Our Practice Areas
At Awad & Baker Law, we specialize in a wide range of legal practice areas, providing expert representation and dedicated advocacy for our clients. Our experienced team handles complex cases with the attention and expertise they deserve.

Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice is a doctor's failure to follow the patient safety rules or minimum standards of medical care for evaluating, managing, monitoring, treating, consulting or communicating with patients about their medical conditions or illnesses. It generally refers to situations where a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, fails to meet the standard of care expected in their profession, leading to harm or injury to the patient. Here's a breakdown of the key components:
Key Components
- Duty of Care: The healthcare provider owes a duty to follow established medical standards and provide competent care.
- Breach of Standard: The provider's actions or inactions deviate from the accepted medical standards (i.e., failure to follow patient safety rules or minimum care standards).
- Causation: The breach directly causes harm or worsens the patient's condition.
- Harm or Damages: The patient suffers injury, worsening of illness, or financial loss due to the provider's failure to meet the standard of care.
Common Examples of Medical Malpractice
- Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failure to recognize symptoms or incorrectly diagnosing a condition, leading to inappropriate treatment or delayed care.
- Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgery, such as operating on the wrong site, leaving surgical instruments inside the body, or causing unintended damage to organs.
- Medication Errors: Prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosages, or failing to recognize harmful drug interactions.
- Birth Injuries: Errors during pregnancy or childbirth that result in injury to the mother or baby, such as failing to perform a timely C-section.
- Anesthesia Errors: Administering too much or too little anesthesia or failing to monitor the patient during a procedure.
- Failure to Inform: Not providing the patient with sufficient information about risks and alternatives, violating the patient's right to informed consent.
- Negligent Aftercare: Failing to monitor the patient or provide adequate follow-up care, leading to complications.
Legal Remedies in Medical Malpractice
- Economic Damages: Medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and future earnings loss.
- Non-Economic Damages: Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious misconduct or gross negligence.
Personal Injury
Personal injury is a legal term that refers to harm to a person's physical, mental, or emotional health, or reputation, caused by the wrongful or negligent actions of another person or entity. It is a legal term used in civil law to describe cases where a person suffers harm due to the wrongful or negligent actions (or inactions) of another party. Here are the key components of personal injury:
Types of Harm
- Physical Injury: Harm to the body, such as fractures, burns, or other bodily harm.
- Mental or Emotional Injury: Psychological trauma, stress, or mental suffering caused by an incident.
- Reputational Harm: Damage to a person's reputation, often associated with defamation cases (libel or slander).
Causes
- Negligence: Failing to act with reasonable care, leading to harm (e.g., car accidents, slip-and-fall incidents).
- Intentional Acts: Deliberate actions causing harm (e.g., assault or battery).
- Strict Liability: Cases where liability is imposed regardless of intent or negligence, often in product liability cases.
Common Examples
- Car crashes
- Medical malpractice
- Construction site injuries
- Defective products
- Hazardous conditions at business and residential buildings
Legal Remedies
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages or earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress


Construction Site Accidents
A construction site accident refers to any unintended or unexpected incident that occurs on or near a construction site, resulting in harm, injury, or even death to workers, bystanders, or others present. These incidents are associated with the unsafe work conditions, lack of safety precautions, and defective equipment that unnecesarily exposed workers to great dangers.
Common Causes
- Falls: From scaffolding, ladders, roofs, or other elevated surfaces.
- Falling Objects: Tools, materials, or debris striking workers or bystanders.
- Equipment Accidents: Mishaps involving heavy machinery like cranes, forklifts, or bulldozers.
- Electrocution: Exposure to live wires, faulty electrical systems, or power tools.
- Slip and Trip Hazards: Uneven surfaces, misplaced materials, or wet areas.
- Explosions and Fires: Improper handling of flammable materials or equipment malfunctions.
- Collapses: Structural failures, such as scaffolding collapses or trench cave-ins.
- Chemical Exposure: Contact with hazardous substances or toxic fumes.
Who Can Be Affected
- Construction Workers: Including contractors, subcontractors, and laborers.
- Bystanders/Visitors: People near the construction site, such as pedestrians or delivery personnel.
Injuries Associated with Construction Site Accidents
- Traumatic injuries (e.g., fractures, head, spinal, shoulder, neck, hip, knee, and ankle injuries)
- Burns or chemical exposure injuries
- Respiratory issues from inhaling dust, fumes, or toxic substances
- Crush injuries or fatalities from heavy equipment or falling materials
Prevention
- Proper training and safety protocols.
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like helmets, gloves, and harnesses.
- Meticulous inspections of equipment and site conditions.
- Adherence to safety standards and regulations.
Premises Liability
Premises liability is a legal concept in tort law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe environment on their premises. If someone is injured due to unsafe or hazardous conditions on the property, the owner or occupier may be held liable, depending on the circumstances.
Duty of Care
- Invitee: Someone invited onto the property for business purposes (e.g., customers in a store). Owners owe the highest duty of care to inspect, maintain, and repair hazards.
- Licensee: Someone allowed on the property for non-commercial reasons (e.g., social guests). Owners must warn about known hazards.
The property owner or occupier has a legal obligation to keep the premises safe for visitors.
Common Causes of Premises Liability Claims
- Slip and Falls: Wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly lit areas.
- Falling Objects: Unsecured items or debris falling and injuring someone.
- Inadequate Maintenance: Broken stairs, faulty handrails, or structural issues.
- Defective Conditions: Hazards like exposed wiring or potholes.
- Negligent Security: Insufficient measures to prevent crimes on the property.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: Drowning or injuries due to lack of safety measures.
Proving a Premises Liability Case
- Ownership or Control: The defendant owned, occupied, or controlled the property.
- Negligence: The property owner or occupier failed to maintain safe conditions or warn of hazards.
- Causation: The unsafe condition caused the injury.
- Damages: The injured party suffered harm, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Examples
- A customer slips on a wet floor in a grocery store without warning signs.
- A tenant is injured by a broken staircase in an apartment building.
- A visitor is assaulted in a parking lot due to lack of adequate lighting or security.


