Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accident Attorney in Jacksonville, FL

Any traffic accident could be a life-changing experience for those involved, resulting in tremendous physical harm and economic losses. It’s common for victims of car accidents to experience distress and uncertainty in the aftermath of these incidents. They may not know how their accidents happened, who is responsible, or whether they have grounds for legal recourse that may help them recover.

If you or a loved one is recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident someone else caused, the team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys can provide the compassionate and responsive legal representation you need to approach your case with confidence. Our team strives to help every client maximize their recovery to the fullest extent possible under Florida state law.

Over $1 Billion Recovered For Our Clients

Throughout the years of our firm’s operation, we have helped many clients overcome incredibly challenging car accident claims. Auto insurance may provide some relief after an accident, but a victim’s damages may exceed the scope of coverage available from the at-fault driver’s policy. It’s also possible that the at-fault driver does not have insurance or liability for the incident could be disputed. If you want to maximize your compensation after a car accident, it’s crucial to have personal injury representation you can trust to help you build your claim.

Traffic accidents are the leading cause of personal injury in the United States. Distracted drivers, speeding, alcohol, and unsafe road conditions are among the most common causes of reported accidents. When another driver’s actions directly result in an injury, you have the right to seek accountability. Working with an experienced Jacksonville car accident attorney significantly improves your chances of success. When you choose Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys to represent you after a car accident in Jacksonville, we will help you explore every option for recovery, from auto insurance to a civil claim against the driver who hit you.

Frequently, the most challenging aspect of a motor vehicle accident claim is identifying insurance coverage that is sufficient to fully compensate you for damages. You need an experienced attorney with the skill and resources to address this and other challenges. When insurance isn’t available or isn’t enough to fully compensate your losses, you need an attorney capable of managing a civil claim on your behalf. Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys strives to help clients maximize their immediate recovery through insurance whenever possible before streamlining their civil case proceedings, however possible.

Turn To Our Jacksonville Auto Accident Attorneys For Experienced Representation

The Jacksonville car accident attorneys at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys have more than 150 years of collective experience in successfully handling serious injury and wrongful death claims arising out of automobile accidents. We understand that no two clients face the same circumstances and that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions that apply to all personal injury claims. Therefore, we take the time required to get to know our clients, learn about their experiences, and uncover all the effects their accidents have had on their lives. Any motor vehicle accident can potentially raise difficult legal questions you cannot answer on your own, and reliable legal representation is an invaluable asset in these situations.

Our staff and experts, including an in-house doctor, bring a wealth of experience to each car accident case we represent. No matter what unique variables may be in play in your personal injury case, you will have an experienced legal team ready to address the challenges between you and your recovery. Our client-focused approach to car accident claims representation and extensive professional background leave us uniquely positioned to handle very difficult motor vehicle accident claims. Some injured drivers and passengers have complex legal questions following their collisions, and many hold misconceptions about how to best recover their losses.

Find out how our Jacksonville car accident lawyers can help you by calling 904-309-6500. Your consultation is free! We’ll review the details of your car accident claim, help you determine who is at fault, and assist you in ensuring their accountability for your damages. Our team can provide the comprehensive legal representation you need to approach the situation confidently, whether you need assistance with a complex insurance claim or expect a contentious civil dispute with the driver who caused your accident.

Commonly Reported Car Accident Injuries in Jacksonville, Florida

As a leading cause of accidental injuries and fatalities throughout the country yearly, car accidents regularly cause severe injuries that demand emergency medical treatment. Some of the most commonly reported accident-related injuries in California include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, which often require ongoing treatment and cause lifelong medical complications to victims.
• Spinal injuries, which can potentially result in permanent paralysis depending on the location and severity of the injury.
• Internal organ injuries, some of which can easily be fatal if the victim does not receive immediate medical attention.
• Broken bones. While some fractures may heal completely with rest and appropriate treatment, others can pose long-term problems like nerve damage, chronic pain, and other symptoms that are disruptive to the victim’s life.
• Crushing injuries. A severe accident or any crash at high speed can involve tremendous impact forces, some of which can easily cause crushing injuries. A crushing injury to a limb could result in amputation, and crushing injuries to the center mass of the body can potentially be fatal without emergency treatment.
• Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissues such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments can undergo extreme stress from crash-impact forces. One of the most common soft tissue injuries reported from car accidents is whiplash, a condition characterized by pain, numbness, diminished range of motion, and general discomfort in the upper back, shoulders, and neck. Some soft tissue injuries cause persistent symptoms that disrupt the victim’s quality of life and ability to work and earn income.

