Lakeside, FL, Car Accident Lawyer

Lakeside Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are one of the most commonly reported causes of accidental injuries and deaths in North Florida each year. Navigating the aftermath of any serious accident can be very difficult for the average person, and it is possible to encounter a host of complex legal issues you will not know how to resolve on your own. A Lakeside car accident attorney is an invaluable asset in this situation. If you or a family member is struggling with injuries and financial losses from an accident someone else caused, the right attorney can assist you with your recovery efforts.

Helping Lakeside, FL, Car Accident Victims Recover With Confidence

Depending on how and why your accident happened, you may have more options for recovery than you initially expected. The state upholds a no-fault rule for car accidents, meaning all drivers must have their own personal injury protection coverage with their auto insurance and claim against their own insurance when accidents happen. However, proving fault for an accident may be necessary if your damages eclipse the total coverage of your policy and/or you suffered catastrophic injuries.

Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has a team of seasoned attorneys with a strong reputation as a leading choice for personal injury counsel. We take time to get to know each client, helping them determine their most viable paths to recovery, and we are often able to exceed their expectations when it comes to the compensation they are legally allowed to collect. When you choose our firm to represent your car accident case, you will have a dedicated legal advocate ready to address your concerns and answer your most important legal questions as they arise.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Proving fault is an important part of most car accident cases in the Lakeside area. While the state enforces a no-fault rule, your own auto insurance may not fully cover the damages you suffered in a recent accident. If this applies to your case, you must be prepared to prove exactly how your accident happened and identify the driver who caused it. Once you exhaust your recovery options through insurance, you can proceed with filing a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver to obtain compensation for your remaining damages.

A few of the most commonly cited causes of car accidents that generate civil suits in Northeast Florida are:

• Distracted driving. If insurance alone can’t cover your damages, you may need to prove the other driver was inattentive behind the wheel to secure compensation for the losses you suffered. Texting while driving is one of the most commonly cited forms of distracted driving that causes accidents across the United States each year.
• If a driver exceeds the posted speed limit, they can easily cause an accident due to the much shorter time they have to react to changes in traffic patterns. Speeding also increases the severity of the damages resulting from an accident, and excessive speeding may lead to reckless driving charges for the at-fault driver.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. It is illegal for any driver to operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the penalties for doing so can include heavy fines, loss of driving privileges, and jail time. Penalties escalate when a defendant causes severe bodily harm or death.
• Vehicle malfunctions. Drivers are required to have their cars checked whenever they notice performance or mechanical problems. Failure to do so could lead to liability for an accident. It is also possible for a mechanic to bear liability if faulty maintenance on a vehicle causes an accident, or a product manufacturer could be liable for an accident resulting from a defective car or part.
• Traffic violations. Whenever a driver intentionally disobeys or negligently fails to follow the rules of the road, they put themselves at serious risk of causing an accident. Running red lights or failing to yield the right-of-way are common examples of moving violations that cause accidents.

Your first option for recovering from an accident is to file a claim against your own auto insurance policy. However, if your damages are too severe for your insurance policy to cover, you will need to prove liability for your accident to hold the at-fault driver accountable for your outstanding damages. Your Lakeside car accident attorney can help you obtain traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, and digital evidence like cell phone records to help you firmly establish liability for your recent accident.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for Your Accident

State law requires all drivers to have no-fault auto insurance. This means that regardless of who caused your recent accident, you will need to file a claim against your own insurance policy as a first step toward recovering your losses. This might sound straightforward enough, but the unfortunate reality is that insurance company representatives are rarely helpful to injured claimants and will generally do everything they can to minimize claim payouts. Some go as far as to engage in bad faith handling of legitimate claims, hoping claimants’ desperation compels them to accept lowball settlement offers.

If you have a Lakeside car accident attorney help you file your insurance claim, you are less likely to encounter any unethical handling of your case from the insurance carrier. Your attorney can assist you with drafting a demand letter to the insurance company, and they can resolve any disputes that arise regarding your claim. Once you receive a settlement offer, your legal team can verify that it is fair and reasonable under the terms of your policy. After maximizing your recovery through insurance, the next step of your legal proceedings will be a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver if you have grounds to file one.

