Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer

If you suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident in Jacksonville, our lawyers can investigate your case and pursue a liable party for compensation. While you rest, our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys can seek fair compensation for your losses, including lost income, medical care, and pain and suffering. 

At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, a car accident lawyer will review your Jacksonville case for free. If we believe you meet the criteria to pursue a fault-based lawsuit, we can obtain copies of your medical records and go to work building a case on your behalf.

Compensatory Damages For Car Accidents 

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to collect additional damages through the at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy. You could be eligible to recover compensation for damages through:

• A claim based on your ownPIP insurance coverage
• A fault-based claim based on the at-fault driver’s auto liability policy
• A personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver

You can count on our team to provide the responsive legal care you need. We will always go the extra mile to recover the financial compensation our clients deserve. We understand the stress and frustration that can be a part of trying to pursue damages after suffering injuries in a Jacksonville car accident.

Types Of Compensation

Depending on the type and severity of your injuries, you may have a wide variety of damages. We collect the evidence to prove your expenses and losses and fight for the maximum amount of compensation to cover:

• Medical bills
• Ambulance transportation costs
• Inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient therapy
• Lost wages due to missing work
• Income lost because you cannot return to your previous job
• Property damage to your vehicle and its contents
• Most other accident-related costs
• Pain and suffering

After you select us to represent you, we can collect documentation of your losses and determine an approximate value for your claim. Our law firm can also work with experts to help calculate potential future care needs and other expenses. We never leave any money on the table, and we will fight for the full dollar amount you deserve.

Wrongful Death Damages

If you lost a loved one in a car accident, our wrongful death lawyers can seek awards for:

• Their medical care
• Their income
• Funeral and burial/cremation services
• Loss of consortium

While you grieve in peace, our auto accident lawyers can seek compensation for your family. 

Your Losses May Exceed PIP Coverage

Car accidents can cause severe injuries that require intensive, costly medical care. UnderFlorida Statute § 627.730, a limited amount of compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages are available through your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage mandated byFlorida Statute § 627.736.

If your injuries exceed this amount, you may be able to seek additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. For example, your injuries may reach the threshold for serious injuries and warrant compensation for pain and suffering. 

Our Jacksonville, FL, car accident attorneys can seek fair compensation to cover your accident injuries and losses. We can negotiate with insurers for a fair settlement or seek a court-awarded offer. 

We Get Paid For Results

Our auto accident attorneys believe they should get paid for results, not their time. For that reason, we never collect a fee until we recover money for you. That means you never have to worry about being able to afford us out of pocket because you get paid at the same time we do. Therefore, you have nothing to lose and a potentially large settlement to gain.

What Is The Average Settlement For A Car Accident In Jacksonville?

Because no two car accidents are alike, it is difficult to estimate the value of a car accident settlement without knowing specific details about the crash itself.

And because settlement values vary so wildly, even coming up with an average is difficult and relatively pointless—your settlement may be much more or much less than an average one might compute.

Factors That Influence The Value Of Your Settlement

A few factors that influence the value of your car accident settlement include:

• The severity of your injuries and the medical treatments your require
• The extent of damage to your vehicle
• Whether any other personal belongings were damaged in the accident
• How the accident happened

Your Degree Of Fault May Influence Your Settlement Amount

In addition, assigning fault can significantly influence each party’s settlement value. Florida is a comparative fault state, which means you can still pursue damages even if you were partly at fault for a car collision.

Still, your damages will be reduced by the percentage you were deemed at fault. For instance, if you had $10,000 in damages but were 20 percent at fault, you would be eligible to recover a maximum of $8,000.

Your Attorney’s Experience Makes A Difference

A world of difference exists between an accident attorney who files claims and takes what the insurance policy offers and one who puts together a compelling case, takes on the insurance company, and does not accept an offer that pays less than what their client deserves.

Your Personal Suffering May Be Worth A Significant Sum

Also contributing to Florida’s expansive range of possible car accident settlement values, the state does not cap non-economic damages.

That means there is no legal maximum to what you can potentially recover for mental and physical pain, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, economic anguish, and other losses that do not involve actual financial depletion.

