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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Examples of serious injuries include severe burns, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, all of which can have significant, lasting effects.
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.
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.
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.