Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Vero Beach
Vero Beach is one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities along Florida’s Treasure Coast and has a population of about 15,000. The city is the seat of the Indian River County and is a hub of activity as it attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Unfortunately, though, even a veritable paradise such as this is not immune to personal injury accidents. According to the Florida Highway and Safety Motor Vehicles report of 2018, there were 2023 traffic crashes in Indian River County which led to 32 fatalities, 1,276 injuries, and 1,148 instances of property damages. These numbers only include the traffic accidents and no other personal injury cases such as boat accidents and slip and fall accidents.
Many of the personal injury cases in Vero Beach are a result of negligence of another person who failed to exercise reasonable duty of care while operating a vehicle or maintaining their premises.
The impact of personal injury accidents can be very devastating for the victim and can be destructive to their physical and mental health as well as finances. If you or your loved one has been involved in a personal injury accident, you can contact Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers serving Vero Beach. We offer a free initial consultation. Let us help you pursue the fair compensation you deserve.
Types of Personal Injury Claims We Are Available to HandleWhether you are shopping at a grocery store, driving your car, or walking down the street, personal injury incidents can happen to anyone for a number of reasons.
According to the Florida Department of Health, the most common cause of non-fatal injuries results from slip and fall accidents. Another very common cause of injuries is traffic accidents including, car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents.
Dealing with the aftermath of your personal injury accident can be very difficult for people as they are struggling to recover from their injuries and other damages related to the accident. A person who has been hurt due to negligence may be able to make the following types of personal injury claims:
Car and Auto Accident ClaimsIn 2018, Florida witnessed 48,993 non-incapacitating crashes because of drivers, as well as 12,608 incapacitating accidents and 1,777 fatalities. Car accidents make up a large portion of the personal injury cases and can be extremely dangerous as well as costly for the victim.
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident that resulted from the carelessness and negligence of another, you may have the right to pursue a claim and compensation for your damages.
Motorcycle and Scooter Injury ClaimsThe beautiful balmy weather of Vero Beach makes it a perfect setting for a cruise in a motorbike. However, in 2018 there were 52 motorcycle crashes in Indian River County which resulted in 41 motorcycle injuries and 7 fatalities.
The occupants of motorcycles and scooters are not protected by a metal framework which is why they are at high risk of more serious injuries. If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, negligent drivers should be held accountable.
Bicycle Accident ClaimsThere were 34 bicycle accidents in Indian River County in 2018, resulting in 33 injuries and 1 fatality. These statistics are staggering since it means that 100 percent of reported bicycle accident victims were injured during an accident. Even helmets do not provide adequate protection to the head if the bicycle is hit hard enough by a fast-moving car, not to mention the injuries such an accident can incur to other parts of the vulnerable victim’s body.
Pedestrian Accident ClaimsPedestrians are the most vulnerable of all traffic accident victims. According to the CDC, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a traffic accident than those in auto vehicles. In 2018, there were 39 cases of pedestrian accidents in Indian River County, which resulted in 23 injuries, and four fatalities. Distracted, speeding, or drunk drivers can post a serious risk to pedestrians.
Boat, Cruise, or Jet Ski Injury ClaimsVero Beach has miles-long stretches of beaches where water sports is very popular. However, according to the Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, boating accidents result in 65 fatalities every year. Most of these accidents are preventable and are a result of careless and inattentive boat operators, who speed up excessively, handle their vessels recklessly, or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Truck Injury ClaimsTrucks accidents can be the deadliest accidents on the road. The weight and size of commercial vehicles like large trucks and semi make it extremely dangerous if they hit another vehicle or pedestrians at a high speed. Truck accidents can result in road pile ups and several injured people, with high chances of death among victims.
Indian River was the site of 247 commercial vehicle accidents in 2018, which resulted in 46 injuries and 5 fatalities.
If you have suffered from injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident in Vero Beach, contact the attorneys at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers. We offer a free initial consultation and can help advise you as to your legal options.
Slip, Trip and Fall/ Premise Liability CasesProperty owners in Vero Beach have a legal obligation to ensure reasonably safe conditions on their properties to create a safe environment for their visitors and guests. However, a breach of duty of care can lead to terrible accidents in both private and public properties like someone else’s home, grocery stores, swimming pools, amusement parks, recreation centers, parking lots and building elevators and escalators.
In Florida, slip and fall accidents are a number one cause of injury among senior citizens.
Florida’s Statute Of Limitations for Personal Injury ClaimsFlorida’s statute of limitations mandates how long a person has to file a lawsuit. For most personal injury cases, the statute of limitation is two years from the date of the accident. This means that the victim has to file their lawsuit against the at-fault party within this timeframe. Failure to do so will likely result in your case being dismissed and you will be barred from pursuing your claim.
There are some exceptional circumstances that can extend the time limit for filing a lawsuit; however, these are very rare. For questions regarding the statute of limitations, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
What to Do After a Personal Injury AccidentIf you are involved in a personal injury accident at Vero Beach, here are some steps you may choose to take:
Call the authorities: If you are involved in an accident, you need to call the 911 who will send paramedics or law enforcement officers at the site of the accident. The emergency responders will ensure that all people involved in the accident are safe and will create a report of the incident.
You can claim your police report later on from the:
Vero Beach Police Department(772) 978-4600 | 1055 20th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Seek medical treatment: If you are injured in an accident, it is vital that you let the paramedics treat your injuries, and if the injuries are serious, take you to a hospital. By getting medical treatment in time, you have a better chance of diagnosing all your injuries, including the ones whose symptoms have not yet shown, and get the appropriate treatment for them before they cause complications.
