Florida Brain Injury Lawyer
Representing clients throughout the United States and the World
There are a great many differences between handling a catastrophic brain injury case and any other type of serious injury claim. The keys to success include the claimant's attorney having a successful track record in brain injury cases of which the defense is clearly aware.
At the Law Offices of John W. Merting, P.A., we are dedicated to seeking justice on behalf of brain injury victims. Our practice includes zealous representation for clients with all types of brain trauma, including:
Toll-Free: 877-912-4100
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The Resources Needed For Success
Having an established panel of medical specialists upon whom we can call for not only treatment options, advice, referrals, but also for expert medical testimony is critical. Our handling of previous cases in various parts of the country, as well as our long-term service as Chairman of the local Bar's Inter-Professional Relations Committee of physicians and attorneys, has given us credibility and access to well known neurosurgeons, neurologists, both pediatric and adult, physiatrists, and other medical specialists who deal extensively with brain injured patients.
We also have well established working relationships with certified life care planners and economists with specialized knowledge in the area of brain injured clients. We have extensive experience and have written and lectured to other attorneys on the subjects of both settlement trusts and special needs trusts, which are absolutely necessary or strongly indicated in many brain injury cases in order to maximize investment income for the injured plaintiff and his or her family, and also to ensure the injured claimant will continue to be qualified to receive the multitude of state and federal financial and healthcare benefits available in these types of cases.
We also have access to experienced financial advisors who have placed hundreds of millions of dollars from catastrophic injury cases with professionally managed trust companies at extraordinarily favorable rates of return. These companies utilize professional trustees whose loyalty is solely to the injured plaintiff and his family, rather than to an insurance company, and offer a tremendous degree of flexibility which is totally lacking in structured settlements or annuities preferred by defense interests. We have written and lectured on these subjects, both regionally and nationally, about the potentially catastrophic results from utilizing a defense provided annuity as the primary settlement component.
Through our involvement in the representation of previous brain injured clients, we have developed a substantial body of materials and knowledge with regard to a number of prominent medical facilities which offer specialized programs for brain injured individuals, including the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in Houston, Texas, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Scottish Rite in Atlanta, Middleboro Skilled Care Center in Middleboro, Massachusetts, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and Radius Healthcare in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Finally, as an invited member of the Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys, an exclusive professional organization composed of less than 300 plaintiff's attorneys nationwide who specialize in brain injury and other catastrophic injury cases, we have, through a dedicated and confidential listserve, the ability to network among these other nationally known plaintiff's attorneys. This allows us to "brainstorm" on cutting edge issues, and to obtain background information and prior deposition testimony on prospective expert witnesses, both plaintiff and defendant.
Membership in the Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys is strictly limited to those who, at a minimum, have:
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Conducted an active plaintiff's litigation practice for at least 10 years (Mr. Merting has conducted such a practice for 38 years!).
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Tried a minimum of 25 jury and/or non-jury trials, arbitrations or mediations (Mr. Merting has conducted hundreds!).
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Be regarded by peers as among the most ethical and accomplished trial lawyers as evidenced in part by his AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell® and Board Certification, and named as a Florida Super Lawyer 2006 (1 of only 4 plaintiff's maritime attorneys so named out of more than 78,000 Florida lawyers).
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Written and lectured extensively in his fields before regional and national trial lawyer organizations.
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Must have litigated for clients in at least 10 separate cases in which the client suffered a catastrophic injury such as death, brain injury, paraplegia, quadriplegia, blindness, amputation or total disability (Mr. Merting has litigated scores of such cases).
Information for People Injured In Maritime Situations
Someone injured in a maritime situation should refrain from giving a tape recorded or written statement until they have been advised of their rights by an experienced and qualified maritime attorney such as Mr. Merting. Employers and their insurers usually seek to obtain statements before such consultations can occur. These representatives frequently work from prepared scripts and obtain information that can be extremely detrimental to the injured party's chances of obtaining a fair financial recovery.
Seamen injured in the course of their employment should immediately report the incident to their superiors, seek medical aid, and be extremely careful about completing or signing any incident reports and medical treatment forms if the description of the incident is not completely accurate.
Seek Legal Advice Now
All injured parties and their families are advised that most maritime claims have a 3-year statute of limitations - a formal lawsuit must be actually filed in the proper court or your claim will be forever barred! However, some wrongful death claims and some claims against U.S. Government ships or private ships under contract to the U.S. Government or military can have limitations as short as 18 months. Cruise ships usually require written notice of claims within 6 months and suit within 1 year in a specifically designed Court - frequently far from the port of embarkation.
Therefore, no one with a potential claim should delay consulting with an attorney knowledgeable in maritime law. Otherwise, your claim, no matter how serious, may be lost forever.
Contact Florida brain injury attorney John W. Merting today to schedule a free consultation . Mr. Merting represents clients throughout the nation and the world, including the entire Gulf Coast region.
Law Offices of John W. Merting, P.A.
Gulf Coast Brain Injury Attorney - Florida Maritime Brain Injury Lawyer
Gulf Breeze, FL
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Florida maritime brain injury lawyer John W. Merting represents clients nationwide and throughout the world who have been injured at sea. Our Pensacola area law firm serves mariners throughout the Gulf Coast in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and up the Mississippi River.
