If you or a loved one have been injured by the action or inaction of a negligent third party, then you know how devastating the aftermath can be. Life after a serious accident can look like dealing with mounting bills, medical treatments, injuries, and time off of work, which can all cause you undue amounts of stress. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury because of another’s careless or reckless actions, let GOLDLAW help you hold them accountable.
The team at GOLDLAW Port St. Lucie has over 200 years of combined legal experience and is ready to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.
Why Choose GOLDLAW for Your Injury Claim?
After sustaining a severe injury in Port St. Lucie, you need competent legal assistance to help you recover compensation. GOLDLAW is here to help.
- Our team has years of experience handling complex injury claims throughout the state of Florida.
- We focus on putting the client first at all times, which means injury victims will always have access to their Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney to voice their concerns and ask questions.
- If you cannot make it to our offices due to your injuries, we will come to you at the hospital, in a rehabilitation center, or at your home.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Port St. Lucie, call 561-222-2222
Notable Case Results
- $6.5 million | Tow Truck Driver Killed By Semi-Truck
- $2 million | Young Child Dies of Undiagnosed Illness
- $1.365 million | Man Struck While on Motorcycle
- $960,000 | Woman Falls in Big Box Store
Read more about our case results here.
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Client Testimonial: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“My wife and I are thankful to God for this attorney’s office. My wife had an accident in 2019, and they took very good care of her. We’re very satisfied with the attention we had. Our attorney Marc Bebergal and his team, worked in a very human and professional manner to resolve our case. We highly recommend this office.”
PR. VALDEMIR B.
Call or text 561-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Meet Founder Craig M. Goldenfarb, Esq.
Craig M. Goldenfarb, Esq. founded GOLDLAW in 2002 and has led his team to much success over the last 22 years. Goldenfarb oversees the daily operations of the law firm and works with pre-suit and litigation matters including critical and significant loss cases. Goldenfarb has secured millions for his clients, making him a member of the esteemed Million Dollar Advocates Forum. His accomplishments have also been recognized by his peers, as they have rated him an “AV Preeminent” – the highest level a legal professional can be awarded on Martindale Hubbell. Outside of his legal practice, Goldenfarb is very active in his community. He is the founder of a number of charities including the Emanuel McMiller Scholarship for Higher Education, Heart of the Game, and Hoops4Heroes, and also founded the highly respected 7 Figure Attorney Summit.
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Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Resources
- How do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case?
- Common Causes of Personal Injury in Port St. Lucie
- Common Injuries Caused in Personal Injury Case
- When Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?
- Florida Personal Injury Laws and Damage Recovery
- How Will a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Attorney Help Your Case?
- Steps to Take After Suffering an Injury
- Changes to Comparative Negligence Laws
- What Damages Are Available in Personal Injury Cases?
- How Much Will a Personal Injury Attorney Cost Me?
- Contact GOLDLAW For a Free Consultation
How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case?
In Florida, a personal injury is caused when the at-fault party causes you harm by acting negligently, which is when one acts carelessly and recklessly. To prove the at-fault party was acting negligently, you must work with your personal injury lawyer to prove the following elements:
- Duty of Care
The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care. For example, a driver must obey the rules of the road, such as stopping at a red light. - Breach of Duty
The at-fault party breached their legal duty of care. For example, a driver failed to stop at a red light because they were texting and driving. - Causation
The at-fault party’s breach of their legal duty caused your accident. For example, a driver failed to stop at a red light, and as a result, crashed into your car in the middle of an intersection. - Damages
The accident caused your injuries and financial damages. For example, a driver failed to stop at a red light, and as a result, they crashed into your car in the intersection, totaling your car and causing you to break several bones and suffer a concussion.
Common Causes of Personal Injury Claims in Port St. Lucie
Personal injuries can be caused by a variety of accidents. GOLDLAW is experienced in defending clients injured in:
- Auto accidents (car, truck, and motorcycle)
- Slip and fall accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- And more
Common Injuries Caused in Personal Injury Accidents
As a result of an accident you or a loved one may suffer from the following injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Fractured or broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Wrongful death
- And other traumatic or debilitating injuries
In addition to physical injuries arising as a result of an incident, it is crucial to understand how the injuries and the aftermath affects individuals at the emotional and psychological level. A severe injury and the recovery or disability could lead to an individual experiencing feelings of fear, anxiety, stress, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Even though these injuries may not be as visible as traumatic injuries, individuals could still experience debilitating symptoms that prevent them from carrying out their day-to-day activities or going to work.
When Should I File My Personal Injury Claim?
The government of the state of Florida recently passed a law, which was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, that reformed state tort laws. One of the major changes associated with the tort reform bill revolves around the statute of limitations for personal injury claims. In Florida, the personal injury statute of limitations used to be four years from the date an incident occurred, but now it is only two years. This means that any injury victim that fails to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent party within a two-year time frame will likely become unable to recover any compensation at all.
If you have any questions about the personal injury statute of limitations, or any deadlines associated with insurance carriers involved in the case, we encourage you to ask your personal injury attorney in Port St. Lucie as soon as possible.
Florida Laws Allow for Compensation due to Personal Injuries
When you are injured due to someone else’s negligence and file a personal injury claim, the main goal is to obtain compensation to cover the expenses incurred due to the injuries from the accident. Most personal injury cases result in significant financial and physical losses. This is where GOLDLAW can help you hold the at-fault party accountable so that you don’t have to cover the damages they caused you.
Types of Damages Available
There are three different types of damages you can recover in personal injury cases: economic, non-economic, and in rare cases, punitive.
Economic damages cover losses with a clear monetary value. Things like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage are all examples of economic damages.
