instead, gross negligence means the defendant committed an action even though he or she knew it could potentially put someone in danger or cause harm.

Cases involving gross negligence are handled the same way as normal negligence cases. The main difference is that plaintiffs may be able to recover additional compensation in gross negligence cases in the form of punitive damages.

Contact Us

At Ritter & Associates, our team of Imperial Beach personal injury attorneys is committed to helping our clients hold these individuals liable for their actions. To learn more about your specific case, contact us today at (619) 296-0123 and schedule a free consultation.