North Miami Beach is a major suburb of Miami. It is surrounded by unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Miami Gardens, Golden Glades, Ojus, and North Miami. Being so close to the Golden Glades Interchange where I-95, the Turnpike, and the Palmetto Expressway meet makes the suburb the “Crossroads of South Florida.” It is an ideal place to live and raise a family. It is also a tourist destination because of its shopping, popular beaches, and an authentic Medieval Spanish monastery, the St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church. Like any busy region, North Miami Beach experiences all types of crimes, from property offenses to violent acts. These crimes can victimize both residents and visitors. If you or a loved one were physically and emotionally harmed during a crime, do not hesitate to call our North Miami Beach crime victim lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (305) 371-6000.
Crime in North Miami BeachThe North Miami Beach Police Department reported a population of 45,437 in 2017, with a total crime index of 2,119 offenses for that year, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Compared to 2016, the total crime index rose 6.6 percent.
In 2017, North Miami Beach experienced:
The FDLE also reported the suburb had a rate of 4,663.6 crimes per 100,000 people. This rate was 4.4 percent higher than the year before. In terms of the crime rates within Miami-Dade County, North Miami Beach is neither on the high or low end. Many cities and suburbs within the county have much higher crime rates. For example, the Miami Beach Police Department reported a crime rate of 9.149.1 offenses per 100,000 people in 2017. Many areas also have lower rates of crime, including Bay Harbor Islands. It’s police force reported a crime rate of 978.4 offenses per 100,000 people in 2017.
If you are a resident of North Miami Beach, it can be comforting to know it does not have an exceptionally high crime rate. However, crime rates are hardly your focus when you or a loved one have been victimized during a violent, sexual, or property crime. If you are hurt, do not hesitate to speak with a crime victim lawyer for North Miami Beach to discuss your legal options. You may have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the offender. Or, if you were injured on a municipality or business’s property due to inadequate security, you may have a claim against the property owner.
Seeking Compensation After Being Injured During a CrimeIf you were harmed during the course of a crime committed by another person, then you may have the right to file a civil personal injury claim against the perpetrator. You may file a personal injury claim when you have evidence that you are injured due to another person’s careless, reckless, or intentionally harmful conduct.
This is a different proceeding than any criminal trial. You may file a personal injury case whether or not the prosecutor charges the offender with a crime. You may file a personal injury claim and obtain compensation whether or not the offender is found guilty. In fact, there are many situations in which an offender may not be charged or convicted, yet you could pursue compensation still. That is because civil cases have a lower burden of proof than criminal trials. A prosecutor must prove that the offender committed a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Your North Miami Beach crime victim attorney only needs to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the offender caused your injuries.
At Gerson and Schwartz P.A., we will utilize a variety of evidence to prove the offender caused your injuries, including:
If we are able to establish that it is more likely than not that the perpetrator caused you harm, then we will ask the jury to award you compensation for your:
Our attorneys at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. have over 50 years of experience, and throughout that time, have been dedicated to helping crime victims obtain the resources they need to move forward in life. Philip M. Gerson is the chair of the board of directors of the National Center for Victims of Crime, and he was the founding board president of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.
Our crime victim attorneys for North Miami Beach want to help you. Give us a call at (877) 475-2905 to discuss how we can assist you and your family.
You may also benefit from contacting the Trauma Resolution Center, National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, or the Office of Victims of Crime in the U.S. Department of Justice.