West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyer
Severe injuries caused by someone else’s negligence can significantly disrupt your life and leave you with long-term chronic pain, disability, and financial ruin. You deserve financial compensation from the at-fault parties and their insurance companies, but you may not be able to get it without a fight. You can count on our skilled and passionate West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers to take up your cause and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We are a client-centered personal injury law firm that has recovered over $2 billion in damages for injured clients. Our results are no accident. We are committed to putting our clients’ needs ahead of our own. We demonstrate that commitment through caring, understanding, and hard work.Â
Our personal injury attorneys in West Palm Beach possess unique strengths and come from diverse backgrounds that allow us to see all sides of a case. Rather than working on your case alone in competition with one another, they pull together as a team so you can benefit from their combined strengths, experience, and resources.Â
When you have a team of talented lawyers working on your case, you can expect the highest quality of representation available. Because of our team approach and our open-door policy, you can reach a member of your legal team any day of the week.Â
We have been protecting you and your family since 1979. Experience makes all the difference. Contact us online or call us today at (561) 766-5020 to put our experience to work for you.
We Are Here to Serve All of Your Personal Injury Claim Needs
Whether your injuries came from a truck accident on I-95, a car accident on the Royal Park Bridge, or a slip and fall accident in Publix, our trusted West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers will be there for you when you need us most. We handle a wide range of personal injury claims in West Palm Beach, including the following:Â
- Car accidentsÂ
- Truck accidentsÂ
- Motorcycle accidentsÂ
- Slips and fallsÂ
- Swimming pool accidentsÂ
- Boating accidentsÂ
- Medical malpracticeÂ
- Nursing home abuseÂ
- Workers’ compensationÂ
- Wrongful deathÂ
- Social Security DisabilityÂ
- And many moreÂ
No matter how you were injured, if someone else’s negligence is to blame, call our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys today at (561) 766-5020 to schedule a free consultation.
Damages You Can Recover in a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Claim
Personal injury claims provide a means to restore what you lost when someone else’s negligence or intentional misconduct has injured you.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for the financial costs associated with your injuries, including medical expenses, lost income, and property damage.Â
Medical expenses include costs you have already incurred and future costs that can be reasonably expected. These costs include the following and more:Â
- HospitalizationÂ
- SurgeryÂ
- Doctor visitsÂ
- RehabilitationÂ
- TherapyÂ
- Assistive devicesÂ
- MedicationsÂ
- Treatment for mental anguish Â
Lost income includes lost wages, job benefits, business income, and other earnings you have already lost or will miss out on in the future because of your injuries.Â
Florida law places no dollar limit on economic damages, but your damages awarded depend on what you can prove. Â
A 2023 state law changed the proof requirements for medical expenses. Previously, you could provide proof of the face value of your medical bills, but the new law requires you to disclose how much you or your health insurance actually paid. If you don’t have health insurance, you must present calculations based on the Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement rates, as applicable.Â
Since health insurance providers often pay less than the amount billed, this law will likely reduce the recoverable damages for medical expenses. As always, our attorneys will continue to fight for your maximum compensation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses to your quality of life. These damages are difficult to quantify because they don’t have a concrete monetary value. In some cases, the testimony of friends, family members, doctors, and others may be required to prove the extent of your suffering. Non-economic damages include the following and more:Â
- Pain and suffering – physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress.Â
- Loss of enjoyment of life – loss of your lifestyle and activities you previously enjoyed.Â
- Scarring and disfigurement – severe deformity, facial scarring, amputations, and other changes to your appearance.Â
- Disability – physical or mental limitations that prevent you from working, such as brain damage or loss of mobility.Â
- Loss of bodily functions – bladder or bowel incontinence or other severe organ damage.Â
If a family member’s injuries negatively impacted you, you may be able to file a claim for loss of companionship, affection, or similar losses. For example, a spouse may sue for the loss of marital relations, or a child may be able to sue for the loss of parental guidance. These damages are commonly known as loss of consortium.Â
While many states have imposed limits on non-economic damages, Florida has no such limits. Until 2017, state law limited non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases to $500,000, but the Florida Supreme Court declared that measure unconstitutional.
