Criminal, Traffic, and Personal Injury Attorneys

Criminal Defense

Our firm represents clients facing charges of misdemeanors and felonies. The charges that we handle include assault and battery, drug crimes, criminal mischief, burglary, weapons charges, domestic violence, criminal mischief, robbery, probation violations, theft crimes, trespass, and DUI and BUI. All crimes need to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a demanding standard. In most cases, however, charges are not brought until a prosecutor has a significant amount of evidence, so it is important to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as you realize that you are suspected of having committed a crime. The earlier that we get involved, the more likely it is that we can mount a strong defense.

DUI and BUI

DUI and BUI are crimes associated with operating either a motor vehicle or a boat while under the influence of alcohol. In Florida, you can get a DUI for driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence or with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater. After you are arrested, you will be asked to submit to a Breathalyzer test. If you refuse, your driving privilege can be suspended for six months. Our criminal attorneys can help Palm Beach County residents develop defenses to charges of alcohol-related offenses. This might involve challenging the basis for the stop or the way in which law enforcement conducted testing.

Traffic Crimes

Traffic crimes include DUIs, knowingly driving while your license is suspended, registration and license offenses, leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, and racing on the highway. What must be shown depends on the specific crime charged. A first-time charge of knowingly driving while your license is suspended is a second-degree misdemeanor, while a third offense can be charged as a felony.

Drug Crimes

Florida is a common location for drug trafficking, and its drug laws are especially harsh. Drug crimes can include possessing, possessing with intent to distribute, selling, manufacturing, and trafficking controlled substances. Controlled substances include fentanyl, GHB, heroin, cocaine, hydrocodone, marijuana, MDMA, meth, synthetic drugs, oxycodone, Xanax, and more. There are various sentencing alternatives available to people convicted of drug possession. However, if you are charged with drug trafficking and convicted, a mandatory minimum sentence must be imposed. This makes it especially critical to consult a Palm Beach County criminal attorney promptly so that they can raise any applicable defenses.

Violent Crimes

Violent crimes are offenses involving the use of force. They cover a range of crimes, including rape, sexual assault, assault, aggravated assault, murder, and robbery. Each of these crimes is defined by statute. For example, assault occurs when there is an intentional threat or use of force against someone else, but actual contact does not need to occur. Sometimes violence is the purpose of the crime. However, in other cases, the violence is the method by which another crime is accomplished, such as when somebody is burglarizing a house, is surprised, and shoots the person who surprised him.

Theft Crimes

Theft occurs when someone knowingly obtains or uses or tries to obtain or use the property of another party with the intent to take away their right to the property or to benefit from the property. Theft includes larceny, conversion, and misappropriation. A Florida prosecutor will need to establish the defendant’s specific intent to use or take property belonging to someone else. A criminal lawyer in Palm Beach County may be able to argue that the evidence does not support intent. There are various degrees of both petit theft and grand theft, with grand theft being more serious. The level of the charge depends on the property’s value.

Traffic Infractions

Traffic infractions include speeding, stop sign and traffic signal violations, following too closely, failing to yield, and improper turns. These infractions can result in points being assessed against your license. The number of points is determined by the violation, and most moving violations are worth three points. If you accumulate too many points within a certain time, your license will be suspended for 30 days, 90 days, or one year.

Speeding

There are three statutes that govern speeding. These are Florida Statutes sections 316.189, 316.187, and 316.183. Police officers may determine the speed at which you are traveling by using multiple different devices. Points are assessed for speeding tickets based on the degree of deviation from the speed limit. If you were traveling up to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit, you can have three points assessed against your driver’s license. If you get a speeding ticket after you drove at least 16 miles per hour over the speed limit, you can have four points assessed against your driver’s license. Speeding tickets that are at least 30 miles per hour over the speed limit are heard by a judge, rather than a hearing officer.

Driver’s License Suspensions

Driver’s license suspensions may come with many different offenses. If you are convicted of misdemeanor or felony drug possession, your driver’s license will be revoked for two years, for example. You can face revocation even if you are charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. We may be able to help you clear the suspension and get your license reinstated. The reason for your license suspension will dictate the best way to remedy the situation. If your license has been suspended because you failed to pay a ticket or satisfy certain court-mandated requirements, you may be able to clear the suspension by paying a fine, performing the original requirement, or filling out a D-6 court clearance form.

Personal Injury

In addition to serving as Palm Beach County criminal lawyers and helping clients fight traffic tickets, we represent accident victims in many kinds of personal injury lawsuits. Most personal injury lawsuits are pursued under a theory of negligence. This means that you will need to show that it is more likely than not that the defendant owed you a duty of care, the defendant breached the duty of care, and the breach caused your injuries. We handle personal injury lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid unless we recover compensation for you.

Car Accidents

Car accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and substantial costs. A victim of a crash should consider pursuing damages for their economic and non-economic harm. Examples of economic damages include lost income, medical bills, and property damage. Non-economic damages often relate to the victim’s pain and suffering, and they can be more subjective. Florida follows the rule of comparative negligence, so a victim still can recover a reduced amount of damages if they were partly at fault.

Consult a Dedicated Palm Beach County Attorney

If you were injured in an accident or accused of a crime or a traffic infraction, you should seek knowledgeable legal representation. The Kone brothers assist people throughout South Florida, including in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward Counties. Call us at 561-393-8722 or use our online form to set up an appointment with a criminal attorney in Palm Beach County or discuss a traffic infraction or personal injury claim.