Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Palm City

Palm City is a part of Martin County and is known for its golf courses, museums, and parks. As of 2020, the city has a population of more than 25,000 people. Growing urban populations increase the risk of injury. In 2018, in Martin County, the number of non-fatal injury-related hospitalizations was nearly 1,300, with an additional 158 fatal injury hospitalizations.

Personal injuries can occur due to a number of reasons ranging from unfortunate car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip-and-falls, and other reasons. If you or someone close to you has suffered from a personal injury due to circumstances that were beyond your control, you can file a claim for damages against the parties responsible. Read on as we look at some of the key factors to consider when building a personal injury claim.

Injuries can occur anytime and anywhere: from a slip in a parking lot to being a victim in an auto accident. People of any age can be the victim of common accidents like falls and car accidents. Such accidents can afflict physical and mental injuries on the victims and may even cause extensive property damage.

Victims of accidents may find that the path to recovery is difficult, especially if the injuries are very serious and require extensive surgical and medical care. In some cases, they may find themselves permanently disabled and may find their quality of life greatly compromised.

For most of the injuries that you suffer, you can hold those at-fault accountable for the damage caused and file a claim against them. Common personal injury claims you can make include:

Car accidents are among the leading causes of injuries in Florida. Despite strict road regulations being in place, car accidents may occur due to a number of reasons, including:

• Drunk driving
• Reckless driving and going above the speed limit
• Tailgating vehicles, driving without a valid license, etc.
• Damaged roads or areas under construction not properly marked
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Being distracted while driving, which includes factors such as texting, talking on the phone, eating or drinking, and so on.

Car accidents range in intensity from minor fender benders to fatal accidents that can claim lives. The victims of a car accident can make a claim for their medical bills and expenses, physical and mental suffering, loss of a family member, and more.

Among auto accidents, those involving motorcycles and scooters tend to lead to more fatalities and greater physical injuries. Florida has strict laws that require helmet usage by anyone under the age of 21, but accidents may occur due to a number of reasons such as:

• Not adhering to legal regulations
• Speeding
• Riding on the wrong side of the road
• Vehicular malfunction including faulty brakes
• Being caught in the blind side of a larger vehicle, etc.

Motorcycle accidents may leave victims with severe head injuries, destroyed vehicles, and more. If you were a victim of a motorcycle accident, you can file a claim against those responsible.

Similar to motorcyclists, bicycle riders and pedestrians are among others on the road who are susceptible to dangerous road accidents. They may be hit by a speeding vehicle, sent flying in the air by a truck driving on a road that doesn’t fall under a truck route, or hurt by some obstruction on the road itself.

Cyclists and pedestrians die every year in road accidents and almost always end up with severe injuries and may file a claim if their injuries resulted from the negligence of others on the road.

Buses and other commercial vehicles may be involved in multiple road accidents. In fact, the County saw over 300 commercial vehicle accidents in 2018 alone. Large vehicles such as buses need to be careful about the routes they select since not all roads are wide enough to support such large vehicles. Furthermore, the drivers of larger vehicles need to be properly certified to operate them and may require to comply with legal resting periods to avoid fatalities.

Drivers ridden with fatigue, those without proper driving experience, or those operating faulty vehicles may commonly be involved in accidents leaving victims with the power to file a claim for damages.

Boating accidents cause 50+ deaths annually. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are actually avoidable and are the result of people boating while they’re drunk or under the influence, driving beyond what they’re capable of, such as at very high speeds or not being licensed.

If you are a victim of a boating accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, you have the power to file a claim for damages against them.

Slip and falls or trip and falls are among the leading causes for injury among elderly citizens, including those who are above the age of 65 years. Seniors may suffer from severe injuries like broken bones, paralysis, body disfigurement, or damaged organs in a fall. Surgical costs go up into a few thousand dollars, starting with the tests such as X-rays and going into the surgical procedure and physiotherapy after.

Slip and falls may occur in dingy parking lots due to uneven flooring, cluttered surfaces, or rickety stairs. If you have suffered an injury from a fall, you can file a claim against the party responsible for the obstruction/s that led to the fall.

If you were involved in an accident where you were also partially responsible for the injuries you sustained, you will still be able to file a claim for damages on a reduced scale as long as the other party’s involvement was greater than yours.

The amount of time you have to sue the party/s responsible for your injuries is determined by the Florida Statute of Limitations. According to section 95.11 (3)(a) of the Statute, plaintiffs suing in Florida on a civil action caused due to negligence have 2 years from the date on which the accident occurred to file a claim for damages. This is applicable to all personal injury claims.

If this time period runs out, the court holds the right to reject your claims. There are special circumstances such as those being too injured to file a claim, victims with injuries that surfaced after the accident, and more where the court may extend this timeline.

In cases where the victims suffered from loss of life due to their injuries, their families may file a wrongful death suit within 2 years of the unfortunate occurrence.

If you were involved in an accident of sorts and suffered from personal injuries, you need to be careful in taking the following measures so that you can file a claim later and recover the expenses for the damages that you have experienced:

If you’ve been in an accident, start off by calling 911 and filling out an accident report with the Martin County Sheriff’s Department. The accident report will apply to a car crash, motorcycle, or truck accident or a slip and fall in a public property such as a shopping mall, a school, or a corporate parking lot.

Before leaving the scene of the accident, take plenty of photos and videos of everything around you. If there were any witnesses to your accident, obtain their personal information like a contact number as well as a recorded statement of what they observed.

If you have been injured, paramedics who will arrive with the authorities will treat your wounds. If your injuries are serious, you will be taken to the nearest hospital with 24/7 emergency care to be treated or operated on for your wounds.

