West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorneys

Fighting Tirelessly for the Rights of the Injured

At Smith, Ball & Báez, we represent individuals and families throughout Palm Beach County and the surrounding areas who have been affected by the negligent and wrongful conduct of others. Our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers have decades of combined experience and have successfully secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for their clients.

We frequently represent clients in cases involving:

• Boat accidents
• Car accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Motorcycle accidents
• Premises liability
• Product liability
• Truck accidents
• Wrongful death

We dedicate our entire practice to personal injury law. This singular focus allows us to devote all of our time and resources to helping victims of negligence fight for the justice they deserve.

Our firm is proud to offer highly personalized and compassionate legal representation, coupled with an aggressive approach to litigation. We are always ready and willing to try cases, and we have the real trial experience to effectively advocate for our clients in the courtroom.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Florida?

According to the Florida Statutes section 95.11(3)(a), the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Florida is four years. The statute of limitations is a law which limits how long injury victims have to file a personal injury claim before they lose their legal right to file.

Losing your right to file a claim also means losing your right to pursue compensation so it’s important to ensure you are filing within the allotted time period. For most cases, injury victims have two years from the date their injury occurred to file however, there are exceptions that can change this time limit.

To learn more about the specific limitations you have for your case, speak to a skilled attorney from our firm during a free, no-obligation consultation. Smith, Ball & Báez are here to help you, so you have nothing to lose by contacting our firm today!

Contact us online or call (561) 500-HELP to request a free, no-obligation consultation.

What to Do After a Serious Accident or Injury

Experiencing a traumatic accident or catastrophic injury is overwhelming. In the immediate aftermath of an injury-causing event, you may feel unsure of what to do next or how to protect yourself, your rights, and your recovery.

Below, we’ve put together information on what to do after a serious accident or injury, including how you can safeguard your right to financial compensation. Continue reading to learn more, or contact our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers to discuss the specifics of your case during a free initial consultation and case review.

Seek Medical Attention

The first thing you should always do after any accident or injury, regardless of how severe, is seek medical attention. The shock of the accident can mask your injuries, meaning you may not realize how severe they really are right away. Whether you have obvious injuries or underlying trauma, it is always important that you are checked out by a doctor or medical professional.

If necessary, call 911. Do not move anyone (including yourself) who appears to be severely injured unless it is absolutely necessary. In most cases, you should wait for paramedics to arrive. If you do not require emergency medical care, you should go to the hospital or see a doctor if you experience any injuries after an accident or traumatic event.

Report the Incident to the Appropriate Authorities

It is also important that you report the incident to the proper authorities right away.

Depending on the circumstances, this might include:

• Calling the Police: If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, you should call the police if anyone was injured or if there is significant property damage. Have them come out to the scene of the accident and file an official police report.
• Reporting an Accident to Your Insurance Provider: You should also inform your insurance company if you were involved in an auto accident. Depending on your policy, you may be required to report the crash within a few days but typically no later than a week or two.
• Notifying Your Employer: If you were injured at work or while carrying out job-related activities, you should inform your employer in writing of your injuries as soon as possible but no more than 30 days after the date of injury.
• Informing a Property Owner or Manager: If you were injured on someone else’s property, you should file an official accident report with the property owner and/or manager. It may also be appropriate to contact local law enforcement and file a police report.
• Filing a Report with Administrative Staff: Victims of hospital negligence, medical malpractice, or nursing home abuse may wish to file a report with administrative staff. We recommend that you speak to an attorney before discussing specific details of the incident.

If you are unsure how to report an accident, injury, or act of negligence, reach out to our team at Smith, Ball & Báez for the personalized guidance you need.

How We Can You Preserve Evidence

Regardless of the type of injury or incident you have experienced, it is important that you obtain and preserve any and all evidence you can. This includes:

• Pictures of your injuries and/or the accident scene
• The name(s) and contact information of the other party/parties involved
• Witness statements
• Medical records
• Copies of police reports
• The clothing you were wearing at the time (if relevant)

The more evidence you have, the stronger your case may be. We encourage you to provide all applicable evidence you have to your legal counsel. Your attorney will be able to use this information to develop a powerful case on your behalf. For more information, contact our firm today.

Avoid Discussing the Incident with Anyone (Other Than Your Attorney)

If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, injured on someone else’s property, or otherwise harmed by the negligent or wrongful conduct of another, you should refrain from discussing the details of the accident with friends, family, coworkers, or anyone else who is not your attorney.

Never post about the incident on social media, as anything you say can be used against you by the insurance company to dispute or devalue your claim. You should also avoid posting pictures of yourself engaging in activities that could be construed as counterevidence to your claim.

For example, someone who claims to have suffered a back injury in a car accident but posts a picture of him or herself on a hike on Facebook will likely experience significant resistance from the insurance company.

You should also never talk to the other person’s insurance company about the accident without first speaking to an attorney. Likewise, you should not make any official statement or sign anything provided by the other insurance company until you have consulted with an attorney.

Insurance companies often try to get claimants to agree to lower settlements to avoid having to pay out the full amount they are owed. While it may be tempting to accept a settlement simply to move on, this can end up seriously hurting you in the long run.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

One of the best things you can do after an accident or injury is to reach out to an attorney with experience in personal injury law. Although many people are understandably concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer, personal injury attorneys provide their services on a contingency fee basis.

This means that you do not owe anything upfront or pay any out-of-pocket litigation expenses. Instead, your attorney only collects fees if/when they win your case, at which point, their fees are paid via a percentage of your total recovery.

When you contact Smith, Ball & Báez, you don’t just get one attorney working on your case; you get an entire team of compassionate, experienced, and dedicated legal professionals fighting for you and your recovery. Our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way, providing answers to your questions and offering personalized counsel tailored to your unique situation.

Reach out to us today at (561) 500-HELP to learn how we can help you get back on your feet and move forward with your life.