Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Pursuing Real Justice for Clients in Miami & All of Southeast Florida
People often ask if it is necessary to hire an attorney for an injury case. While this is ultimately a personal decision, it is crucial to get a lawyer if an accident causes injuries that will permanently impact your life. A Miami catastrophic injury lawyer can help answer your questions, take on the legal load, and go after the compensation you need.
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers provides Real Advocacy for clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries through no fault of their own. This includes traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), paralysis, severe burns, loss of limbs, and more. We have obtained Real Results for our clients with more than $1 billion recovered through settlements and at trial.
When you work with our catastrophic injury attorneys, we Keep It Real. This means providing an honest assessment of your claim, an in-depth discussion of your legal options, timely updates on the latest developments in your case, and reliable, compassionate guidance. Our goal is Real Justice: fair compensation for your injuries and losses, plus the dignity and peace of mind to move forward.
Learn how a Miami catastrophic injury lawyer can help if you or someone you love was seriously injured due to the negligence of another. Call Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers at 305-617-1111 or contact us online today for a FREE consultation. We serve clients in Miami-Dade County and other communities in South Florida.
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Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
What To Do After a Catastrophic Injury: Today & In the Coming Weeks
Being involved in any type of accident is overwhelming. The physical pain and emotional upheaval are often made worse by the knowledge that someone else is responsible. Sometimes, the extent of your injuries may only become clear with time.
As with any personal injury claim, there are important steps you need to take for your well-being and legal rights. This includes steps immediately after the accident, as well as in the days and weeks to come.
Immediately After the Injury
- Get Medical Attention Immediately: Injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and internal organs don’t always have obvious symptoms. Prompt medical attention is crucial for diagnosing potentially catastrophic injuries before they become life-threatening.
- Call 911 If Necessary: You may need to be taken to the hospital immediately. Emergency responders can make this determination and transport you safely.
- Document the Scene & Your Injuries: If possible, you should take photos of the scene and any visible injuries you have suffered.
- Collect Witness Information: Ask witnesses for their names, contact info, and an account of what they saw.
- Report the Incident: Depending on the circumstances, you may need to report the accident to the police, a property owner, insurers, etc. This will ensure that there is a record of the incident.
You may also want to speak with an attorney at this point. Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers offers FREE consultations. We will travel to your home or the hospital if you are unable to come to our Miami law office.
In the Coming Weeks
- Focus on Your Recovery: You may need to undergo surgery, continue receiving treatment in the hospital, and begin rehabilitation. Follow your doctors’ orders and keep all appointments.
- Track Medical Expenses: Keep medical bills, prescriptions, and receipts for out-of-pocket costs so you can document the expenses linked to your injury.
- Don’t Return to Work Too Soon: Catastrophic injuries may permanently affect your ability to work or prevent you from returning to your prior employment. Honest conversations with medical providers and your employer are critical.
- Preserve Evidence: Hang onto any physical evidence (such as damaged personal property, the clothes you were wearing, etc.) or electronic evidence (such as pictures on your phone, medical records and reports, etc.) from the accident; it can provide an important starting point for your claim.
- Don’t Speak with Insurance Companies: If the defendant’s insurance company contacts you or tries to offer an early settlement, politely decline to speak with them. Let our attorneys do the talking so you aren’t pressured into a lowball settlement or led to say something that could hurt your claim.
Real Results
- $6,000,000: A distracted driver on a cell phone struck our client while they were walking, causing a severe spinal cord injury. We successfully secured compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care needs, and more.
What Counts as a “Catastrophic Injury”?
Any injury that results in permanent, life-altering effects is generally considered a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries can have drastic effects on your health, your ability to perform daily tasks, your employment, and your overall quality of life. The extensive repercussions make it beneficial to have a Miami catastrophic injury attorney advocating on your behalf.
Examples of catastrophic injuries for which our attorneys can pursue legal action include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Severe TBIs can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, changes in personality, and other permanent effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord may result in partial or complete paralysis, limiting mobility and independence.
- Extensive Burn Injuries: Severe or widespread burn injuries can cause chronic pain, permanent disfigurement, and functional difficulties.
- Loss of Vision or Hearing: Blindness and deafness are serious disabilities that can lead to major limitations for employment and day-to-day living.
- Amputation Injuries: The loss of a limb can cause significant physical limitations, even with prosthetics or adaptive devices.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs or bodily systems can cause chronic health issues and require medical interventions later in life.
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers has the experience, skill, and resources to fight for Real Results. We emphasize trial preparation, enabling us to go up against defendants and insurance companies in court. Often, this is critical for maximizing compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of debilitating injuries.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Miami
A catastrophic injury has many potential causes. Our attorneys have represented clients in numerous cases where negligence or wrongdoing has caused irreparable harm.
There are a number of circumstances where you may be able to bring a catastrophic injury lawsuit. If you were permanently injured as a result of any of the following, we encourage you to reach out to Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers as soon as possible.
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Boating accidents
This is not an exhaustive list. If you or a member of your family has sustained a serious injury with lifelong consequences, our committed catastrophic personal injury attorneys can determine who is at fault and fight to hold them accountable.
How Long Do I Have To File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Starting on March 24, 2023, Florida instituted a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Prior to this date, injury victims had up to 4 years to file a lawsuit.
Catastrophic injuries are costly, and you have a limited amount of time to seek compensation and Real Justice. Our attorneys get started on your case at once, collecting vital evidence before it disappears and filing your claim before the deadline.
How Can Our Miami Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Help?
Dedication to our clients’ well-being is one of the major differences between Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers and other personal injury law firms in Miami. We understand the traumatic physical, mental, and emotional consequences of a serious accident. Our team can connect you with local services to provide support and aid in your recovery.