Before leaving the hospital, take all the necessary records, bills, and files for immediate emergency care and any hospital care you received after that – this includes medical prescriptions.

If your injuries require future care or treatment, make a note of the expenses and whether it’s a one-time expense or periodic.

At this point, it is a good idea to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who will help you file a claim for damages against the party at-fault so that you can be compensated for the growing costs incurred.

Being in an accident and suffering from injuries may leave you confused as to how you should proceed. Avoid the following steps to ensure that your case is still credible in court:

You may be contacted by an insurance agency on behalf of the party at-fault to settle your expenses. Do not give them a recorded statement or sign anything without consulting your lawyer. You don’t want to be fooled into a lower compensation than what you deserve.

This also includes negotiating any settlement offers. If the party you are filing against tries to reach a pre-settlement, your lawyer will help you find out if the amount offered is feasible or if the case needs to be taken to court.

If you have been injured in an accident, do not avoid seeking treatment for your injuries. Even if the cost appears to be high, remember that by seeking medical help, you will be fit enough to file a claim in court and be compensated for these expenses and hospital bills.

Steer clear of sharing any information related to your accident or injuries on social media platforms. These can affect the strength and credibility of your case and may hinder you from being compensated fully for the damages incurred.

Accidents ranging from an auto accident to trip and falls can lead to many injuries, some more well-known than others. Common injuries that land people in the emergency room include:

1. Cuts, Scrapes, and Bruising
No matter how minor an accident, cuts, and scrapes are a given. These bruises and scrapes range from slight surface wounds to deeper gashes that may even cause extensive loss of blood. Some of these wounds may later spread and lead to infections that will require further medical care and treatment.

2. Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries are common in auto accidents, especially for motorcyclists and pedestrians. They may also be common in slip and falls that occur from a height. Head injuries range from minor concussions to objects piercing through the skull, internal hemorrhaging, damaged nerve endings, and so on. The symptoms of these injuries range from dizziness, fatigue, headaches, blackouts, bleeding in the head and ears, loss of cognitive function, affected vision, and so on.

3. Broken or Fractured Bones
Broken and fractured bones commonly occur in the fingers, hands, wrists, legs, and hips. These bones may be slightly fractured, completely broken, or dislocated. Recovery involved extensive bone grafting, which is a costly and painful procedure, and even then, it may not guarantee that a patient will fully return to their normal condition.

4. Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding is among the most severe consequences of an accident since it may not even show symptoms until some time has passed. In some cases, the victims may lose their lives due to undiscovered internal bleeding.

5. Whiplash
Whiplash involves spraining the neck towards one side and is a side effect of the force and trauma caused in road accidents or trip and falls. In some cases, it eases back into place on its own, while other victims may need a neck brace and treatment.

6. Herniated Discs
A herniated disc may be pushed into the spinal canal and leave the victim with spinal injuries. These may even lead to lower body paralysis, affect the nerves, and impair a victim’s general motor skills.

7. Injuries to the Hip, Knee or Elbow
Accidents with high impact are particularly stressful for the joints, including the hips, knees, and elbows. Joint dislocation and broken bones are common, and recovering from these is painful and expensive. In some cases, joint injuries may leave the victim with some level of permanent physical impairment.

8. Injuries to the Spine
As mentioned previously, the spine plays a major role in the human body, and if it is damaged, a person may face various issues ranging from lower body paralysis to loss of bladder control, affected posture, and so on. Surgery, medication, and physiotherapy are required for recovery.

Accidents leave you with personal injuries that are both painful and costly to recover from. If you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you can file a claim for damages including the following:

• Past and Future Medical Care and Treatment
  Medical expenses incurred range from emergency medical care to tests such as MRIs, surgery, medical prescriptions, and more. For serious, long term injuries, it includes home health care, wheelchairs, walkers, at-home nurses, and so on.
• Lost Wages and Loss of Future Income
  Recovering patients face a loss of patients during this phase, and even after they have been treated, they may find themselves unable to earn as much as they used to due to physical or mental inhibitions like becoming wheelchair-bound, reduced cognitive functions, and so on.
• Pain and Suffering
  The physical and mental toll of an accident leaves victims with disabilities, growing expenses, and other problems that reduce their quality of life. This includes being unable to perform many of the activities they previously enjoyed, like travel, or even basic functions like going to the toilet.
• Property Damage
  Accidents such as auto accidents lead to vehicle and property damage, which is an added expense that victims can file for in court.
• Home Renovation for Accessibility
  Victims with injuries like partial paralysis or joint dislocation may require extra assistance, such as wheelchair ramps or elevators to get around in their own home. All these expenses can be claimed for.

If you or someone you love has suffered from personal injuries in an accident, the very first step is to be treated by a professional for the damage you have suffered. Once you are in the recovery phase, you need to start collecting documents related to your medical expenses, loss of wages, and physical and property damages so that you can file for damages.

At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our experienced attorneys will be there to assist you in filing a claim for damages and personal injuries, including collecting witness statements, medical evidence, and more to help you build a solid case.

Hear what some of our clients have to say about the way we handled their personal injury cases.

At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we provide excellent client service, and it all starts with a free consultation with our attorneys to see what your case is about and how long a settlement will take. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to your hospital or home seven days a week.

With over 600 satisfied clients, $100 million+ recovered in settlements, and 40 years of legal experience, our seasoned attorneys will be there with you every step of the way, from collecting evidence to making sure that the party at fault is held accountable for their negligence.

Reach out to us at 772 – 800 – 8000 or contact us through our website and start your journey to recovery.