Orange Park, FL Car Accident Lawyer

Orange Park Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents happen in Orange Park and throughout North Florida every day from a variety of causes. Minor accidents are typically resolved through insurance. State law requires every driver to have no-fault insurance that they can use when an accident happens, regardless of who caused the accident. However, when one driver is clearly responsible for an accident, and the victim’s insurance cannot fully cover the damages they suffered, the injured driver can file a personal injury claim to recover their outstanding damages.

Helping Car Accident Victims Recover in Orange Park, FL

If you or a family member is struggling with injuries you suffered in a car accident, an experienced Orange Park car accident attorney can help you determine the optimal path to recovery. The team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has successfully represented many past clients, and we can leverage this experience on your behalf as you seek accountability and compensation for a recent car accident.

Time is a crucial consideration for anyone in the aftermath of a car accident. You have a very limited time in which to file your auto insurance claim, and dealing with any insurance company can be tremendously stressful. If you have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim along with your insurance claim, State law upholds a relatively generous statute of limitations of four years in which to file your claim. However, you have the greatest chance of success with your case when you start the filing process as soon as possible.

Commonly Reported Causes of Serious Car Accidents in Orange Park

All drivers should be aware of the most commonly reported causes of serious accidents. While no driver can always predict the actions of other drivers around them, knowing the most common causes of crashes can help a driver avoid liability for causing an accident. Some of the most common causes of serious accidents in the Orange Park area are:

• Distracted or inattentive driving. Every driver has a duty of care to maintain situational awareness and alertness behind the wheel. If a driver becomes distracted, they could easily cause a serious accident, potentially injuring themselves or others. Proving distracted driving may require traffic camera footage, the at-fault driver’s cell phone records, and testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen in real-time.
• Any time a driver speeds, they inherently increase the risk of an accident. Accidents are not only more likely to occur at higher speeds but also result in more severe damage. Severe speeding could lead to the state filing criminal charges against the at-fault driver for reckless driving.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. DUI is a serious criminal offense, and it is, unfortunately, a leading cause of serious car accidents. The driver at fault for a DUI accident faces criminal charges along with civil liability for the victim’s damages. Penalties for DUI convictions often include fines, jail time, and driver’s license suspension. When a DUI accident causes serious injuries, the defendant is likely to face felony prosecution.
• Moving violations. Any time a driver fails to navigate an intersection correctly, yield the right-of-way where appropriate, stop for a red light or stop sign, or performs an illegal turn, they disrupt the flow of traffic. Moving violations can easily cause serious accidents, especially in areas with heavy traffic congestion.
• Vehicle maintenance issues. If a driver notices any performance or mechanical problem with their vehicle, they are required to have it fixed in a timely manner. Failure to do so could cause an accident, and the driver would be liable for failing to have their car properly serviced. It is also possible for a service center or mechanic to face liability for an accident if they were negligent in their care of a vehicle sent in for repairs.

The first step in recovering from your recent accident is filing an insurance claim through your own auto insurance carrier, but if you have grounds for a personal injury suit, you must be prepared to prove liability for the accident to secure compensation for your damages. It is technically possible for you to attempt these recovery efforts on your own, but this would be risky and very difficult while recovering from painful injuries. Hiring an experienced Orange Park car accident attorney to represent you significantly increases your chances of success with your recovery efforts.

Dealing With Auto Insurance Carriers

Auto insurance is essentially a paid promise. In exchange for your premium payments, the insurance carrier agrees to cover losses in specific situations. Florida law requires every driver to have personal injury protection with their auto insurance, and most drivers have the option to purchase additional types of coverage to enhance their insurance policies. Whenever an accident happens, regardless of who is at fault, drivers are required to claim against their own auto insurance as a first step toward recovery.