Non-economic damages cover losses that are more subjective. These losses do not have a clear monetary value but are subjectively valuable. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded. They are used as a punishment to the defendant, rather than to help the plaintiff. Punitive damages are only awarded in cases where the defendant is determined to have acted intentionally or with gross negligence and are intended to deter others from acting in a similar manner. For example, if a person caused an accident because they were drinking and driving, they may be eligible for punitive damages.
It is important to note that Florida law has placed a cap on the amount of punitive damages available. Florida law states that, in general, punitive damages cannot exceed more than three times the amount of the compensatory damages awarded, or $500,000, whichever value is greater.
What is My Personal Injury Claim Worth in Port St. Lucie?
Every case is different, and the amount of damages available to you depends on the details of your accident, the evidence available, and the extent of the injuries you suffered.
However, it is important to note that Florida is a comparative negligence state. This means that the damages you are awarded may be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example: if you are in an accident and your damages are found to be $10,000, but you are found 40% at fault in an accident, you can still collect 60%, or $6,000, of the damages awarded. Even if you are found to be 60% at fault, you may still collect 40% of the damages awarded.
How Will an Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer Help Your Claim?
A skilled Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer will play a valuable role when it comes to recovering the compensation you need after an incident occurs. First, a personal injury lawyer in Port St. Lucie will create a buffer between you and the other parties involved. Individuals who sustain injuries need to limit their conversations with insurance carriers and at-fault parties in order to ensure they do not say anything that could jeopardize their claim.
A Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney will be able to use their resources to conduct a complete investigation into the incident. Depending on the severity of the incident and the type of incident, an investigation could be complex and require assistance from outside reconstruction experts. Investigations can take time, so having a personal injury attorney handle this part of the process is important.
Your Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney will also handle all communication with other parties involved, including negotiations with the insurance companies. Your Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer will send a demand letter to the insurance carrier, examine any offers made, and handle all negotiations required. In the event the at-fault party or insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, a personal injury attorney can file a civil personal injury lawsuit on behalf of their client and move the case toward a jury trial.
Steps to Take After an Injury Occurs
There are various steps individuals should take after they sustain an injury caused by the negligence of another individual or entity. As we go through these steps, please understand that it may not be possible to follow all of these steps in this exact order, but we encourage you to reach out to a Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney to determine whether or not you have taken the steps needed to preserve your claim.
- Seek medical care. It is critical treatment soon after sustaining an injury, regardless of the severity. Sometimes, injury symptoms do not appear until hours or even days after the incident, and any delay in treatment will not only harm a person’s well-being, but it could jeopardize a claim. Insurance carriers and at-fault parties will look at a delay in treatment and try to say that the injury is not as severe as originally stated.
- Report the incident. Depending on the type of incident, there may be various individuals that need to receive a report about the incident. For example, if a slip and fall injury occurs, the property owner should be notified so they can begin the official reporting process. For a vehicle accident claim, the incident should be reported to law enforcement officials so they can conduct an investigation.
- Gather evidence. Gathering evidence after an injury occurs is important when it comes to determining liability. Individuals may or may not be able to gather evidence right after the initial injury, but some of the most common types of evidence include photographs taken at the scene, video surveillance captured on nearby cameras, and eyewitness contact information. If you work with a personal injury attorney for your injury claim, they will likely take some time to further investigate the claim and gather additional evidence.
- Report to the insurance carrier. There may or may not be an insurance carrier involved in your injury claim. Chances are, some type of insurance claim will occur, and individuals need to report the incident to the insurance carrier promptly. An initial report with the insurance carrier does not have to be in much detail, but they should at least know about the incident so they can begin the claims process.
- Call an Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney. We encourage you to speak to a skilled Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so they can get to work on your claim. You need to focus on recovering from your injuries and continuing medical treatment, not the ins and outs of an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
- Continue medical treatment. It would be a major mistake to discontinue medical treatment before a doctor recommends doing so. Discontinuing care against the advice of a medical professional well a person is in the middle of an injury claim could jeopardize the total compensation payout.
Changes to Comparative Negligence Laws
Another major change associated with the tort reform bill recently passed in Florida has to do with comparative negligence laws in this state. If a person sustains an injury caused by the negligent actions of another individual, they should be able to recover compensation. However, if an individual is partially at fault for causing their own injuries, they may still be able to recover compensation.
Previously, Florida used a pure comparative negligence system, which meant individuals could recover compensation even if they were up to 99% at fault for the incident. However, that is no longer the case. Under the new tort reform law, individuals who are 50% or more responsible for causing their own injuries will not be able to recover compensation at all.
Individuals who are less than 50% responsible for causing their own injuries can still recover compensation, but the total amount they receive will be reduced depending on their percentage of fault for the incident.
Car accident claims are still handled on a no-fault basis, which means individuals will first turn to their own insurance carrier to recover compensation unless certain dollar or injury thresholds prescribed by state law have been met.
How Much Does a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
At GOLDLAW, we handle personal injury claims in Port St. Lucie on a contingency fee basis. This means clients do not have to worry about paying any upfront or ongoing costs related to their case. In fact, clients will not pay any legal fees until after we successfully recover the compensation they are entitled to. In the event our team does not secure compensation, an injury victim will not have to pay legal fees at all. Total legal fees will be an agreed-upon percentage of the final injury settlement or jury verdict.
Contact GOLDLAW Today For a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one have been injured due to another party’s negligent actions in Port St. Lucie, let the team at GOLDLAW help you hold them accountable. We have over 200 years of combined experience in personal injury and can provide you with the compassion and guidance you need during this time. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation.
