Baldwin, FL Car Accident Lawyer

Baldwin Car Accident Attorney

Every year, car accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and fatalities in North Florida, and when these accidents happen, those involved need to know how they can recover. The state enforces a no-fault rule for car accidents, meaning drivers are generally expected to claim against their own auto insurance to recover their losses from an accident regardless of who caused the accident. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and you could have more options for recovering your damages than you initially expect.

Helping Baldwin, FL, Car Accident Victims Recover With Confidence

Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys is a team of experienced attorneys who have years of successful cases behind us. We put our clients first in every case we accept, helping them determine the optimal path to recovering their damages and maximizing the compensation they secure from the party responsible for their injury. If another driver’s negligence or misconduct has resulted in an accident, insurance may only cover a portion of your total losses, and you will need trustworthy legal counsel to navigate the rest of the legal proceedings that might follow your insurance claim filing process.

Our firm is ready to assist you in overcoming the challenges that lie between you and your recovery in Baldwin, FL. We take time to listen to each client’s story, helping them explore the full scope of the damages they can seek from a defendant and streamlining their recovery process as much as we possibly can. No matter how your recent accident happened, we can help hold the at-fault driver accountable for the harm they’ve caused.

Proving Fault for a Car Accident in Baldwin

Florida’s no-fault rule for car accidents means that if your own auto insurance can cover the damages you sustained in a recent accident, there is no need to worry about proving liability. However, establishing fault for the incident can help you avoid insurance premium increases, and proving liability will also be essential if your damages exceed your insurance coverage.

You have the right to file a civil suit against the driver who caused your accident if you can prove they are directly responsible for causing damages that your auto insurance cannot repay. Your Baldwin car accident attorney can be an invaluable asset when it comes to navigating the insurance claim filing process after your accident, but they can be even more helpful when it comes to pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

A few of the common causes of car accidents that generate complex insurance claims and contested personal injury claims include:

• Distracted and inattentive driving. Whenever a driver is not paying full attention to the road ahead, they are putting themselves and others at risk. Texting while driving or any other distractions can prevent a driver from adjusting in time to changes in traffic or avoiding road hazards. If a distracted driver caused more damages than your insurance can cover, an experienced Baldwin car accident attorney is the ideal asset to have on your side.
• It’s common for drivers to see other motorists slightly exceeding posted speed limits by a few miles per hour to maintain the flow of traffic. However, any form of speeding is potentially dangerous, and the faster a driver goes past the speed limit, the more likely they are to cause a serious accident. If a driver is caught excessively speeding or causing an accident in this manner, they face a reckless driving charge.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and alcohol. It is illegal for any driver to drive while intoxicated, but DUI, unfortunately, remains a top-reported cause of auto accidents each year. If the driver who hit you was under the influence, your Baldwin car accident attorney can help you understand how a criminal case against the at-fault driver could impact your recovery.
• Traffic violations. Whenever a driver violates the traffic laws, such as ignoring a stop sign, performing an illegal turn, or failing to yield the right-of-way where necessary, they can easily cause a serious accident. Traffic camera footage and eyewitness testimony are often crucial to proving fault for this type of accident.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the various ways auto accidents might happen in the Baldwin area. No matter how your recent accident happened, it’s advisable to seek out an experienced attorney who can help you determine your most viable options for recovering your losses. Your attorney can help you obtain another driver’s cell phone records and vehicle computer data, traffic camera recordings, and statements from eyewitnesses to help you prove fault. If your case entails complex technical issues, a good attorney can consult expert witnesses for you who can explain the specifics of how your accident happened.

Recovery From an Auto Accident

Your recovery from your recent accident will begin with a claim against your own auto insurance policy. Every driver is required to carry personal injury protection with their auto insurance, and every driver has the option of buying additional types of coverage that may help them recover more compensation after an accident. Your Baldwin car accident attorney can help you deal with your insurance carrier, verifying that they handle your claim appropriately and deliver a reasonable settlement offer under the terms of your policy.