We believe in communicating with you in the language you understand. That is why we are committed to providing legal services in English and Spanish.
Finally, our lawyers have Real Experience in settlement negotiations and at trial. This helps us prepare a strong case and seek the compensation you deserve. We strive to negotiate settlements, but if the insurer won’t play fair, we never hesitate to take your case to trial and fight for an award that compensates you for the full extent of your losses.
Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Case
Catastrophic injury claims are distinguished by the extent of the damages victims face. It is imperative to calculate not only any medical bills and loss of income to date, but also the expenses for medical care and other losses throughout your lifetime.
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers identifies all costs you can claim. You may be entitled to the following:
- Current & future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- The cost of household services
- Diminished/lost earning capacity
- Medical-related travel expenses
- Home & vehicle modification costs
- Pain & suffering
- Mental & emotional anguish
- Permanent disability
- Scarring & disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
To seek punitive damages, a Miami catastrophic injury lawyer must prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that the defendant engaged in “intentional misconduct or gross negligence.” Claims that meet these requirements are relatively rare, but pursuing punitive damages could provide you with additional money to offset the costs of your injuries.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
Regardless of the circumstances, you will need to prove fault to recover full damages for your injuries. Liability may rest with one or more parties. At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we identify all defendants and pursue legal action against them.
Potential parties in your case may include:
- Negligent drivers, truck drivers & motorcyclists
- Catastrophic injuries almost always meet the serious injury threshold for bringing a fault-based claim after an auto accident.
- Doctors, nurses & healthcare facilities
- Property owners
- Manufacturers & distributors of defective products
- Government entities
- Assailants in a violent crime
Your claim may involve issues of complex liability. Insurers may also try to avoid paying what you deserve by claiming that you are responsible for the accident.
The good news is that you can still make a claim as long as you are less than 50% at fault. Unfortunately, damages are reduced in proportion to your share of legal responsibility. Our Miami catastrophic personal injury attorneys can push back if blame is unjustly placed on you, so your right to recovery is preserved.
Does My Injury Qualify as Catastrophic?
Florida law does not have a universal definition for “catastrophic injury.” This can make it difficult for plaintiffs to know how serious their injury is and the compensation to which they may be entitled. Ultimately, whether an injury qualifies as “catastrophic” often comes down to time, the progress of your recovery, and any lifelong difficulties you will face.
At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we review your medical records with a fine-tooth comb and work closely with medical professionals involved in your care. We also have relationships with leading experts in medicine, economics, and other fields who can help us evaluate the seriousness of your injuries.
Generally speaking, an injury is considered catastrophic if it meets the following criteria:
- Permanent limits on your ability to work
- Loss of independence in day-to-day living
- Ongoing medical care or assistance
- Significant psychological impairment
- Permanent disability, disfigurement, and/or scarring
To prove your injury is catastrophic, it must be fully documented. You should go to a local hospital right after the accident so your injuries can be diagnosed. Subsequent appointments and examinations will reveal the severity and any permanent effects.
Our attorneys can use this information and other evidence to build your case. If you have indeed sustained a life-altering injury, we will seek compensation for every dollar you are owed in damages (now and in the future).
How Bernheim Kelley Builds Your Case
Catastrophic injury claims are not like most personal injury cases. The stakes are extremely high, as the compensation will need to cover both your current costs and the losses you may encounter in the years ahead. Defendants and insurance companies recognize the financial ramifications should the case succeed, so they are likely to fight back hard.
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers takes a determined, steadfast approach to every injury claim. This consists of key steps such as:
- Complete Investigation: We collect incident reports, photographs, surveillance camera footage, and witness statements to establish the sequence of events and prove fault.
- Documentation of Damages: Our lawyers fully assess your losses. This often goes beyond medical bills and lost wages to include out-of-pocket expenses and intangible damages such as physical pain, emotional distress, etc.
- Consulting Experts: Expert witness testimony is generally a necessity in catastrophic injury claims to prove that the victim’s injuries are permanent and they are entitled to appropriate compensation.
- Settlement Negotiations: The vast majority of personal injury claims are settled without going to trial, even when catastrophic injuries are involved. Our lawyers communicate with insurers on your behalf and try to negotiate the best possible settlement.
- Going to Trial: Trial preparation is part of our process from day one. If it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit and go to court, we’ll be ready to argue for the full award you are due.
When you suffer a permanent or life-changing injury due to another’s negligence or deliberate wrongdoing, your future often depends on the strength of your case and the quality of legal representation. Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers has decades of experience representing seriously injured people. We know the tactics insurance companies use to try to defend against these claims. Our meticulous preparation enables us to fight for Real Justice, whether at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.
– you are in good hands!
Real Stories Need Real Advocacy & Real Results
At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we believe Keeping It Real means more than just pursuing a claim to a favorable conclusion. Clients with catastrophic injuries need guidance and support. That is why we take the time to listen to your story, provide personalized assistance, and account for every dollar in damages so you can get the compensation you need and deserve.
When you hire a Miami catastrophic injury attorney at our firm, you get more than legal representation. You gain an ally and Real Advocate committed to championing your cause.
Contact Our Miami Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Now To Schedule Your FREE Case Review
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers proudly serves clients in Hialeah, Miami Beach, Homestead, Coral Gables, and all of Miami-Dade County. We have Real Experience fighting for critically injured people who have been harmed in a wide variety of incidents.
For a FREE consultation, call 305-617-1111 or contact our Miami catastrophic injury lawyers online. You don’t have to pay anything upfront, and you’re only responsible for fees if we settle your case or win at trial.