Located in Palm Beach County, Florida, Palm Beach Gardens is home to about 50,000 people. Residents and tourists can visit attractions such as the Cool Beans Indoor Playground & Café , Bashers RC Raceway , or one of the city’s 12 golf courses. Palm Beach Gardens is also home to the headquarters of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Some of the city’s top employers include the School District of Palm Beach County, Tenet Healthcare, and the PGA National Resort & Spa.
Despite its peaceful setting, this community sometimes witnesses accidents that could have been avoided if someone had taken proper care. If you have been hurt by the negligence of another person or entity near Palm Beach Gardens, the injury attorneys at Frankl Kominsky can try to help. We have assisted victims injured in a wide range of accidents, ranging from car, truck, and motorcycle crashes to slip and falls, medical malpractice, and defective products.
In 2018, the local hospitals in Palm Beach County reported a rise in injuries resulting from automobile accidents. The report further indicated that there were more than 4,000 visits to local hospitals due to automobile crashes that year with the following breakdown:
- 2,490 Passengers
- 82 Pedestrians
- 171 Bicyclists
- 189 Motorcyclists
- 708 Fatalities
What Are Some of the Most Common Injuries Following an Accident in Palm Beach Gardens?
Common injuries from accidents may include:
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Paralysis due to spinal damage
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Severe Lacerations and Burns
- Broken and fractured bones
Protect Your Rights and Hold Negligent Defendants Accountable
If you’ve been injured by someone else’s careless conduct, you may be eligible to pursue compensation from whoever was responsible. Negligence is typically defined as the failure to be at least as careful as a reasonably prudent person in similar circumstances. The legal elements that an injured person must prove in most of these cases include:
- Duty: the defendant owed the victim a duty of care;
- Breach: the defendant breached the required standard of care;
- Causation: the victim was hurt because of the defendant’s breach; and
- Damages: actual economic or non-economic harm resulted from the injuries.
The state of Florida follows a comparative negligence rule when assigning a damage award to a victim who prevails in this type of lawsuit. Under this doctrine, an injured person who was partially at fault can expect his or her recovery to be reduced by the percentage of his or her responsibility for the accident. For example, a victim who was 15 percent at fault will not be able to get more than 85 percent of his or her total damages.
If your loved one suffered a tragic death because a person or company acted negligently, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Under Florida law, the personal representative of an estate can file a wrongful death action. If damages are recovered, certain surviving family members are eligible to receive a share of the compensation.
The types of damages sought by an accident victim in a negligence lawsuit may include compensation for economic and non-economic harm, ranging from medical expenses and lost wages to pain and suffering. Different forms of compensation may be available in wrongful death claims, such as funeral and burial expenses, lost earning capacity, and the loss of companionship, consortium, or support.
Types of Personal Injury Claims That We Are Available to Handle in Palm Beach Gardens
Motorcycle and Scooter Injury Claims: motorcyclists can be injured by drivers of vehicles or trucks who have been speeding, driving drunk, or are distracted by electronic device texting
Bus Injury Claims: passengers who are injured because the bus vehicle owner operators fail to maintain their bus, have become distracted, driving while tired or while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Slip, Trip and Fall and Premises Liability Claims: individuals who become injured in a slip and fall accident at a grocery store, department store, at a home or private property or in a parking lot
Boat, Cruise, or Jet Ski Injury Claims: this pertains to situation where passengers are injured due to a lack of medical supplies, piloting the craft at excessive speeds, watercraft malfunctions or colliding with another boat or watercraft
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Claims: victims who have been seriously injured by distracted or careless drivers
Car and Auto Accidents Claims: accidents involving a negligent or careless driver, including injuries while you were a passenger in a motor vehicle
Palm Beach Accident & Injury Claims: Types of Damages You Can Recover
- Past and Future Medical Care and Treatment
- Including: Doctor visits, physical therapy, MRI and other diagnostic tests, surgery, home health care, wheelchairs, walkers, lifts, and long-term care facilities, home renovation for accessibility
- Pain and Suffering
- Property Damage
- Lost Wages and Loss of Future Income
Florida Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
The Statute of Limitations applies to plaintiffs filing a lawsuit in Florida on a civil action founded in negligence. This is a specific time frame during which you must file your lawsuit. The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits differ. In Florida, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident.