Additionally, under Florida’s personal injury protection, you must have the necessary medical treatment from a qualified medical professional within 14 days of the accident.
In case you get involved in a personal injury accident at Vero Beach, here is the contact information of the local hospital:
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital(772) 567-4311 | 1000 36th St, Vero Beach, Florida
Make a record: It is important that you take photos and make videos of the vehicle damage, any injuries you sustained during the accident, property damage, and road signals and signs in the area. If there were any witnesses, be sure to get their contact information. It is important to note down all relevant details related to the accident while they are fresh in your memory. Also take down the at-fault party’s name, ID, and in case of traffic accident, the driver’s license, VIN number and car insurance information.
Speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer: Consult with an experienced attorney for legal guidance. Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers have an extraordinary legal team who are ready to help you with your accident claim and strive to get the compensation you deserve.
What NOT to Do After a Personal Injury Accident in Vero Beach- After a personal injury incident, you will likely get a call from the other party’s insurance agent or lawyers. It is important that you do not try to negotiate with them on your own without first consulting your lawyer.
- Do not arrange an out-of-court settlement without your personal injury lawyer. Insurance agents may try to pay out the minimum amount of claim and this compensation will likely not be enough to cover all your damages.
- Make sure you do not disregard your injuries and get a proper medical exam as soon as possible.
- Do not post about your accident and related injuries on social media as this can be used by the other party’s legal counselor against you.
Some of the most common injuries include:
Head InjuriesEven a small head injury can be very serious since your brain is an extremely sensitive organ. Worse, many head injuries don’t exhibit symptoms right after the injury, but pose complications later on. These can be life-threatening and often fatal. People who suffer from head injuries can suffer from depression, insomnia, mood swings, vertigo, severe pain, internal bleeding, loss of function of limbs, amnesia, partial or total paralysis, and coma. In severe cases, it can even lead to death.
Broken BonesFractures and broken bones can incapacitate a person, either temporarily or permanently. Even if the fracture is mild, it can prevent a person from coming to work for several weeks which results in loss of wages. In severe cases, it can lead to life-long disability.
People over the age of 65 are very prone to hip fractures if they have a slip and fall accident. Since they are of advanced age, these types of injuries can have further repercussions for them.
Internal InjuriesInternal injuries are particularly difficult to identify since they do not exhibit any outward symptoms. These injuries carry the most risk of developing into complications that can have a serious impact on the physical, mental, and emotional health of the victim.
That is why it is extremely important that you seek immediate medical attention after an accident so that you do not run the risk of these issues.
Herniated DiskA whiplash or a blow on your back or neck can result in your spinal disks shifting away from their original position. This results in excruciating pain for the person and restricts their movement. A herniated disk may be fixed by wearing a brace or by performing physiotherapy but sometimes you may need surgery to put it back into place.
Joint InjuriesInjuries to the joints of hips, knees, and elbows can be very painful. These may take several months if not years to fully heal and during that time, the person’s mobility will be limited.
Spinal InjuriesA whiplash can cause spinal injuries that are very painful and very serious. Spinal nerves control the movement of our limbs and functions of our body and if they are injured, it can cripple a person, often for life. If the lower spine is badly injured, a person may experience paralysis in the lower half of their body. If the upper spine is injured, the person may suffer from full body paralysis.
Personal Injury Claims: Types of Damages You Can PursueA personal injury victim may suffer from both economic and non-economic losses. Compensation for economic losses is the most common type of compensation that people receive and include payment of medical bills, compensation for missing work, and for property damage.
Medical BillsDepending on the extent and severity of your injuries, medical bills may carry the most substantial costs and may run from under a hundred dollars to millions of dollars.
Since Florida is a no-fault state, personal injury victims can get compensated through their PIP coverage. Unfortunately, this insurance policy is limited, there is typically a deductible and will only cover a percentage of the medical expenses and lost wages.
You may pursue damages against the at-fault party for your medical related costs including treatments, surgeries, physical therapy, hospital stays, radiology, rehabilitation, prescription medication, and diagnostic testing.
Loss of WagesSome injuries can take months or even years to fully heal — if they ever fully heal. This may prevent the injured party from returning to work which results in a loss of income. Some people who work in labor-intensive fields may even be unable to return to their previous jobs because of the injury.
If you lost wages because you missed work due to your injuries or medical treatment, you may be able to pursue past, current, and future lost wages from the at-fault party.
Property DamageIf the personal injury incident resulted in property damage for you (for example, a totaled car, a broken iPhone or shattered designed watch, etc.), you can also claim damages from the at-fault party.
Pain and SufferingA person who has been a victim of a personal injury accident may not only suffer from physical pain but also mental anguish. They may lose their joy in life, may suffer from nightmares, or may develop phobias related to the accident, such as inability to drive a car again.
How Will A Personal Injury Lawyer Try to HelpOur personal injury lawyers strive to help you get the justice you deserve. At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we can schedule a free consultation, review your case, and guide you as to how much compensation you may be eligible to pursue.
Our legal team will investigate the events leading to the accident, we will gather evidence including the crash report, incident report, witness statements, medical records and evidence of lost wages.
Our attorneys will also handle all communications and negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the insurance company insists on denying or undermining your just claim, we will proceed with litigation.
Start Your Free Personal Injury Consultation TodayFrankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers have a combined 40 years of experience helping personal injury plaintiffs and helped recover $200 million in settlements and verdicts. We pride ourselves on giving our clients one-on-one attention and strive to provide them with committed and focused legal representation.
If you were involved in a personal injury accident, you can call us for a free initial consultation. If you are unable to come to our office, our attorneys are always available for both home and in-hospital visits.
To schedule an appointment with us, call us now at 772-800-8000.