Building Your Personal Injury Case for a Car Accident

Florida law allows the victim of a car accident to file a civil suit against the driver who caused their recent accident. Your Lakeside car accident attorney can help you secure as much compensation as possible through insurance, and if you have remaining losses, they can begin the process of filing a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver.

To succeed with your personal injury case, you must identify the party or parties responsible for causing your damages and then prove the full extent of those damages. Most personal injury cases filed in Lakeside pertain to both economic and non-economic losses, the former being much easier to prove with the appropriate documentation:

• If you suffered physical injuries, the defendant is liable for the cost of any medical care you require that your insurance does not cover. This includes both immediate and future healthcare expenses, so if you suffered a serious injury that will require ongoing care, the defendant is responsible for all associated medical treatment costs.
• When a car accident causes you to miss work, the defendant is responsible for repaying the income you could not earn during this time. Your attorney can not only help you obtain compensation for lost income but also lost future wages if your earning capacity was permanently diminished by the defendant’s actions.
• Your auto insurance may cover some of your vehicle repair costs, but if the defendant caused property damages that can’t be recovered through insurance, you could add these losses to your personal injury claim.
• Florida law allows the plaintiff in a personal injury case to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. There is no limit to how much pain and suffering compensation you can claim in a personal injury case, and your Lakeside car accident attorney can provide valuable guidance for determining a suitable amount to reflect the severity of your experience.

Ultimately, you could be entitled to claim more compensation for your recent accident than you initially expected. When you have an experienced Lakeside car accident attorney representing you, you are not only more likely to maximize your insurance claim settlement in an efficient manner, but you are also prepared to file a personal injury claim if you have damages insurance can’t cover.

The team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys excels at guiding our clients through the most challenging civil cases. We have successfully helped many car accident victims recover compensation for their damages, and we know how to build a compelling case on your behalf. The sooner you reach out to our team for legal assistance, the more time we have to work on your case.

Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

Q: Should I Get a Lawyer After a Florida Car Accident?

A: You are not technically required to hire legal counsel after a car accident, but doing so will dramatically improve your recovery experience. Your legal team can handle all the procedural aspects of your recovery efforts, from filing your auto insurance claim to building a personal injury suit to recover the losses that insurance can’t repay. Additionally, your legal representative can handle all of your legal affairs on your behalf so you can focus on your medical needs.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Suit for a Car Accident in Lakeside, FL?

A: There is a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Lakeside, Florida. This means that if any other party injures you, you must file your civil claim against them within four years of the date your accident happened. Recovery from a car accident usually starts with an insurance claim against your own insurance policy due to the state’s no-fault rule, but if your damages exceed the scope of your coverage, you can bring a civil claim against the driver responsible for your accident.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Recover for a Car Accident in Lakeside?

A: The total value of your car accident claim depends on the damages you suffered. Your own auto insurance may cover your damages, but if not, you will need to prepare a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident. The state’s personal injury laws enable you to seek full compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Additionally, you can also seek compensation for future medical treatment costs and your lost future earning potential.

Q: What Happens if I am Partially Liable for a Car Accident?

A: Florida enforces a pure comparative fault rule. This means that a plaintiff in a civil claim can still recover compensation for their damages in a car accident even if they share liability for causing those damages. The plaintiff’s percentage of fault is deducted from their final case award, and they keep the remainder. If you have any concerns about bearing partial fault for your recent car accident, it is crucial to work with an experienced Lakeside car accident attorney as you seek compensation for your damages.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Car Accident Claim?

A: Every car accident claim is unique, and the time your case will require to complete depends on several factors. If you secure legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible, you are not only more likely to secure appropriate compensation for your damages, but you are also more likely to do so in a much shorter time than you could have managed on your own. An experienced Lakeside car accident attorney can help you file your insurance claim and, if this is not enough to fully compensate you for your losses, build a personal injury suit on your behalf.

The team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has the skills and resources you want on your side to recover as fully as possible from a car accident. Our firm has a solid professional record of successful cases behind us because we focus on the client first in every case we accept. Time is a critical concern for anyone in the aftermath of a serious accident, and the sooner you connect with legal counsel you can trust, the more likely you are to maximize your recovery. Contact Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys today to schedule a free consultation with a Lakeside car accident attorney and start working toward the compensation you legally deserve.