Punitive Damages
It is also possible to recover damages that do not compensate you for your losses but punish a defendant. These are known as punitive damages. They are only available with clear and convincing evidence of deliberate misconduct or gross negligence. Florida allows you to receive up to $500,000 in punitive damages or three times your other damages, whichever is greater.
Wrongful Death Damages
Carelessness can lead to the death of innocent people. Tragically, this is all too common in Palm Beach County. Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for Florida residents ages 15 through 24 in 2022, whereas falls were the leading cause of death in adults aged 65 and older. Â
Traffic congestion from growth and tourism causes overcrowding, increasing the dangers of the Orchid City’s roadways. According to the Department of Highway Safety, 234 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2022 in Palm Beach County alone.Â
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one caused by someone else’s carelessness in any type of accident, our West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyers can help your family pursue the following damages and more:Â
- Your loved one’s medical expensesÂ
- Funeral and burial expensesÂ
- Your loved one’s pain and sufferingÂ
- Your loved one’s probable lifetime earnings had they survivedÂ
- Loss of companionshipÂ
- Your family’s mental pain and sufferingÂ
- Loss of parental guidanceÂ
- Loss of comfortÂ
- Loss of supportÂ
- Loss of consortiumÂ
If your loved one was taken too soon by a senseless act of carelessness or malice, call our supportive and skilled West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free case review.
How Much Compensation Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Claim in West Palm Beach?
Damages in a West Palm Beach personal injury case may range from a few thousand to millions. Every case is unique, and the only accurate way to estimate your case value is to consult a seasoned personal injury lawyer with experience handling cases like yours.
The Severity of Your Injuries
As a rule, the more severe your injuries, the higher your potential compensation. This is because severe injuries are more likely to result in significant lifelong medical expenses, lost earnings, and more severe non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
The Liable Parties
Many personal injury claims are covered by the insurance companies of the at-fault parties. Insurance companies are generally responsible for paying claims up to the policy limits. Damages beyond the policy limits must come from the at-fault party. Â
At-fault individuals may not have enough collectible income or assets to cover your damages. Corporate defendants, such as large corporations and trucking companies, may have considerable assets and larger insurance policies. This can raise your compensation.Â
If the liable party is a government entity, damages are generally limited to $200,000 per person per claim, with a maximum of $300,000 for multiple plaintiffs over the same incident. You cannot pursue punitive damages against government agencies.Â
Through our commitment to maximizing your compensation, we will work to ensure we identify every party that contributed to your injuries. A larger number of defendants increases the pool of available compensation.
The Evidence Against the Defendant
Insurance companies are generally more willing to settle for a larger amount when they know they could lose in court. Most insurance companies do not want to go against our attorneys in front of a jury because our talented West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers know how to gather evidence that sticks. Â
In many cases, this can help you avoid court altogether. If you do have to go to court, stronger evidence can persuade a jury to award higher verdicts.
The Type of Claim You File
The type of claim you pursue may influence the total compensation you receive. For example:Â
- You cannot pursue non-economic or punitive damages in workers’ compensation claims unless you sue someone other than your employer.Â
- Claims against a homeowner’s insurance policy may be more limited than claims against a commercial policy.Â
- You must initially file car accident claims under your own no-fault policy. You can only file a claim against the other party if your injuries are severe.Â
- The no-fault system does not apply to motorcycle accidents. In such cases, you can file your initial claim with the at-fault party’s insurer.
Whether You Are at Fault in the Accident
If you are partly at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced or eliminated. For this reason, the insurance company may try to blame you for the accident. Florida’s comparative fault law prohibits anyone who is more than 50 percent at fault for their injuries from recovering damages. Â
If you are 50 percent or less at fault, you can recover damages, but your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your fault. For example, if you are 10 percent at fault for an accident in which you sustained $100,000 in damages, your compensation will be reduced to $90,000.Â
Comparative Fault in Car Accidents
Comparative fault in Florida is most commonly a factor in automobile accident claims. Whether the West Palm Beach Police Department or an insurance company has attributed fault to you, don’t accept this determination as final until you speak with one of our attorneys. Even if the police gave you a ticket, this doesn’t prove you’re to blame. Neither the police report nor a traffic ticket is admissible as evidence of fault in motor vehicle accident claims.