Many variables can escalate the severity of injuries in an accident. For example, accidents at high speeds are more likely to result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. You must seek medical care as soon as possible after an accident, even if you think you only suffered minor cuts and scrapes. The adrenaline rush from the danger of the situation can dull pain sensations, and it is likely for a car accident victim not to realize the severity of their injuries until the day following their accident.

Seeking prompt treatment will help with an auto insurance claim and a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. This creates a record showing you knew you were hurt and were responsible enough to seek medical care for your injuries. Any delay in seeking medical treatment could cause problems in a later insurance claim and/or personal injury suit. In addition to seeking prompt medical care, seeking legal counsel as soon as possible after a car accident is a good idea.

Even if you think you will only need to file an auto insurance claim to recover your losses, an experienced attorney will make the insurance claim process much easier and more likely to succeed. Additionally, they may reveal avenues of recovery you did not consider on your own, enhancing your overall case award. Ultimately, it is always worth investing in legal counsel you can trust after a car accident in Jacksonville. Despite the no-fault rule’s intent to resolve car accidents more easily, the opposite proves true for many drivers in Florida, and reliable legal counsel is an invaluable asset in these situations.

What Compensation Is Available For Auto Accident Claims In Florida?

Depending on the specific case, financial compensation may be available for different types of injuries or losses caused by a car accident. Our Jacksonville car accident lawyers can carefully analyze every aspect of your physical, emotional, and financial injuries to determine and then fight for a fair settlement or award.

Florida enforces a “no-fault” system for resolving car accident damages. The state requires all drivers to carry their own auto insurance with personal injury protection. When a car accident happens, the drivers involved turn to their insurance policies to recover their losses regardless of how the accident happened. In the event you experience a minor car accident, you could potentially resolve it relatively quickly through an insurance claim. However, if your damages exceed the scope of your insurance coverage and another driver caused the accident, a personal injury claim against them could enhance your recovery.

Compensation may be available for the following types of losses/injuries:

• Medical expenses, including future care. The defendant is responsible for all medical treatment costs the plaintiff incurs because of the defendant’s actions. Your attorney can assist you in gathering whatever evidence you may require to prove the full scope of the medical complications your personal injury has caused.
• Physical therapy and other ongoing treatment. A personal injury claim seeks compensation for any treatment the victim requires to be made as “whole” as possible after their experience. If the plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury or any other catastrophic physical injury, they might face years of rehabilitative care. The defendant absorbs liability for all associated treatment costs when a personal injury requires ongoing therapy and continuous treatment.
• Medical supplies, medication, and travel expenses to and from medical appointments. An experienced attorney will help their client carefully track every medical expense resulting from the car accident to ensure the defendant is held appropriately accountable.
• Damage to your vehicle or other personal property. Auto insurance may cover some vehicle repair costs, but if your property losses exceed what insurance can cover, you can seek the remainder in your personal injury suit.
• Lost earnings, including loss of future wages or benefits. A severe car accident could prevent you from working for an extended time. The defendant is responsible for your lost wages during your recovery. Additionally, if you experienced a disabling injury that will permanently inhibit your earning capacity, the defendant is liable for this as well.
• Emotional trauma, such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. This likely sounds difficult to put into financial terms. However, a good attorney will help their client determine a fair amount of pain and suffering compensation to include in their civil action based on the severity of the plaintiff’s experience. Any plaintiff who sustains permanent harm due to a defendant’s actions is likely eligible to secure a substantial amount of pain and suffering compensation.
• Funeral or burial costs, for wrongful deaths caused by car accidents. Wrongful death claims take the place of personal injury claims whenever car accident victims do not survive these incidents. Florida enforces unique rules for wrongful death claims, so it’s vital to find an attorney with experience handling this type of case if you have recently lost a loved one in a fatal accident.

Our goal is to pursue complete compensation in order to grant you the best opportunity of rebuilding your life. Any car accident has the potential to impact your future in many ways. If another party is responsible for such a significant event, you have the right to hold them accountable and seek compensation for the losses they have caused to you and your family.

