Delray Beach Personal Injury Lawyers

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Palm Beach County

A serious injury is devastating, no matter how or when it happened. Beyond the actual physical pain and emotional suffering associated with serious injuries, victims are also likely to experience significant financial challenges. From medical bills to lost wages, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with unexpected hardships in the wake of a life-changing accident or injury but you dont have to deal with these difficulties on your own.

At Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, our Delray Beach personal injury lawyers help victims of all types of injuries in Palm Beach County and the surrounding areas. We recognize that our clients are real people navigating some of the toughest times in their lives. Because of this, we have dedicated our practice to providing a high level of personal attention, compassion, and support throughout the legal process. You can rely on Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather to advocate tirelessly for you and the maximum compensation you are owed.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury law includes all types of accidents and traumatic events that result in bodily injury, as well as incidents leading to emotional harm and financial loss.

Some examples of common types of personal injury cases include:

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

At Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, we represent people who have been injured due to the negligent or wrongful conduct of others, including those involved in all types of accidents and related incidents. Our attorneys also assist the surviving family members of fatal accidents and acts of violence in seeking justice and fair compensation for unexpected financial and emotional hardships.

No matter how complex or challenging your case may be, our team is here to help. Our attorneys bring decades of collective experience to their practice of law, as well as a long, proven history of success in some of Florida’s most challenging personal injury matters. We are recognized for our willingness to actually go to trial for our clients, and insurance companies know that we will not back down for even the toughest of fights.

Damages in Personal Injury Cases

There are two main reasons to file a personal injury lawsuit: first, to hold negligent parties accountable and obtain a much-needed sense of justice and closure. Second, by filing a personal injury claim, you can seek financial compensation for your losses, or damages.

There are two main types of damages in personal injury cases:

• Compensatory Damages: As the name suggests, compensatory damages are meant to compensate the victim for specific losses they have endured as a result of the defendants negligent or wrongful conduct.
• Punitive Damages: Also known as exemplary damages, punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim for specific losses but, rather, to punish the defendant for egregious negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, or intentional acts of violence.

Additionally, there are two types of compensatory damages:

• Economic: Economic damages are losses associated with a set dollar value.
• Non-Economic: Non-economic damages are intangible and do not have a set dollar value.

Some examples of economic and non-economic damages commonly recovered in personal injury lawsuits include:

• Medical expenses, including future care costs
• Lost income, wages, and employment-related benefits
• Loss of expected future earnings or benefits
• Physical and mental pain and suffering
• Loss of earning capacity due to permanent injury or disability
• Costs associated with in-home assistance or medical care
• Mental health services, including counseling or therapy
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation costs
• Lost or reduced enjoyment/quality of life

At Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, we believe that you should be fairly compensated for any and all damages you have sustained as a result of someone else’s negligent or wrongful behavior. Our Delray Beach personal injury lawyers are prepared to fight aggressively for a fair settlement on your behalf and, if necessary, we have the resources and experience to pursue your case at trial.

Florida’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

Like other states, Florida has a statute of limitations or filing deadline on personal injury lawsuits. In most cases, you have just two years from the date of the injury to file your personal injury lawsuit. If more than two years pass, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will be unable to recover compensation for your losses.

Sometimes, an injury isn’t discovered right away. For example, someone who is misdiagnosed may not immediately realize that medical malpractice is the cause of their worsening condition. In such instances, the statute of limitations may be tolled, or deferred, to two years from the date on which the injury was discovered (or could have been discovered). Other exceptions may apply, but it is generally always in your best interests to act quickly after an injury.

We encourage you to reach out to our team at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather right away to learn how we can help you fight for the justice you are owed. Our team can immediately begin investigating your case, putting together evidence on your behalf, and building a powerful, innovative legal strategy based on the specific details of your case. We are committed to maximizing our clients recoveries, and our collaborative approach has allowed us to secure many million- and multimillion-dollar results.