Van Riper & Nies Attorneys - Delray Beach, FL

Personal Injury | Criminal Defense | Family Law & Divorce | Defense Base Act | Longshore Claims | Civil Litigation

Van Riper & Nies Attorneys, P.A. proudly serves Delray Beach and all of Palm Beach County with experienced, accessible, and results-driven legal representation. Our Delray Beach FL law firm is veteran-owned and operated, founded on the core values of discipline, loyalty, and integrity. Partner Tim Nies is a U.S. Army Ranger Veteran who served in the Army’s elite 3rd Ranger Battalion, and his service background drives our firm’s commitment to excellence and client advocacy.

From our Delray Beach office, we represent individuals and families in personal injury, criminal defense, DUI defense, family and divorce law, Defense Base Act claims, Longshore Act claims, and civil litigation throughout Florida. Our attorneys provide direct access to clients, including personal cell phone numbers, and we handle every case with the diligence and respect it deserves.

Our goal is to help clients in Delray Beach and throughout South Florida achieve justice, whether through skilled negotiation, mediation, or aggressive trial advocacy.

Experienced and Accessible Trial Lawyers in Delray Beach

Van Riper & Nies is a full-service trial law firm. We combine big-firm experience with small-firm accessibility. Our attorneys have years of courtroom experience trying cases before judges and juries throughout Florida’s state and federal courts. We handle cases with thorough preparation, strategic thinking, and an unwavering focus on protecting our clients’ rights.

Our team understands that legal issues often come with personal stress and uncertainty. We listen carefully, explain your options, and tailor our strategy to your unique goals. Clients trust us because we are honest, responsive, and always accessible. Our Delray Beach attorneys give each client their personal cell phone number so they can reach us at any time.

Personal Injury and Accident Law in Delray Beach

Our Delray Beach personal injury lawyers represent individuals who have been seriously injured due to the negligence of others. We handle cases involving auto accidents, truck and motorcycle crashes, boating and maritime injuries, slip and fall accidents, construction injuries, and wrongful death claims.

Attorney Tim Nies leads our personal injury and accident law practice. Before founding Van Riper & Nies, Tim worked as a trial attorney for a large insurance defense law firm. That experience gives him deep insight into how insurance companies evaluate claims and develop their defense strategies. He now uses that insider knowledge to help injured clients maximize their compensation.

Tim also understands what it means to recover from injury on a personal level. After being injured during military service as an Airborne Ranger, he faced the long road to recovery himself. He applies that understanding to every personal injury and accident case, fighting to ensure clients receive the medical care and financial compensation they deserve.

Our firm’s personal injury services include:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Boating and watercraft accidents
• Slip, trip, and fall injuries
• Construction and workplace accidents
• Wrongful death cases
• Traumatic brain, spinal cord, and orthopedic injuries
• Negligent security and premises liability
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims

We represent clients throughout Palm Beach County and across Florida. We are not afraid to take on large insurance companies to recover full and fair compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Criminal Defense and DUI Defense – Former Prosecutor Representation

Van Riper & Nies Attorneys provides aggressive and strategic criminal defense in Delray Beach and throughout South Florida. Attorney Christian Van Riper leads our criminal defense and DUI practice.

Before entering private practice, Christian worked as a State Prosecutor for the State of Florida. He handled hundreds of cases in both misdemeanor and felony divisions and gained extensive courtroom experience in trials, appeals, and motion hearings. His experience as a prosecutor gives him unique insight into how the State builds its cases and how to identify weaknesses in those cases.

As a criminal defense attorney, Christian uses his prosecutorial experience to anticipate and counter the State’s strategy. He has defended clients facing all types of charges, including:

• DUI and DWI offenses
• Drug possession and trafficking
• Theft, burglary, and grand theft
• Domestic violence and assault
• Probation violations
• Violent crimes
• Juvenile offenses

Christian also provides immediate access to his clients. When you hire him, you will have his cell phone number and can reach him any time. He is known for his courtroom skill, negotiation ability, and for giving clients straight answers and honest advice.

Divorce and Family Law in Delray Beach

Our Delray Beach family law attorneys represent clients in all aspects of Florida divorce and family law, including contested and uncontested divorce, child custody (time-sharing), child support, alimony, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions. We also handle modification and enforcement proceedings when circumstances change after a judgment.