The insurance company may have denied your claim because of the information on the police report, and the adjuster may try to convince you that the ticket is proof. However, the only thing that matters in automobile accident claims is hard evidence, and that is what we’ll present. We’ll interview witnesses, download the black box data for all vehicles involved, review video recordings of the accident, and perform a thorough forensic investigation.
Don’t accept fault that doesn’t belong to you. Contact us now for a free case evaluation.
Proving Liability in West Palm Beach Personal Injury Claims
To prove liability in a personal injury claim, you must prove that someone else’s failure to exercise reasonable care harmed you. Â
For instance, In 2022, a 79-year-old woman fell to her death from the Royal Park Bridge as she was walking her bicycle across it while it was rising. A police investigation revealed that the bridge tender, who is now facing criminal charges, failed to perform the required safety checks. Based on these facts, the family may be able to prove a wrongful death claim against the City of Palm Beach.Â
In an automobile accident, you must prove that another driver, a mechanical failure, a poorly maintained roadway, or other breaches of duty led to the accident. For example, another driver may be at fault as a result of the following:Â
- Inattentive or distracted drivingÂ
- Drunk drivingÂ
- SpeedingÂ
- Failure to yieldÂ
If you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you must prove a hazardous condition that the owners should have addressed caused your accident.Â
In medical malpractice claims, you must prove that a health care provider harmed you by failing to provide a reasonable standard of care.
Why You Need a Reputable West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyer on Your Side
Insurance companies happily collect premiums, but when it’s their turn to pay, they often refuse to hold up their end of the contract. They take advantage of injured claimants by blaming them for their injuries, pressuring them to accept low settlements, or tricking them into admitting fault or signing away their rights.Â
You may be unable to support yourself or access the necessary medical care without adequate compensation. Our caring and resourceful West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers are passionate about standing up to insurance companies and ensuring they don’t short-change injured people.
Qualities to Look for When Choosing a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney
When you need an attorney, look for an experienced attorney with a solid track record handling your type of claim and testimonials from satisfied clients vouching for the quality of service. Your attorney should offer a free consultation and cover all your case costs without charging you any upfront fees.Â
We have more than 44 years of experience with virtually every type of personal injury claim. We have won more than $2 billion in damages for our clients. Our law firm has the resources to stand up to large corporations and win. You pay nothing unless we win.Â
Our successful personal injury case results include the following and more:Â
- $5 million for a patient who sustained a brain injury from medical malpractice in an emergency room.Â
- $3.4 million for a motorist who sustained painful herniated discs in a rear-end accident with a truck.Â
- $2.5 million verdict for a car accident victim who suffered neck injuries requiring pain management.Â
- $1.7 million for a mechanic injured when a 20,000-pound sign fell on him.Â
- $1.5 million for the children of a woman killed in a workplace accident.Â
- $1 million for a motorcycle passenger injured when a truck struck the bike.
- $750,000 for a client who slipped and fell in a puddle of water at a large retail supercenter.
Florida Law Limits Your Time to File a Personal Injury Claim
Like most states, Florida imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury cases called statutes of limitations. The Florida personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years. Â
However, there are exceptions, so you should always contact an attorney to evaluate whether you have an opportunity to make a claim. Â
In addition, a competent lawyer will need time to investigate your accident, identify the liable parties, and calculate your damages before filing your claim. If you wait too long, you leave significant compensation on the table.
Contact Us Today If You’ve Been Injured Anywhere in Palm Beach County
Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys are ready to help you get through this difficult time. We help injured clients in West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Boynton Beach, and Royal Palm Beach. Â
Call (561) 766-5020 or contact us online today for a free consultation.
We Are Here to Serve All of Your Personal Injury Claim Needs
Damages You Can Recover in a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Claim
How Much Compensation Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Claim in West Palm Beach?
Proving Liability in West Palm Beach Personal Injury Claims
Why You Need a Reputable West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyer on Your Side
Qualities to Look for When Choosing a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney
Florida Law Limits Your Time to File a Personal Injury Claim
Contact Us Today If You’ve Been Injured Anywhere in Palm Beach County
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