Regardless of the circumstances of your Jacksonville, FL, car collision, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will fight for the most in compensation. We will go after both economic and non-economic damages, taking on the insurance companies and making sure you get paid fairly

Consider Working With A Car Accident Lawyer From Our Firm

Although Florida law does not force you to get a lawyer to represent you in the claims process, it can be beneficial to talk with an attorney as soon as possible. The auto insurance company will assign an adjuster to investigate and handle your injury case.

Claims adjusters are professionals whose job is to pay people as little as possible for their damages. Having a professional on your side can level the playing field.

Florida’s statute of limitations only gives you a short amount of time to file a lawsuit seeking damages for your losses. Generally, Florida only allows you two years to take legal action. You should talk with an accident attorney right away so that you do not miss this deadline. Once the time limit passes, you cannot go after compensation for your damages.

Client Reviews And Testimonials

At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we work hard to achieve the best possible outcome for every injured client we represent. When previous clients recommend our law firm, they leave reviews and testimonials like the following:

• Jessica D.: “Words cannot express how grateful we are to Andijar & Levine for everything they have done for us…My husband and I were in a terrible car accident in November 2015 and didn’t know what to do…We definitely recommend Anidjar & Levine and will refer anyone who is looking for an attorney!!”
• Erika C.: “I hired Anidjar and Levine for a car accident case, in the course of the case Anidjar & Levine protected my character, my future…went far and beyond what initially were hired for…These guys are amazing attorneys, they are the BEST…Highly recommend this office. They got it done, thank you!!!!!!”

Our client reviews page is packed with testimonials like these that talk about the outstanding client service experience you get from every member of our team.

How Our Car Accident Team In Jacksonville Can Help

As a part of handling your case, our personal injury lawyers will:

• Protect your legal rights by managing all communication related to your case
• Keep you up to date about what is happening in your case
• Gather evidence to prove negligence and liability
• Work with experts when necessary to prove your case
• Counter any allegations of contributory negligence
• Document your accident-related losses and expenses

We understand that Florida laws are complex, and it can be difficult to understand your rights and the strength of your case. This is where we come in. We offer a free consultation to any car accident victim in Jacksonville.

We Will Explain Your Options

We can explain your options based on the facts of your case and how they fit into the state’s no-fault auto insurance statutes.

We also handle these cases on a contingency basis. You never pay any attorney fees to our team out of your pocket. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else.

At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we can help you navigate the personal injury claims process and recover the compensation you need to cover your damages. 

We Establish Liability In Car Accidents

An injury lawyer in Duval County, FL, must prove all three of these elements to hold the at-fault person responsible for your losses:

• Duty of Care. The person whose carelessness caused your damages must have owed you a legal duty of care. If another driver caused the wreck, it will be a simple matter of establishing the legal duty of care. Everyone who operates a motor vehicle on the roads has a legal obligation to drive carefully and within the law.
• Breach of Duty of Care. When someone fails to live up to the standards of a legal duty of care, it is negligence. For example, let’s say that the at-fault driver struck your vehicle because she did not notice the light had changed at the intersection.
• Causation. The negligence must be the thing that caused the accident and your losses. The at-fault driver’s carelessness caused the crash that harmed you, which satisfies all three elements of liability in motor vehicle accidents.

Is It Worth Hiring A Jacksonville Car Accident Attorney?

Our team believes it is always worth hiring a car accident attorney to help with your Jacksonville car accident case. This advice is true, no matter the severity of your injuries. Our attorneys can file your PIP or third-party liability claim and fight for a fair payout based on your damages.

When we file a claim against the at-fault driver in a crash, they often attempt to shirk responsibility for the crash damages. One of the most common ways this happens is by denying fault and claiming you were at fault in the accident. We will build a strong case against the liable party and provide evidence to minimize your role in the accident and your resulting damages.

We can take action to protect you from this type of tactic commonly used by insurance companies, ensuring you retain the right to pursue compensation for your accident-related injuries, expenses, and losses. Common allegations of this type include:

• You acted negligently, causing or contributing to your injuries
• Your injuries occurred in a different incident, not the vehicle collision
• You did not get adequate medical care or did not follow the doctor’s instructions, and this limited your recovery

Florida’s Comparative Negligence Statute

In some cases, though, you may share responsibility for the accident or your damages. Under Florida’s comparative negligence statute, this does not prevent you from collecting compensation, but it does reduce the amount you can recover.

