A Jacksonville car accident attorney can help you with your personal injury case by building a compensation claim for your losses. They can investigate the crash for evidence of fault, negotiate a settlement, or, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit and represent you in court. The goal is to protect your rights and pursue justice for you and your family.
Fighting for the compensation settlement or judgment you deserve can be challenging if you aren’t well-versed in Florida’s personal injury laws. A Jacksonville car accident lawyer with proven experience protecting victims of negligence can be your best partner and advocate when going against a cadre of insurance attorneys.
A Car Crash Attorney Helps Develop Your Case And Sees It Through To The End
Each accident claim is unique and requires a thoughtful, targeted legal approach. However, the following steps outline how an attorney might handle your case:
- Investigate your accident for evidence of negligence and liability culled from video footage, eyewitness statements, police reports, and medical records.
- Assist you with building and filing a compensation claim.
- Negotiate with the insurers for a full and fair compensation settlement.
- File a personal injury lawsuit and represent you in court if negotiations fail to reach an agreement.
Proving Negligence
You must prove the elements of negligence before proceeding with a personal injury case. They include:
- The defendant (the at-fault party) had a duty to act with reasonable care and not cause harm.
- The defendant breached that duty by acting (or choosing not to act) in a way that increased the likelihood of harm.
- That breach of duty caused the car accident and your injury.
- You sustained losses because of your injury.
How Jacksonville Car Crash Attorneys Help Manage Your Case
Once a car accident attorney begins managing your case, their administrative duties include:
- Meeting deadlines imposed by statute and insurance companies
- Communicating on your behalf with insurance adjusters and other parties
- Assisting you with finding top-quality medical care and transportation
- Ensuring your compensation settlement or judgment is received and apportioned correctly
Years of fighting for victims’ rights can help an attorney look out for your interests in ways you may not consider. For instance, it is crucial to account for your future needs when presented with a settlement offer. Physical and mental trauma from severe injuries can cause problems for decades.
Your attorney and medical team can work together to estimate your lifetime medical needs and ensure your demand letter reflects them and an insurer includes them in any settlement offer.
Identifying Your Compensable Damages After A Car Crash
If you’ve never been in a serious car crash, you may be unaware of the types of damages you can seek when filing your compensation claim. A Jacksonville car accident lawyer can help you recognize your losses and file your claim form with the liable party’s insurers. Damages may include the following:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Property replacement or repair
- Loss of income during recovery
- Loss of earnings and benefits should you not return to work
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality of life
How To Afford Quality Legal Representation For Your Car Accident Case
It’s fair to say that it can be expensive to hire an attorney. Although this is generally true, many personal injury lawyers offer free case consultations. It’s helpful to have a conversation with a legal team about your car accident case before committing to taking legal action.
Should you decide to work with a car collision lawyer, they should explain their fee structure. It’s common for personal injury attorneys to work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they do not charge any attorney fees unless they successfully recover compensation. If they don’t win your case, you won’t pay their fees.
Before signing a contract with any law firm, you should understand the charges involved and how the attorney expects to be paid.
Understanding Compensation And Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
Until recently, Florida had a rule that you could be 99% responsible for a car crash and still recover some compensation for your losses. Now, the state works under a modified comparative negligence rule. How this rule works for car crash victims can be complicated. However, a Jacksonville car accident lawyer can walk you through it.
If you are no more than 50% responsible for a car crash, you may be eligible to recover compensatory damages minus the percentage you are deemed liable. For example, if the evidence shows that you are 20% responsible for the crash, you can recover 80% of the compensation award instead of a full 100%.
Drivers who are more than 50% responsible for a car accident may not receive compensation for their losses.
Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit For Your Jacksonville Car Accident Case
Sometimes, negotiations for your compensation settlement are unsuccessful, and you might have to pursue a compensation judgment or verdict in court. Florida’s statute of limitations is two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.
This deadline protects both sides in a dispute. For instance, if there’s a considerable time gap between an accident and a case being heard, memories may fade and evidence can get misplaced, which could affect the case.
Should you fail to bring legal action by the deadline, the court could bar you from doing so. However, there are exceptions to this law. Your attorney can confirm if any apply to your case and discuss when you should file your lawsuit.
Call Our Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyers To Get The Help You Deserve
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine has protected the rights of personal injury victims for 20 years. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation case consultation. We offer responsive legal help that serves you and helps you take back control of your life.
We Can Help.