In wrongful death cases, the time frame to file is two years from the date of the death. If you fail to file your claim within the applicable statute of limitations, your lawsuit will likely be dismissed and you may be barred from pursuing your claim.
Of course, there are a few rare exceptions and should be discussed with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Florida Statute section 95.11(3)(a) .
If you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence of someone else, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against whoever was responsible. These cases can be very complex and must be filed within very strict timelines. If you think you may have a wrongful death claim, you should consult a Florida attorney right away.
How You Can Protect Yourself After an Accident
Report the accident and injuries - we cannot stress the importance of reporting your accident and injuries to local authorities and the property owner.
In Palm Beach Gardens, you can report your accident and injuries to the local police department at https://www.pbgmc.com/ or by calling 561-799-4100. Note: You will need a copy of your police or crash report.
Document the Scene of and the Cause of the Accident - take a video of the property damage along with photos of the scene of the accident.
If witnesses are present, be sure to collect their name, phone number, home address, and email.
Call EMS Emergency Services to the scene of the accident or Seek Immediate Medical Care from a Qualified Doctor
Serious injuries could include concussions, broken bones, fractured ribs, or internal bleeding.
Local hospital in Palm Beach Gardens:
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center | (561) 622-1411
No matter the extent of your initial injuries, we recommend keeping a journal of how the injury impacted your life.
Let's say before getting into a car accident in Palm Beach Gardens, your job required you to stand on your feet for long periods. However, the accident caused back and neck injuries which prevent you from performing regular job duties.
Seek Legal Guidance from An Experienced Injury Lawyer
If you were injured in Palm Beach Gardens, call our injury firm for a free consultation. Our accident lawyers have more than 40 years of experience in pre-litigation and trial work.
Never Neglect Your Injuries - In Florida, PIP or Personal Injury Protection could compensate you for expensive medical bills and treatment IF you treat with a qualified provided within the first 14 days of the Accident.
Never Give A Recorded Statement or Negotiate for a Quick and Easy Settlement - Insurance companies are notorious for contacting injured victims before they are represented by a knowledgeable injury lawyer.
Being injured in an accident can be stressful. You may want to focus on recovering from your injuries or handling your property damage claim, which is why many insurance companies may try to offer a quick and easy settlement.
However, accepting a settlement may not include the cost of medical bills such as emergency transport, hospital visits, extended medical treatment, and lost wages. If you accept a settlement, you may be responsible for all those costs.
Should You Pursue Compensation Through a Personal Injury Claim
No matter how you were hurt, legal liability will depend on whose fault it was. If another person or entity was responsible for the accident, a victim can file a negligence lawsuit to pursue compensation for his or her injuries. The claim must establish that the defendant violated a duty of care owed to the victim, which ultimately caused the accident and the resulting injuries or damages.
For example, the typical car driver would not run a red light because this is a dangerous and irresponsible thing to do. Therefore, a driver who does this likely would have breached the duty of care owed to other people on the road.
Someone who files a negligence case must show not only that the defendant violated a duty of care but that the violation was the direct and proximate cause of the victim’s injuries. In other words, the defendant’s careless actions must be the reason for the accident, and it must have been foreseeable that the accident would result from the defendant’s behavior.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help My Case?
At Frankl Kominsky, our legal team will do their best to help relieve your stress by locating the at-fault party, pursuing available insurance coverage, starting a claim for your injuries and property damage, setting up a car rental if required, gathering the medical records and billing, and requesting police reports and incident reports to build a claim against an at-fault party.
Start Your Free Personal Injury Consultation Today
We are dedicated to providing diligent legal representation and we offer superior client services.
- Over 600 Verified Client Reviews
- Stay Informed with Fast Response Times - Routine Calls and Emails
- Over $200 Million in Accident & Injury Settlements
- Over 40 Years of Combined Legal Experience
- No Fee Unless There is a Recovery
Serving clients in Palm Beach Gardens and the surrounding areas, the accident lawyers at Frankl Kominsky will work diligently to try to maximize your chances of getting the compensation you deserve and need. For more information, you can contact us online or call us toll-free at (561) 567-0214. Our team is fluent in Spanish and Creole.