Determining The True Cause of Your Car Accident

As experienced trial lawyers, we understand that your car accident case may go beyond a negligent driver and their insurance company. What may appear to be an open-shut case may involve multiple negligent parties. Although your auto insurance policy may offer some immediate relief under the no-fault rule for car accidents in Florida, you have the right to file a civil suit if your damages exceed your coverage. An experienced Jacksonville car accident attorney can assist their client in reviewing their insurance details, filing a claim for coverage, and handling correspondence with the insurance company.

Our Jacksonville auto accident lawyers will put all our resources to work in order to uncover the cause of your crash and pursue maximum compensation from all liable parties, including:

• Product liability on the part of vehicle manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other suppliers. If any defective part caused your accident, you could seek accountability from the manufacturer. It’s also possible that other drivers have experienced similar issues due to the same part. Your attorney can advise whether participation in a class action suit would benefit you.
• A government agency that designed an unsafe road or failed to maintain the integrity of a roadway. While it’s possible to file a civil claim for damages against the government, doing so is very difficult and involves stricter rules than claims against other private entities. If you must file any civil claim against a government agency, it’s vital to consult a Jacksonville car accident attorney with experience handling this type of case.
• Accidents that involve multiple vehicles and multiple insurance policies. Accidents involving more than two drivers can easily raise very difficult questions concerning liability. In addition, more than one driver can bear fault for damages to more than one other party. If you face any questions about complex liability for a car accident in Jacksonville, an experienced attorney is an ideal resource to consult.
• Accidents that involve Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare app. While rideshare services are popular, affordable, and convenient, accidents involving rideshare drivers tend to generate very complex insurance claims and civil disputes. Whether you were a driver or passenger in a rideshare accident, a Jacksonville car accident attorney can be a crucial asset in your recovery efforts.
• Drunk drivers and the establishment that overserved them. Every establishment that serves alcohol has a legal duty to stop serving alcohol to any visibly intoxicated patron. Unfortunately, some establishments will continue to serve alcohol to patrons well beyond this point, not realizing those patrons may later cause devastating car accidents. If your recent car accident indicates a local business is partially liable for your damages, we can help you ensure their accountability.
• Distracted drivers. The most commonly reported cause of all vehicle accidents in the United States each year is distracted driving. Cell phone use behind the wheel and anything else that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or attention away from the road can potentially cause a devastating accident.

The team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has successfully represented many Jacksonville-area clients in complex vehicle accident claims. We understand the common challenges many accident victims face as they navigate their insurance claims and consider filing civil actions against the drivers who caused their accidents. Our team will carefully review the details of how your accident happened to determine who is responsible. We will then help you calculate the full range of damages you can seek in a personal injury claim against the responsible party.

Auto Accidents Where Both Drivers Share Fault

It is not uncommon for the other driver and their insurance company to claim that you share fault for the accident. They may use evidence that you were speeding or something you said at the scene to shift blame away from themselves. Thankfully, Florida’s pure comparative fault law still allows the injured party to recover compensation if they contributed to the accident.

Under comparative fault, a jury will determine how much fault each driver shares for the accident. If you are the plaintiff, that amount will be deducted from your initial award. For example, if a jury awarded you $100,000 in damages, but found you to share 20% fault for the crash, you would receive a final award of $80,000.

Settlements with the insurance company follow similar rules, depending on what is likely to occur if the case proceeded to trial. If you have concerns about bearing partial fault for your recent accident, you must discuss these concerns with an attorney as soon as possible. While the pure comparative negligence statute in Florida ensures that you can still secure compensation for your losses in a personal injury claim, comparative fault diminishes your final recovery.

Proving fault for your recent car accident could require various forms of physical evidence, such as marks on the road, impact marks in the vehicles involved in the accident, and recordings from traffic cameras that captured the accident as it happened. Eyewitness testimony may also be crucial to a car accident claim. No matter how your accident happened, a Jacksonville car accident attorney’s guidance and support will be invaluable assets as you navigate the difficult proceedings necessary for obtaining the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect in Your Auto Insurance Claim in Jacksonville, FL

After a car accident in Florida, you must turn to your auto insurance policy for immediate coverage. Your policy will likely include very specific terms regarding your reporting requirements for your recent accident. In almost every case, it is best to report your accident to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. You do not necessarily need to file your claim immediately, but failure to report an accident as required by your policy could jeopardize your final claim settlement.

