Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Pompano Beach
Many Pompano Beach residents turn to Osborne & Francis after being injured because someone didn't act responsibly. In legal terms, that's negligence—failing to use the care a reasonable person would in the same situation.
Our firm handles cases involving:
Vehicle Accidents
Negligence behind the wheel can lead to serious crashes involving cars, motorcycles, or trucks. On Pompano Beach roads such as Atlantic Boulevard, Dixie Highway, and I-95, these violations are common:
- Driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Distracted driving: Texting, talking on the phone, or doing anything that takes attention off the road.
- Speeding: Driving faster than the posted limit or too fast for conditions.
- Running red lights or stop signs: Ignoring traffic signals or signs.
- Failure to yield: Not giving the right-of-way when required.
- Tailgating: Following another vehicle too closely.
Premises Liability
Property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they ignore known hazards and injuries occur, they may be held negligent.
Across Pompano Beach, from shopping centers on Federal Highway to apartment complexes near the beach, we often see:
- Slip and falls: A store owner fails to clean up a spill or put up a warning sign, and a customer slips and gets hurt.
- Inadequate maintenance: A landlord neglects to fix a broken staircase or ensure adequate lighting in a common area, causing a tenant to fall.
- Negligent security: A person is harmed in a parking lot or apartment building that lacks proper lighting or security measures.
- Dog bites: A property owner fails to secure a dog with a known history of aggression, and it attacks someone.
Medical Malpractice
Healthcare providers owe patients a higher duty of care. When a doctor, nurse, or other professional fails to meet accepted medical standards, their actions may amount to negligence.
Examples include:
- Misdiagnosis: Failing to diagnose a patient's condition correctly.
- Surgical errors: Performing the wrong procedure, operating on the wrong body part, or leaving a foreign object inside a patient.
- Medication errors: Prescribing the wrong medication or incorrect dosage.
- Birth injuries: Failure to respond to clear risks during prenatal care or delivery, causing harm to the mother or baby.
Product Liability
Manufacturers must ensure their products are safe for consumers. When a defective or dangerous product causes harm, the company can be held liable.
In Pompano Beach, we've seen injuries linked to products such as household appliances, e-bikes, and vehicle parts caused by:
- Defective design: A poorly engineered brake system on a bicycle or an unstable piece of furniture creates a risk of injury.
- Failure to warn: A manufacturer sells a product without clear safety instructions or warnings about hazards such as choking, fire, or shock.
One Client's Experience After an Accident
The same kinds of accidents described above—car crashes, unsafe properties, medical errors, and defective products—bring people to Osborne & Francis.
Our Pompano Beach personal injury lawyers guide clients through the claims process, answer questions directly, and make sure they know what to expect at each stage.
Erica F. shared her experience after a serious car accident:
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident, and Osborne & Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
After an Accident: Avoid Recorded Statements to Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters often contact injury victims within hours of a crash, asking for a recorded statement about what happened.
It might seem like a routine step, but it's rarely in your best interest.
Why These Calls Are Risky
Adjusters are trained to phrase questions in ways that limit your claim. Even casual remarks like "I'm doing okay" can be used later to suggest your injuries weren't serious.
Injuries Aren't Always Obvious
Adrenaline, shock, and delayed symptoms can hide pain in the hours and days after an accident. If you describe your injuries too early, the insurance company may point to that statement when you seek compensation for medical treatment.
Talk to Your Lawyer First
You're not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. If your own policy requires cooperation, you can still ask to have your attorney on the call.
Keep any response brief until you've received legal guidance. You might say:
"I'm not ready to answer questions right now."
"Please speak with my lawyer."
"I'll provide information after consulting with legal counsel."
Those simple replies help prevent the insurer from using your words against you later or limiting your recovery.
Already spoke with the insurance company? Concerned your statement could hurt your claim? Call (561) 293-2600 or contact us online to speak with one of our Pompano Beach personal injury lawyers who can protect your case moving forward.
How Personal Injury Claims Work in Pompano Beach
When you are injured in an accident in Pompano Beach, you have the right to pursue compensation when someone else's negligence caused you harm.
Here's how that process works and the Florida laws that affect your claim.
Establishing Negligence
First, to pursue compensation, your claim must establish that another person or company had a duty to act safely, failed to meet that duty, and caused your injury.
Consider a scenario where a driver runs a red light and collides with your car. The driver had a duty to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicle safely. By ignoring that duty, they caused a crash that left you with whiplash and totaled your vehicle.
