Jacksonville Car Accident Attorney
Car Accidents in Duval County
If you were injured in a car accident in Duval County, you could be entitled
to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other
damages. Navigating the claims filing process can be difficult, however,
especially when you are already dealing with getting proper medical care
and taking time off work to heal.
At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., we have over 100 years of combined
experience representing injured individuals and the families of those
wrongfully killed. We understand what you are going through, as well as the challenges that
lay ahead. Our Jacksonville car accident lawyers are prepared to negotiate
with the insurance company and, if necessary, take your case to trial
in their effort to secure the maximum compensation you are owed.
Is It Worth Hiring A Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring an experienced attorney for your car accident claim can help you
secure the best outcome for your case. The first way an attorney can help
you is navigating the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations
is a law which limits how long injury victims have to file a claim before
they lose their legal right to do so. According to the Florida Statutes
section 95.11(3)(a) the state of Florida has a four-year timeline. This
means you have four years from the date your accident occurred to file
your car accident claim. It’s important to note that there are some
exceptions to this law so it’s important to speak to an attorney
about the specifics of your case as soon as possible.
Beyond the statute of limitations, which applies to all personal injury
claims, a Jacksonville car accident lawyer can navigate you through your
whole claims process using our knowledge and experience in negligence
laws. Additionally, our team can investigate your accident to gather proof
of negligence and represent you in court if necessary. Our firm offers
free, no-obligation consultations so you have nothing to lose, contacting
our firm today.
Get in touch with our Jacksonville office today for a free consultation. Call
(855) 933-3881 or
contact us online to get started.
On This Page
What to Do After a Car Accident in Jacksonville
No matter the details of your car accident, you can practically be guaranteed
one thing: the defendant won’t want to accept liability for it,
especially if you were seriously injured. You can expect them to counter
your arguments at every step and try to make it seem like you did something
wrong. While our Jacksonville car accident lawyers know many strategies
to form powerful counterarguments, it is always best if we can build those
arguments on solid, tangible evidence. In car accident cases, the best
evidence is often found at the scene immediately after the crash.
Let us know if you were able to take these four steps after the car accident:
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Call 911: Getting first responders to the scene immediately can help save lives and
control traffic so other drivers don’t crash into the wreckage.
The accident reports from first responders can be crucial to building
your claim, too.
-
Exchange information: Even if no one seems to be seriously injured after a crash, you need to
exchange contact and insurance information with the other involved parties.
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Take photographs: Photographs and video footage are difficult to refute. Taking as many pictures
as possible of the crash scene, injuries, vehicle damage, traffic and
weather conditions, and more will help your lawyer prepare a convincing
case once it is time to file a claim.
-
See a doctor: You should see a medical doctor soon after being in a car accident, assuming
that you aren’t taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctor
can check for underlying injuries and diagnose your condition. Importantly,
the doctor will also add a note in your medical record that says when
and why the injuries occurred.
Dangerous Intersections in Jacksonville, FL
Distracted, drunk, and reckless drivers can make any stretch of road extremely
dangerous for themselves and the people around them. However, there are
always certain intersections and streets in any city or county that tend
to see more car accidents than others. Oftentimes, the increased rate
of traffic collisions coincides directly with an above-average number
of motorists who use that street or intersection each day. It shows that
as the number of drivers increases, the risk of a traffic collision increases
at an equal or greater rate.
Our team of attorneys and legal professionals from The Law Offices of Ron
Sholes, P.A. proudly support the Jacksonville community. We want to see
all of our neighbors and community members stay safe each day and night,
so we’ve compiled a quick list of the most dangerous intersections
in Jacksonville. If you’re planning a trip, short or long, see if
you can avoid these intersections. At the least, act more cautiously when
driving through them.
Based on crash data from local departments, five of the most dangerous
intersections in Jacksonville are:
- Baymeadows Road/Southside Boulevard intersection
- Beach Boulevard/Southside Boulevard intersection
- Beach Boulevard/Hodges Boulevard intersection
- Blanding Boulevard/Youngerman Circle intersection
- Blanding Boulevard/Wells Road intersection
How to File a Car Accident Claim in Jacksonville
Florida is what is known as a “no-fault state.” This means
that it operates under a no-fault system in which those injured in motor
vehicle accidents must typically turn to their own insurance providers—rather
than the insurance providers of the at-fault drivers—for compensation.