Attorney Christian Van Riper brings a compassionate yet firm approach to family law cases. Before becoming a lawyer, he worked as an investigator for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), where he investigated child abuse and neglect cases. That experience gives him a unique understanding of family dynamics and the child welfare system, which is invaluable when handling cases involving parenting disputes and child safety concerns.

Our family law services include:

• Divorce and dissolution of marriage
• Child custody and parenting plans
• Child support and alimony
• Paternity and parental rights
• Modifications and enforcement
• Domestic violence injunctions
• Dependency and DCF-related cases
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements

We understand that family law matters are emotional and deeply personal. Our attorneys approach every case with compassion, discretion, and attention to detail while protecting our clients’ rights and families.

Defense Base Act (DBA) Claims – Global Representation from Florida

Van Riper & Nies Attorneys has one of the most respected Defense Base Act practices in Florida. Attorney Tim Nies, a U.S. Army Ranger Veteran, leads this practice area. He represents civilian contractors and their families worldwide who have been injured while working under U.S. government contracts in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Ukraine, Jordan, Syria, and Africa.

As a Defense Base Act lawyer, Tim represents injured contractors before the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). He personally prepares all filings, including LS-7 position statements and LS-18 pre-hearing statements, and conducts wage calculations, medical chronology reviews, and mediation preparation.

Tim has a deep understanding of how DBA insurance carriers such as AIG, Starr Indemnity, CNA, and Allied World handle claims. As a former insurance defense lawyer, he knows the tactics these carriers use to delay or minimize benefits. He uses that knowledge to fight for full DBA benefits for his clients, including:

• Medical care and treatment
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits
• Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Fair settlements through DBA mediation

Many of Tim’s clients suffer from orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, and psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to exposure to combat conditions or trauma while deployed. He approaches every case with empathy, discipline, and relentless advocacy.

Our firm handles DBA claims for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals injured overseas. We ensure that clients receive proper medical authorization, accurate average weekly wage (AWW) calculations, and timely benefits under the law.

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

In addition to DBA claims, Van Riper & Nies represents longshoremen, dock workers, and maritime employees under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). We help workers injured at ports, shipyards, and marine terminals throughout Florida, including the Port of Palm Beach, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, and Port Miami.

We represent injured workers in all stages of their Longshore claim—from initial filing to hearings before the U.S. Department of Labor. Our representation includes:

• Filing and responding to LS-203 forms
• Preparing wage and benefit documentation
• Medical treatment disputes
• Employer/carrier appeals and mediation
• Settlement negotiation and approval

Attorney Tim Nies’ background as an insurance defense attorney gives him an advantage in Longshore cases. He knows how carriers calculate exposure and how to counter their strategies effectively. His clients benefit from a comprehensive and experienced approach that ensures no benefit is overlooked.

Civil Litigation and Business Disputes

Van Riper & Nies Attorneys also handles civil litigation and business law disputes throughout South Florida. Our attorneys represent individuals and small businesses in contract disputes, real estate conflicts, business torts, and general commercial litigation. We provide efficient, cost-conscious legal strategies designed to achieve favorable results while minimizing disruption to our clients’ businesses.

Accessibility and Communication

Our Delray Beach attorneys believe that accessibility is the cornerstone of effective representation. Legal problems do not always happen during business hours. That’s why every client has direct access to their attorney by cell phone, including evenings and weekends.

We take the time to explain every step of your case in plain language. We make sure you understand your options, your rights, and what to expect. When you work with our firm, you are never left wondering about the status of your case or the next step in your legal process.

Offices and Areas Served

Our Delray Beach office proudly serves Palm Beach County and surrounding areas, including Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach, and throughout the Treasure Coast and Broward County.

Van Riper & Nies Attorneys, P.A.

55 SE 2nd Avenue

Delray Beach, FL 33444

Phone: (561) 894-9862

Website: www.vanriperandnies.com

We also maintain offices in:

• Stuart, FL
• West Palm Beach, FL
• Deerfield Beach, FL
• Boca Raton, FL

Why Clients Choose Van Riper & Nies Attorneys

Clients choose Van Riper & Nies Attorneys because of our experience, accessibility, and results. We are a veteran-owned law firm with deep Florida roots and a strong reputation for integrity and hard work. We bring military discipline and courtroom experience to every case.

We are trial lawyers, negotiators, and problem solvers. Whether handling a serious injury claim, a complex criminal defense, a family law dispute, or a Defense Base Act case, our attorneys fight for our clients as if they were our own family.