Located in Florida’s Broward County, Plantation has a population of approximately 85,000 residents. The city’s motto is “the grass is greener.” It is the site of DHL’s World Headquarters for the Americas, and in 2008, Plantation was named one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance. Some of the city’s most pleasant attractions include the Jacaranda Golf Club and the Plantation Preserve Golf Club.
Every year, however, a number of people there suffer harm caused by the wrongdoing or negligence of others. If you’ve been hurt in an accident near Plantation, you may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party.
At Frankl Kominsky, our knowledgeable injury attorneys can help advise you on how to try to hold those who hurt you accountable. Our firm is available to handle virtually all personal injury matters, such as defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls, nursing home negligence or abuse, and countless types of automobile collisions involving trucks, cars, and motorcycles.
For 2018, Florida has reported the following vehicle accident statistics:
- For all crashes: 402,592
- Injuries for all crashes: 254,873
- Total bicycle crashes: 6,575
- Total hit-and-run fatalities: 215
- Fatalities for all crashes: 3,174
- Total hit-and-run accidents: 102,756
- Total pedestrian fatalities: 702
Florida Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits differ. In Florida, you must file a personal injury claim 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 don’t file your claim within the applicable statute of limitations, your case will likely be dismissed and you will lose your legal right to pursue your claim. Of course, there are exceptions to these limitations, however, they are quite rare and should be discussed with a personal injury lawyer serving Plantation.
One of the more common Plantation personal injury accidents will involve negligence on the part of another. There are a number of statutes that cover personal injury cases. In a claim for a slip and fall or a trip and fall, personal injury may refer to:
- Statute 768.0755 (1) Which will apply to premises responsibility for random articles that are not immediately removed on the premises of commercial buildings.—
(1) If a person slips and falls on a transitory foreign substance in a business establishment, the injured person must prove that the business establishment had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition and should have taken action to remedy it.
Broward County Accident & Injury Claims
- Motorcycle and Scooter Injury Claims: Motorcycle operators who have been injured by drivers of larger vehicles who speed, are distracted by texting or who drive drunk.
- Bus Injury Claims: passengers who are injured because the bus wasn’t properly maintained, driving while fatigued, distracted by texting or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Slip, Trip and Fall and Premises Liability Claims: If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at a department or grocery store, home or private property, a parking lot, you may have a personal injury claim.
- Boat, Cruise, or Jet Ski Injury Claims: Passengers who have been injured because of a lack of medical supplies, excessive speed, boat malfunctions, striking another watercraft or boat.
- Car and Auto Accidents Claims: Accidents involving a negligent or reckless vehicle operator, or while you are a passenger in a motor vehicle
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Claims: Victims who have been seriously injured by drivers who were reckless or were negligent.
Top Injuries Following an Accident Serious injuries
- Broken or Fractured Bones: symptoms include bruising, swelling, tenderness, deformity, and severe pain
- Dislocated Shoulder: symptoms of a dislocated shoulder include intense pain, swelling, bruising, and limited movement or motion
- Neck, Back and Spine Injuries: symptoms of a back injury includes extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head and back, numbness, tingling or loss of sensations in your hands, fingers, toes or feet.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: some symptoms of a brain injury include Uncharacteristic aggression, Varying mood changes, Chronic depression, Complete amnesia, Long and short term memory problems
- Internal Bleeding: symptoms of internal bleeding include lightheadedness, difficulty bleeding, fainting, chest pain, abdominal pain, drop in blood pressure and rapid pause
Other common injuries include:
- Cuts, Scrapes, and Bruising
- Whiplash
- Herniated Discs
- Injuries to the Hip, Knee or Elbow
What Should You Do After an Injury?
If you’ve been injured, these are some things that you should remember:
- Report the accident and injury to the authorities and property owner
- Be sure to get copies of the accident report or the incident report
- Plantation Police Department | 954-797-2100
- If possible, document the scene of the accident with videos or photos
- Get the contact information of any witnesses
- Be sure to get copies of the accident report or the incident report
- Seek Immediate Medical Care from a qualified medical professional
- You can go to your own doctor or to a local hospital
- Example: Westside Regional Medical Center | 954-228-6360
- Keep a journal or record of your injuries, medical treatment, and how the injury has impacted your life. Also, make sure to keep a copy of all medical expenses. All of your medical information should be kept in a separate location in your home in order to have easy access when needed.