Every insurer in the United States has a legal obligation to process all claims in good faith. First, the insurance company must investigate your claim to ensure it is legitimate. Then they are legally required to disburse the appropriate coverage for your losses as dictated by your policy. Every auto insurance policy will include detailed lists of covered damages.

While most auto insurance claims are processed relatively quickly, and drivers receive their settlement checks soon after filing, others are not so fortunate in their experiences with their insurance companies. When insurers cause unreasonable delays in claim processing, offer unfair lowball settlements to prey on claimants’ desperation, or otherwise neglect to handle a claim in good faith, the claimant may have grounds for legal action against the insurer and the party who caused their accident.

Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has extensive professional experience handling cases that involve large insurance companies. You mustn’t accept any insurance settlements before talking to an attorney. Legal counsel will ensure you receive a fair settlement from the insurer. Additionally, if you encounter any bad faith dealings or if other controversies arise with your claim, you will be equipped to address them efficiently with the help of your attorney.

How Will My Personal Injury Claim Resolve?

When insurance isn’t enough to cover your losses from a car accident and another driver is clearly at fault, a personal injury claim offers your best chance of maximizing your recovery. Once the defendant’s liability is fully established, a swift settlement would suit their interests and the plaintiff’s. Settlement negotiations provide an opportunity to privately negotiate a solution to a car accident claim. As long as both parties are willing to negotiate, they could potentially reach a mutually agreeable settlement relatively quickly. However, if a defendant denies liability or disputes responsibility for the damages claimed by the plaintiff, the case may proceed to litigation.

Most car accident claims and other civil actions filed each year in Florida end in a private settlement. However, there is always a chance that the parties involved in a serious car accident dispute will not be able to successfully negotiate a resolution. When a case must go to trial, the judge has the final say on the outcome of the case, and it’s vital to have an attorney who can represent you in court.

Every litigator is an attorney, but not every attorney is truly a litigator. While many personal injury attorneys in Florida aim to avoid litigation whenever possible and even refer cases to other attorneys when they believe litigation to be necessary, Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys does not. As our firm’s name indicates, we are fully prepared to represent you in active litigation if necessary for your complete recovery. If you face any type of car accident claim in Jacksonville that is likely to unfold in court, we can help you prepare for each of your proceedings so you can approach this stressful situation more confidently.

Once you accept an insurance claim settlement from your insurance company after a car accident, you will likely be unable to file further claims for compensation for the same incident. Similarly, once you conclude your personal injury claim and obtain a settlement or case award from the defendant, you won’t be able to pursue further legal action against the defendant. Therefore, you must maximize your recovery from your civil claim, and the best way to accomplish this is by hiring an experienced Jacksonville car accident attorney to represent you.

What to Expect From Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys

The Jacksonville car accident lawyers at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys have decades of experience representing clients in a diverse range of complex civil suits, including those that pertain to car accidents. We know how frustrating it can be to deal with insurance companies when you are struggling with painful injuries and economic strain from the inability to work. If your car accident occurred while driving for work, you could face a difficult workers’ compensation claim process as an initial step toward recovery. However, no matter what type of insurance claims you must follow for your recent car accident, legal counsel you can trust is an invaluable asset for maximizing your claim settlements.

Contact Our Jacksonville, FL Car Accident Attorneys Today

When insurance is not enough to fully compensate for your losses from a car accident, your legal team will be invaluable for holding the responsible driver accountable for the losses they inflicted on you and your family. Our Jacksonville car accident lawyers will carefully examine the full range of injuries you suffered, the total cost of your property damage, and the likely long-term effects your accident will have on your life. We are often able to reveal channels of compensation our clients didn’t know were available to them.

Don’t Wait to Get Help — Call 904-309-6500 Now!

Whether by trial or settlement, we are committed to maximizing your recovery for damages incurred during a vehicular accident involving trucks, cars, or motorcycles.

To discuss your right to compensation with a Jacksonville car accident attorney, call 904-309-6500 or contact us online. Consultations are free!