Wrongful Death
Wrongful death is a legal term referring to a claim brought against a person or entity whose negligent, reckless, intentional, or unlawful actions caused another person's death. This type of claim is filed by the surviving family members or representatives of the deceased's estate to seek compensation for the losses they have suffered due to the untimely death.
Key Elements
- Death resulted from wrongful conduct, negligence, or lack of reasonable care
- Causation between defendant's actions and death must be proven
- Eligible parties must file (immediate family, dependents, or estate representatives)
- Claim must be filed within jurisdiction-specific time limits
Common Causes
- Medical malpractice (misdiagnosis, surgical errors)
- Car accidents involving negligent or reckless driving
- Workplace accidents and unsafe conditions
- Defective products or inadequate warnings
- Criminal acts (assault, homicide)
- Construction site accidents
- Premises liability incidents
Legal Remedies
- Economic damages (medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income)
- Loss of financial support and future inheritance
- Non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of companionship)
- Loss of consortium for spouses
Quick Tip
Time is critical in wrongful death cases. Each jurisdiction has specific statutes of limitations, so consulting with an experienced attorney promptly is essential to protect your rights and ensure proper handling of your claim.
Municipal Liability
Municipal liability refers to the legal responsibility of a municipal government (such as a city, town, or county) for harm or injury caused by its actions, inactions, or negligence. This can include liability for the acts of municipal employees, defective public infrastructure, or failures in services provided by the municipality. Municipal liability typically arises under tort law, statutory obligations, or constitutional claims.
Scope of Responsibility
- Public infrastructure (e.g., roads, bridges, sidewalks).
- Public services (e.g., policing, firefighting, waste management).
- Public property (e.g., parks, schools, government buildings).
- Employee actions (e.g., misconduct by police officers, negligence by municipal workers).
Municipalities are responsible for:
Common Causes of Municipal Liability
- Negligent Maintenance of Public Property: Failure to maintain streets, sidewalks, or public facilities in a safe condition.
- Traffic Accidents: Caused by poorly maintained roads, missing traffic signals, or unsafe design.
- Police Misconduct: Excessive force, wrongful arrests, or civil rights violations by law enforcement.
- Hazardous Conditions: Unsafe conditions on municipal property, such as icy sidewalks or broken playground equipment.
- Building Code Violations: Failing to enforce building safety regulations or improperly inspecting structures.
- Flooding or Drainage Issues: Property damage caused by poorly maintained or designed drainage systems.
Legal Theories of Municipal Liability
- Negligence: When the municipality fails to exercise reasonable care in maintaining its properties or services.
- Vicarious Liability: Holding the municipality responsible for the negligent actions of its employees performed within the scope of their duties.
- Civil Rights Violations (42 U.S.C. § 1983): When a municipal employee or policy violates an individual's constitutional rights (e.g., unlawful detention or discrimination).
Examples of Municipal Liability Cases
- A pedestrian is injured on a poorly maintained sidewalk.
- A motorist is harmed due to a malfunctioning traffic light or pothole.
- A homeowner suffers property damage because of inadequate stormwater drainage.
- A citizen experiences a civil rights violation, such as racial profiling or excessive force by police.