Imagine you were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. While this would not have prevented the other driver from plowing into the back of your vehicle at a stop sign, it might have lessened your injuries and reduced your damages. You might be partially at fault in this case. If your total damages were $100,000 and you were 30% at fault, you could only collect $70,000 from the other driver.

When something like this happens, our car accident lawyers can help you understand what to expect and explain how it could affect your case. We will also present evidence to mitigate the impact that comparative negligence has on your payout.

Should I Hire A Car Accident Attorney For A Minor Accident?

Jacksonville residents involved in minor car accidents often have difficulty deciding whether hiring a lawyer is worth it. Because Florida is a personal injury protection (PIP) insurance state, some drivers believe accident lawyers cannot help them recover compensation unless the accident is severe.

In this case, severe means substantial bodily injuries and property damage. Many think they should simply file a PIP claim and take what they can get for a fender-bender or minor collision.

PIP Insurance

Here is a refresher on PIP insurance: Florida requires drivers to carry a no-fault insurance policy, often referred to as PIP coverage. This policy pays to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, no matter who caused the crash.

However, PIP insurance does not cover most non-economic damages, such as mental anguish and physical pain, nor does it pay for many ancillary expenses, such as a tow truck or rental car.

After a crash, you can contact your insurance to file a claim. In fact, you must file for any bodily injuries you suffered before you can pursue the other driver or their insurance company. It should cover your damages up to the limits of your policy, but it will not provide any coverage for pain and suffering damages.

The state requires you to carry $10,000 of PIP coverage. Since many vehicle collision injuries are relatively minor, this may be enough to cover all your medical bills. But it often is not.

How We Handle Minor Accidents

We have represented many Jacksonville, FL, residents involved in minor car accidents whose damages greatly exceeded $10,000. Because we gathered evidence and put together a thorough claim, we were able to get these clients much more money than with the other driver’s insurance company.

We can help you file this type of claim and prove your losses to the insurance companies. At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we never collect a fee until our clients get paid, and we offer a free consultation. So let us sit down with you, discuss your options, and let you know what to expect in the days and weeks ahead.

Can I Sue Someone Personally After A Car Accident In Jacksonville, FL?

After a major vehicle collision that requires emergency transport to the hospital, hospitalization, surgery, and inpatient rehabilitation, you will likely owe much more than your PIP policy will cover.

Meeting The “Serious Injury Threshold”

If you meet certain criteria, you can file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. This strict requirement is sometimes called the “serious injury threshold,” because Florida state laws refer to qualifying injuries as “serious.”

If you need additional compensation above and beyond the payout from your no-fault insurance coverage, we can help you determine if you meet this threshold and help you navigate the claims process.

Some of the injuries that could qualify include:

• Injuries that cause significant impairment to an important bodily function
• Permanent injuries
• Scarring or disfigurement in significant areas or causing permanent impairments
• Injuries that will lead to death.

If you do meet this threshold, we can file an insurance claim based on the at-fault driver’s auto liability policy. Often, insurance companies see the wealth of evidence against the driver they insure, and we are able to negotiate a fair settlement.

However, if this is not possible, we can file a lawsuit to recover the compensation you deserve.

Will My Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer Deal With The Insurance Companies For Me?

Yes, a personal injury attorney can handle your insurance claim from start to finish. A lawyer can also help you navigate the intricacies of no-fault insurance laws to recover damages for vehicle repair costs and serious injuries beyond what is covered by your PIP benefits.

Recovering Damages Through The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance

If your damages go beyond the state’s minimum insurance requirements, you may be able to recover additional compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

You may also be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. To qualify under no-fault laws, you must prove that your injuries from the accident were severe and resulted in:

• Physical scarring
• Physical disfigurement
• Permanent bodily injury
• Death

Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If your family member lost their life, you automatically meet the criteria for a wrongful death lawsuit and can pursue damages related to your case.