If your insurer deals with you in bad faith or if you need to prove that you did not cause the accident to prevent a premium increase, your attorney can assist you with this as well. Once you have recovered as much as possible from insurance, you can proceed with filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Under Florida’s personal injury laws, the plaintiff can claim compensation for:

• Medical treatment costs. Car accidents may result in severe traumatic harm, including brain damage, broken bones, spinal injuries, and more. The defendant is liable for any and all medical expenses the plaintiff incurs for treatment of their injuries. This includes both immediate and future medical treatment costs if the plaintiff experiences a serious injury that demands extensive long-term care.
• Lost income. If your accident has left you unable to work for any period of time, the defendant who caused your accident must repay you for the income you were unable to earn. Similarly, you have the right to hold them accountable for lost future income if they injured you so severely that you are permanently disabled and cannot return to your job.
• Property losses. Your auto insurance claim may yield some compensation for your vehicle repairs and other property damages, but any outstanding property losses can be cited as economic damages in your personal injury case.
• Pain and suffering. State law allows a personal injury plaintiff to seek compensation for their intangible losses inflicted by a defendant, specifically the physical pain and emotional distress they experienced from the incident in question. Florida law does not limit how much pain and suffering a plaintiff can claim in a personal injury suit for a car accident.

Depending on how your auto accident happened, it is possible for other factors to influence your final case award. Therefore, if the defendant caused the accident through DUI or any other illegal misconduct, they may owe you punitive damages and/or restitution along with your other civil damages. Alternatively, if you bear partial responsibility for causing your accident, this will diminish your recovery.

The state previously upheld the pure comparative negligence law, allowing a plaintiff who shared fault with a defendant to recover compensation less a percentage equal to their percentage of fault for the incident. Now the state enforces a modified comparative negligence law with a 50% fault threshold. As long as the plaintiff is less than 50% at fault, they can still recover their damages, and they will have their fault percentage deducted from their case award. However, if their fault exceeds 50%, they cannot claim compensation from the liable party.

No matter how complex or straightforward you believe your impending car accident case to be, you have the greatest chance of maximizing your recovery with an attorney’s assistance. Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has built a strong professional reputation thanks to our commitment to our clients’ recoveries. Whatever your case entails, we can help develop an individualized legal strategy to maximize your compensation in the most efficient manner.

Florida Car Accident FAQs

Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle an Auto Insurance Claim?

A: Most car accident victims will receive settlement checks from their insurance carriers within a few weeks of filing their claims. Having an experienced Baldwin car accident attorney help with the claim filing process will significantly reduce the time it takes to receive your settlement, and you will be prepared to address any disputes that arise regarding your claim. The state follows the no-fault rule for car insurance claims, so proving liability is not an issue for most claimants, but some car accident victims will still encounter disputes with their insurance carriers and may need help recovering fair compensation for their claims.

Q: When Can I Sue for a Car Accident in Baldwin?

A: Florida’s no-fault rule for car accidents may appear to prevent you from filing a civil suit against the driver who caused your accident, but this isn’t necessarily true. While you do need to file a claim against your own auto insurance at first, if your damages exceed your coverage and another driver is clearly to blame for the accident, you have the right to file a civil claim against them. Consult a Baldwin car accident attorney if you are unsure whether you have grounds to file a personal injury claim against another driver.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim for a Car Accident in Northeast Florida?

A: The state enforces a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This means you must file your suit within four years of the date your accident occurred. This is more generous than the two-year statute of limitations that most other states enforce for personal injury claims, but it is still advisable to seek trustworthy legal counsel as soon as possible after your accident to increase your chances of success with your claim.

Q: Do I Need to Hire a Baldwin Car Accident Attorney to Represent My Case?

A: Technically, no, you are not legally required to hire an attorney to file any type of civil claim for damages. However, you have a significantly higher chance of winning your case if you have legal representation. Your attorney can significantly reduce the time it takes you to prove liability and secure compensation for the damages you suffered. You will also be prepared to address any disputes regarding liability for your damages, and your attorney may reveal recovery opportunities you did not realize were open to you.

Q: What Are Attorneys’ Fees for a Baldwin Car Accident Attorney?

A: Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys makes legal representation accessible to those who need it most with contingency fee billing. Under this billing arrangement, you will not pay anything for our services until we secure compensation for you, and your contingency fee will only be a portion of your total case award. If our team cannot secure compensation for the damages you suffered for any reason, you are not required to pay any legal fees, so there is no financial risk to hiring Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys to represent you in a car accident claim.

Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has successfully represented many past clients in a wide range of auto accident claims, and we know the various legal challenges you might encounter as you seek compensation for the damages you suffered. When you hire our firm to represent you, you will have access to a responsive and experienced team of legal advocates who can answer any questions you have as they arise. Our goal in every case we accept is maximum client recovery, so if you are ready to learn how an experienced Baldwin car accident attorney can help you with your claim, contact us today and schedule your free consultation with our team.