Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyers

Fighting for Equal Justice for the Injured

A serious injury causes more than just physical hardships. Individuals with severe injuries tend to require extensive medical care, leading to exorbitant medical bills. They may be unable to return to work for weeks, months, or even years, meaning they could lose out on significant income they need to manage medical bills and other everyday expenses.

At Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, we help victims of all types of accidents and injuries get back on their feet. Our Lake Worth personal injury lawyers have years of experience fighting on behalf of those injured due to the negligence of others, as well as the surviving family members of those wrongfully killed, and we are prepared to aggressively seek the maximum compensation you are owed. You shouldnt have to shoulder the burdens of another person or parties negligent or wrongful conduct on your own; let our team fight for you and the justice you deserve.

Florida’s Personal Injury Statute

There are several important things you should know about Florida’s personal injury statute before filing a claim or lawsuit.

First, Florida law limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit to two years. In most cases, the clock begins running on the date of the injury. However, if the injury was not and could not have been discovered right away, the clock may not begin running until the date on which the injury was discovered or became discoverable.

Other exceptions to the four-year statute of limitations may apply. We encourage you to act quickly if you believe you may have a personal injury case. The sooner you reach out to our team, the sooner we can begin investigating your claim and building a powerful case on your behalf.

Proving a Personal Injury Claim

As the person bringing the claim, known as the plaintiff, you have the burden of proof. This means that you are the one responsible for proving your claim. Unlike in criminal cases, you do not need to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt but, rather, that the defendant is more likely than not to have caused your injury.

In most personal injury lawsuits, the plaintiff (and/or the plaintiffs legal counsel) must prove the following elements:

• Duty of Care: The plaintiff must establish that the defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care, meaning the defendant had a responsibility to take certain measures or avoid certain actions that could cause foreseeable injury or harm.
• Breach: The plaintiff must also prove that the defendant breached, or failed to uphold, the duty of care. Most often, this involves proving that the defendant acted negligently, recklessly, or wrongfully (unlawfully) in some way.
• Injury: The plaintiff must also demonstrate that they suffered an injury. In personal injury cases, an injury may be physical in nature, or it may be emotional or financial. In other words, the plaintiff must show that their injury involved some type of harm that led to measurable losses.
• Causation: The final element of most successful personal injury lawsuits is causation. This involves proving that the defendants conduct, or breach of the duty of care, was the proximate or direct cause of the plaintiffs injuries and related damages.

At Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, our Lake Worth personal injury attorneys are well-versed in all aspects of investigating, proving, and litigating personal injury claims. We have successfully handled very complex cases, securing millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. Most importantly, we have recovered the results our clients need to heal and move forward with their lives.

What Types of Damages Are Available in Personal Injury Cases?

By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek financial compensation for your damages, or the economic and non-economic losses you have suffered as a result of your injuries.

Some types of damages that are commonly available in personal injury cases in Florida include:

• Emergency medical care costs
• Ambulance and hospital fees
• Medications and medical devices
• Rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Ongoing and future medical care
• Miscellaneous medical expenses
• Lost income, wages, and benefits
• Loss of future earnings
• Emotional distress and anguish
• In-home assistance and medical care
• Lost or diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

If the defendant was grossly negligent or intentionally caused injury, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. These are meant to punish the defendant for their actions (or inactions) and deter others from acting similarly in the future.

How Our Personal Injury Team Can Help

At Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, our Lake Worth personal injury attorneys have decades of experience and a long track record of success in all types of claims, including those involving:

• Boat Accident
• Car Accident
• Medical Malpractice
• Motorcycle Accident
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Truck Accident
• Wrongful Death

We are here to guide you through the process and provide the answers you need to make empowered decisions about your health, your recovery, and your future. We offer compassionate, highly personalized, and aggressive legal representation to clients in and around Palm Beach County and all of the surrounding areas.