Even when you have injuries that meet the criteria set by the no-fault insurance laws, the driver’s insurance may still argue that you do not have sufficient proof to show that the accident caused the injuries.

You would need to gather evidence to build a valid insurance claim. Some of the evidence you may need includes:

• Statements from doctors about your prognosis and your future medical care needs
• Statements from friends and family members about how your injuries have altered your life
• Traffic camera video showing that the other party caused the accident

A car accident attorney will deal with the insurance companies and manage this entire process, including demonstrating that the driver breached his duty to drive carefully, that the breach of duty caused an accident, and that his negligent actions resulted in serious bodily injuries.

How Long Do Car Accident Claims Take To Settle?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question because all cases are different. Jacksonville accident claims generally follow the traditional legal process. However, some factors could lead to a quick settlement or drag out the process longer than expected.

When litigation is necessary, the legal steps that are generally followed from start to finish are:

• The complaint is filed, and the lawsuit officially begins.
• The defendant is served a copy of the complaint.
• The defendant is given a specific amount of time to file an answer to the complaint.
• Discovery is the exchange of critical information from both sides that could be used as potential evidence during a trial.
• A trial takes place.
• There is potential for an appeal that could drag out the timeline if one side or the other does not like how the trial concluded.

Other litigation steps can be taken to shorten or lengthen the timeline. Each case is different, and it depends on whether the plaintiff or defendant has substantial evidence that proves they are on the winning side of the dispute.

If this applies to your situation, either side may file a motion for summary judgment, and a judge will make the decision before the case has a chance to go to trial.

Personal Injury Settlement

In most cases, the settlement will happen before going to the trial phase. However, certain circumstances can drag out negotiations and necessitate the threat of litigation. Florida law gives you two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury or property damage, including qualifying car accident cases.

Be aware that some cases have an even shorter statute of limitations. For example, if an employee of a government agency driving the agency’s vehicle struck your car, you may have much less time to notify them of the incident and your intent to file a claim.

We will need as much time as possible to prepare your case for litigation, so the sooner you contact us, the better.

First Steps After A Car Accident In Duval County, Florida

The actions that you take after a collision can affect how much compensation you can collect. All personal injury cases are different, and you should do what makes sense in your situation. Here are some suggestions of things to do after a crash:

Get Medical Attention

You should get medical treatment right away after an accident. If you have visible signs of injury, a delay in treatment can lead to complications. If you do not have apparent wounds, but you were in a significant crash, a professional medical exam can uncover harm like internal bleeding, or a neck or back injury, which do not always have immediate symptoms.

Also, if you wait to get medical treatment, the careless driver’s auto insurance representatives will likely argue that the vehicle crash did not cause your injuries.

It can be harder to prove that the accident led to the harm you suffered if you do not seek medical care right away. We will use your medical records to link your injuries to the collision.

Finish Your Medical Treatment After A Car Accident

We know that it can be inconvenient to make repeated trips to your doctor’s office or physical therapy, but it is vital that you complete the treatment that your doctor prescribed.

If you do not follow the doctor’s orders, the insurance company might say that any residual problems you have are because you did not complete the treatment.

Avoid Talking To The Responsible Party After A Car Accident

Soon after the crash, a claims adjuster from the insurance carrier might contact you and ask you to give a recorded statement. If you have a lawyer on board, you can tell the adjuster to talk to your lawyer. Your accident attorney can provide the insurance adjuster with the information he needs.

You should not give a recorded statement without running it by your auto accident attorney first. Insurance companies can twist your words into something you did not mean to say. They do this to devalue your claim.

Another tactic that insurance companies use is to offer you a quick, low-ball settlement. They do not explain that all your medical expenses must come out of this check, so it is not “free money.”

Commonly Reported Accident Injuries

Our law firm will use your medical records to prove the cause and severity of your accident-related injuries.Injuries commonly reported in car accidents include:

• Cuts, scrapes, and contusions that range from minor to severe
• Sprained, fractured, or broken limbs, limb paralysis, or limb loss
• Back and spine injuries ranging from chronic pain to full or partial paralysis
• Soft-tissue and internal injuries, including bruises, sprains, muscle contusions, and internal bleeding
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which can range from a concussion to a permanently debilitating injury

In addition to your medical records, we also obtain a copy of your written prognosis and any future care your injuries will require. Our goal is to document the degree of injuries you sustained and the physical, emotional, and financial toll they take on your life play an important role in assigning an appropriate value to your case.