The same elements apply across all types of injury cases. A store owner has a duty to keep aisles free from spills. A landlord has a duty to maintain reasonably safe stairways. When those duties are ignored and someone gets hurt, the injured person may be entitled to recover damages.
Determining Compensation
Compensation is the law's way of addressing what an injury has taken from you. It includes economic damages, which cover the financial costs of your accident, and noneconomic damages, which recognize the personal toll an injury can have on your life.
Economic damages are the expenses you can document, like hospital bills, lost income, property repairs, and the cost of ongoing medical care.
Noneconomic damages account for the parts of an injury that don't appear on receipts, such as physical pain, loss of mobility, sleepless nights, anxiety, or being unable to do things you once enjoyed with family or friends.
In rare but serious cases, the court may award you punitive damages. These are not tied to your direct losses but are meant to punish the at-fault party when their behavior shows a reckless disregard for others' safety.
For example, punitive damages may apply if a drunk driver sped through the intersection at Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway, hit your car, and left you with lasting injuries such as a spinal fracture or traumatic brain injury.
If You Share Fault
Sometimes, more than one party contributes to an accident. Florida's comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible.
For instance, if you were looking at your phone while walking through a grocery store and slipped on an unmarked wet floor, both you and the store may share blame. If you were found 20 percent at fault and your damages totaled $100,000, you could still recover $80,000.
Filing Deadlines in Pompano Beach
Once you understand how fault and compensation are determined, timing becomes an important part of protecting your rights.
Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury date or, in wrongful death cases, from the date of death. The same goes for medical malpractice claims, though in certain situations, such as when an injury isn't discovered immediately, the two-year deadline may be extended.
Because the statute of limitations can differ based on the circumstances of your claim, speaking with a Pompano Beach personal injury attorney soon after your accident is essential. Your lawyer can review your case, identify whether an exception applies, and ensure no filing deadlines are missed.
What Sets Osborne & Francis Apart
Knowing how personal injury claims work is one thing. Getting the Pompano Beach personal injury settlement amount you deserve is another. That's where experienced legal representation becomes critical.
Accident victims who hire a personal injury attorney receive settlements that are, on average, three times higher than those who handle claims alone, according to a nationwide Martindale-Nolo survey.
At Osborne & Francis, our results reflect this advantage—we've recovered billions of dollars for clients, including:
$8 Million Negligent Security Settlement
We represented the family of a teenage girl who was shot while visiting friends at an apartment complex with a known history of violence. Despite repeated safety concerns, management failed to implement proper security measures.
We held the property owner accountable and fought for a result that acknowledged the tragedy this family endured.
$900,000 Slip and Fall Settlement
Our client suffered a serious knee injury after slipping in a recently mopped restroom with no warning signs. The injury required surgery, months of physical therapy, and left ongoing limitations.
We demonstrated the property owner's failure to maintain a safe environment and secured the compensation our client needed to recover.
"Pompano Beach is home to many of our clients. When someone is hurt here, it affects their work, family, and daily life. We step in to build a case that reflects what they've lost and what they need to move forward."
— Gregory A. Francis, Osborne & Francis
What to Do After an Injury in Pompano Beach
People contact Osborne & Francis at all stages. Some reach out right after an accident. Others do so later, when an injury worsens or its cause becomes clearer.
Whenever you decide to move forward, these steps can help protect your health and your right to pursue compensation:
☐ Seek Medical Care
If you haven't already been evaluated, see a doctor. Hidden injuries like concussions, internal bleeding, or fractures can worsen without treatment. If you're experiencing new or unexplained symptoms linked to an earlier event, get those checked too. Medical records help show when your condition began and what caused it.
☐ Gather Any Documentation You Have
Collect photos, medical records, repair estimates, police reports, incident reports, or insurance correspondence. If you took pictures or kept paperwork from when the injury occurred, locate those now. Even partial records can help your attorney understand what happened.
☐ Write Down What You Remember
Record details while they're still available to you, like where the incident took place, who was involved, what you noticed, and what was said. If time has passed, write down what stands out most clearly. Your attorney will use your notes to connect your recollection with other evidence.
☐ Locate Contact Information
If possible, find names, phone numbers, and insurance details for anyone involved, including witnesses, property owners, or medical providers. This helps your attorney gather statements and request records.
☐ Limit Conversations About Your Injury
Insurance adjusters may contact you. Keep responses brief and avoid detailed explanations. Don't post about your injury or case on social media. Once you hire an attorney, direct all inquiries to them.
☐ Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Pompano Beach
The sooner we can review your situation, the better we can protect your claim. Even if time has passed, reaching out now allows us to determine what evidence remains and what deadlines may still apply.
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