Under this system, you are required to carry personal injury protection,
or PIP, insurance. PIP coverage is available regardless of fault, meaning
you can still be compensated for your damages even if you were partly,
mostly, or completely at fault for the accident.
While PIP insurance makes it easier for you to be compensated after an
accident, it does come with several notable limitations. In Florida, PIP
insurance only covers part of your medical expenses and lost wages, not
all of them. Additionally, it does
not cover non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, whatsoever.
The only way to be fully compensated for both your economic and non-economic
damages after a car accident in Florida is to go outside the no-fault
system. To do this, you will have to prove that you suffered a “serious
injury,” as defined by state law. You can also go outside the no-fault
system by proving that your damages amount to more than $10,000, which
is the highest amount an individual can recover through PIP insurance
in the state.
Car Accident Damages You Can Recover
If you are seriously injured in a car accident, then the coverage from
your PIP insurance policy might not be enough to cover all of your losses.
It might not even get close when considering how you have been mentally
and emotionally affected by the aftermath of the accident. At that point,
it makes sense to consider what else you could be owed if you were to
file a claim against the other driver.
Our Jacksonville car accident lawyers have years of collective experience
working on complex car accident cases that involve life-changing injuries.
You can trust us to calculate your losses and demand every last cent from
the defendant and their auto insurance provider. We aren’t afraid
of the courtroom, either. If we must go to trial to win for you, then
we’ll be ready.
Damages that can be recovered in a car accident claim could include:
- Past and future medical treatment costs
- Lost wages and future income
- Non-economic damages like pain and suffering
- Death benefits if you lost a loved one
Proving Your Injuries Are “Serious”
At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., we believe that you deserve to
be compensated for
all of your damages, including your current and future medical expenses, lost
wages, future lost earnings, pain and suffering, inconvenience, and lost
quality of life. Our Jacksonville car accident lawyers can help you prove
that your injuries meet the state’s criteria for “serious
injuries” and help you step outside the no-fault system to recover
full compensation.
For an injury to be considered “serious” in Florida, it must
meet one of the following requirements:
- The injury involves permanent, significant scarring and/or disfigurement
- The injury results in permanent, significant loss of an “important” function
- The injury causes significant impairment of a body part or function
- The injury is permanent (or reasonably likely to be, as confirmed by a
medical professional)
Examples of serious injuries include severe burns,
traumatic brain injuries, and
spinal cord injuries, all of which can have significant, lasting effects.
Filing a Standard Injury Claim
If you wish to go outside the no-fault system, and you have grounds to
do so, you may bring a standard
personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Under Florida’s
pure comparative negligence rule, you will need to prove that the other
driver (or another third party) was at least partly at fault for the accident
that caused your injuries.
This might involve proving that the other party:
- Violated traffic laws/rules of the road
- Was distracted or drunk while driving
- Failed to yield the right of way
- Made an unsafe or unlawful turn
- Was speeding
- Engaged in reckless or aggressive driving behaviors
- Passed unsafely or unlawfully
- Failed to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Merged into your vehicle
Our Jacksonville car accident attorneys work with a team of 6 expert investigators
and more than 100 support staff members who help reconstruct the accident
and determine how it occurred. This allows us to see who was at fault
and helps us prove liability for your damages. From there, we aggressively
negotiate with the appropriate insurance company for a fair settlement
on your behalf. If the insurance company refuses to settle, we are fully
prepared to take your case to trial.
Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve
At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., we demand and fight for the full
compensation our clients deserve. Because every case is different, we
employ a personalized approach and look for innovative legal strategies
tailored to our clients’ unique needs, concerns, and goals. When
you choose our firm to represent you, you receive a high level of attention
and care from a dedicated team of legal professionals.
We are truly your neighborhood attorney, committed to helping you get back
on your feet and to making our communities better, safer places for all.
We provide legal services in Spanish, Russian, and German, and we do not
collect any fees unless we win your case.
Get started with a free, no-obligation consultation
with an attorney today when you call
(855) 933-3881.