Our law firm will use your medical records to prove your injuries. We will also obtain copies of your physical, occupational, and other therapy records, along with the records for any rehabilitation your injuries require.

Types Of Car Accidents

We will also request a copy of your car accident report to prove the type of accident that caused your injuries. Types of car accident cases that lead to personal injury insurance claims and lawsuits include:

• Head-on collisions
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Rear-end accidents collisions
• Rollover accidents
• Sideswipe accidents
• T-bone accidents
• Wrong way accidents

Car accidents change lives in an instant. When you or someone you love is injured in an accident, our team is committed to helping you recover damages from the at-fault party.

Common Problems That Complicate Florida Car Accident Cases

When a party cannot agree on who is liable for the vehicle collision, the case may proceed to a trial where a jury will make decisions on the issues based on presented evidence.

Liability is a significant factor when determining if a personal injury case is likely to go to trial. In some cases, when substantial evidence and information would prove liability in court, the liable party would most likely offer a settlement during the discovery phase of litigation.

Other times, the evidence may be significant enough to request a motion for summary judgment, where a judge would make a final decision before a trial occurs.

Disagreement On Losses From The Accident

There could be a disagreement about whether the plaintiff was actually injured during the accident, the extent of their injuries, and how much compensation they should receive for those losses.

The plaintiff carries the burden of proof when pursuing losses. It may be critical that a medical professional, such as the treating physician, is a witness that provides a professional opinion regarding the extent of the injury harm.

If your personal injury case has a considerably high value, the defendant will most likely give due diligence to the claim to reduce or deny any compensation. If the parties involved in a claim or lawsuit cannot agree on a fair settlement, the case may go to trial.

The At-Fault Party Doesn’t Have Auto Insurance

If getting into an accident is not awful enough, learning that the driver who caused the accident does not have auto insurance or is underinsured can be highly frustrating.

Fortunately, in Jacksonville, Florida, you have options for financial recovery after sustaining an injury in a collision with an uninsured driver. All drivers are legally required to have a minimum coverage policy, including:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in the amount of $10,000
• Bodily Injury Liability in the amount of $20,000
• Property Damage Liability in the amount of $10,000

In most cases, your PIP insurance would kick in to cover a percentage of medical expenses and lost wages up to your policy limits. Usually, this amount is enough to relieve the financial difficulties of needed medical attention for minor injuries suffered in a collision.

PIP Funeral Benefits Are Insufficient For The Loss Of A Loved One

PIP can also cover up to $5,000 in funeral benefits. That being said, if a family member has passed away as the result of a car accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for wrongful death.

Because Florida is a no-fault state, there is not usually an option for filing a lawsuit against the other driver in civil court. However, if your injuries meet the threshold for serious injury as defined by laws in Florida, you may be able to file suit for pain and suffering against the uninsured driver who hit you.

Florida’s motor vehicle no-fault law describes the thresholds of bodily injury and loss to include:

• Permanent injury
• Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Death

You Are Forced To Use UMBI Coverage In Florida

Insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage in Florida. If you opted to add this coverage to your policy, you can file for compensation if you discover the driver who hit you is uninsured or underinsured.

You can also benefit from UMBI if you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident. In Florida, uninsured motorist coverage for property damage is not available as an option with your insurance policy.

The Responsible Party Faces Criminal Proceedings or Additional Penalties

Besides being personally responsible for your losses, the uninsured or underinsured driver could most likely face penalties, including but not limited to license suspension, fees, confiscation of the vehicle license plate, and criminal charges.

How A Jacksonville, FL, Car Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Duval County, FL, Case

Our personal injury lawyers can stand between you and the insurance company to protect you from their strategies. Our firm deals directly with insurance companies on behalf of our clients so that they can focus on their health.

Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for a free consultation. We can explain how one of our auto accident lawyers in Duval County, FL, can help. There is no obligation.