- You can go to your own doctor or to a local hospital
- Find an experienced personal injury lawyer for a Free Consultation
Top 4 Things You Should Never Do After An Accident or Injury
- You should NEVER try to negotiate a settlement without consulting an experienced injury attorney. Insurance companies may try to offer a quick and easy settlement without mentioning the cost of future medical treatment such as MRIs, Chiropractic care, or prescription medication.
- You should NEVER neglect your symptoms of injuries. If you prolong treatment, you may cause deeper medical issues. You SHOULD seek immediate medical care by a qualified doctor or medical facility such as an emergency room or urgent care.
- You should NEVER give a statement to an insurance company. This is only one of the ways they may try to lessen the value of your claim or shift fault to you.
- You should NEVER post information including the details of your case, who was at fault, or photos of your injuries.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Broward County
If you've been harmed because of the carelessness or misconduct of someone else, you may want to consider pursuing a negligence claim. This can be a good way to pursue compensation for an accident if you can show the four main elements that comprise negligence. These are:
- The defendant owed the victim a duty of care;
- The defendant breached this duty with some careless action;
- The breach directly caused the accident in which the victim was hurt; and
- The victim was forced to incur quantifiable damages because of his or her injuries.
A duty of care consists of exercising reasonable prudence in one’s actions. For example, a driver who speeds excessively might violate this duty because breaking traffic laws endangers other people on the road. A victim has two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
If the defendant’s liability is established, the injured person can seek monetary compensation. The award can come through a settlement or may a verdict after a trial. The amount of damages that a victim can expect to receive depends on several factors including the nature and extent of his or her injuries, medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Typically, compensation that can be recovered extends from past, current, and future medical bills to lost income and benefits, pain and suffering, property damage, and any other costs stemming from the accident.
If a loved one of yours has been killed because someone else acted negligently, you may explore the possibility of pursuing a wrongful death claim. Under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, a personal representative of the estate can file a wrongful death action on behalf of the decedent. If financial compensation is awarded, it can be distributed among close relatives of the victim as outlined in the statute.
The elements of a wrongful death claim are largely the same as those in an ordinary injury lawsuit, but the time limit within which it may be filed is different. Under Florida law, this type of lawsuit must be filed within two years from when you lost your loved one.
Accident & Injury Claims & Damages You Can Claim
- Past and Future Medical Care and Treatment including: Home health care, wheelchairs, walkers, lifts, and long-term care facilities, Home Renovation for Accessibility
- Lost Wages and Loss of Future Income
- Pain and Suffering
- Property Damage
If you were partially at fault for the accident and your injuries, your total compensation award may be reduced by your percentage of fault. This is known as the Comparative Negligence Rule under Florida law. For example, if someone is deemed to be 25 percent at fault for a particular accident, that person will be able to recover 75 percent of the total damages.
If you suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in an accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against whoever was responsible. Under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, certain surviving family members, such as a spouse, child, or parent, can seek compensation for burial expenses, funeral expenses, loss of income and lost support or companionship after the death of a beloved family member.
Why Should I Hire a Broward County Personal Injury Attorney?
At Frankl Kominsky, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with superior customer service. We take a one-on-one approach to the way we deal with our clients. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligent and reckless behavior, you should have a dedicated legal team assisting you with your claim. Our Florida accident lawyers are committed to helping injured victims. We have over 40 years of combined legal experience handling accident and injury cases, and we are available to assist you in your negligence claim.
Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney Serving Plantation
You need a strong legal team to protect your rights when another individual or entity has harmed you through their negligence in Plantation or the surrounding areas.
At Frankl Kominsky, our accident lawyers will try to investigate the details of your situation and strive to seek the maximum compensation possible. We work diligently to get to know our clients. Our attorneys represent accident victims throughout Broward County. To understand more about your legal options, contact us online or call us toll-free at 954-627-1661. Our team is fluent in Spanish and Creole.