While most insurance company representatives handle their job duties in good faith, some, unfortunately, do not. Some insurance company representatives engage in bad faith tactics, preying on the lack of awareness and desperation of an injured claimant in their effort to avoid liability for their claim. An insurance company representative is less likely to attempt such handling of a claim if the claimant has legal counsel. When you choose Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys as your legal representative, we can help you resolve any disputes that might arise between you and your insurance carrier, helping you secure a fair and reasonable settlement offer under the terms of your policy.

How to File Your Personal Injury Claim for an Auto Accident in Orange Park

State law allows the victim of another party’s negligence or illegal misconduct to file a civil suit, seeking compensation for the losses they suffered from the incident. Once you have secured as much compensation as you can through the insurance claim process, your Orange Park car accident attorney can help you build your civil suit against the driver who caused your accident. A successful personal injury claim can potentially yield compensation for:

• Medical treatment costs. When another party is responsible for physically injuring you, you can hold them accountable for all of the medical care you need to fully recover from the incident. Under the state’s personal injury laws, the defendant is liable for both immediate and future medical treatment costs resulting from their negligence or misconduct. For example, if you suffered serious injuries that will require extensive future medical care, the defendant is liable for all of these medical expenses.
• Lost income. When you cannot work due to the severity of your injuries, the defendant is liable for the income you are unable to earn during this time. It is also possible to secure compensation for future income if you are too injured to return to work. Your Orange Park car accident attorney can help you calculate the total income you would have been able to earn had the accident not occurred and add this amount to your claim.
• Property losses. Your auto insurance claim may cover some of your vehicle repair costs, but any property damage you cannot recover through insurance can be claimed as economic damages in your personal injury case.
• Pain and suffering. Florida law does not limit how much a plaintiff can seek for the pain and suffering they experienced in a car accident. Your Orange Park car accident attorney can help you determine a suitable figure based on the overall severity of your injuries and whether you suffered any permanent harm from the accident.

It is possible for other variables to change the final outcome of a personal injury case for a car accident. For example, if the defendant caused the accident through DUI or some other illegal misconduct, they may owe punitive damages or restitution to the plaintiff along with their other claimed damages. If the plaintiff is partially responsible for causing the crash, they may face a diminished recovery under the state’s pure comparative negligence law.

When you choose Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys as your legal counsel for a car accident case, we can carefully review the details of how your accident happened to determine fault. Once we help you recover as much compensation as possible through insurance, we can help you construct a viable personal injury claim that seeks maximum compensation for your damages. The sooner you reach out for legal counsel you can trust, the more time your Orange Park car accident attorney can have to work on your case.

Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Car Accident Settlements in Florida?

A: When another driver is responsible for causing an accident with you in the Orange Park area, your recovery process is likely to start with a claim against your own auto insurance policy. However, if another driver is clearly at fault and your damages exceed your insurance coverage, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. You can seek compensation for any damages that insurance can’t cover, including vehicle repair costs, medical expenses, lost income, and your pain and suffering. An Orange Park car accident attorney can evaluate the total damages you could recover from a successful claim.

Q: How Much Pain and Suffering Compensation Can I Include in My Accident Claim?

A: The state does not place a cap or limit on pain and suffering compensation in most personal injury cases. This means you have the right to seek whatever amount you believe to be fair to reflect the severity of your physical injuries and psychological trauma from your accident. Your Orange Park car accident attorney can help you determine a suitable amount based on the overall severity of your damages and the time it will take you to fully recover.

Q: Do I Need to Hire an Orange Park Car Accident Attorney for My Case?

A: Technically, you have the right to pursue compensation on your own. There is no law requiring you to hire legal representation for a car accident case. However, you are much more likely to succeed with your recovery efforts when you have an experienced attorney representing you. Your legal team can help you uncover all avenues of compensation available to you, help you file an initial insurance claim, and guide you through the process of filing a personal injury suit against the driver who caused your accident. You are more likely to succeed with these efforts and more likely to maximize your total compensation with your attorney’s help.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Civil Claim for a Car Accident?

A: There is a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases in the state, meaning the plaintiff needs to submit their complaint to the court no later than four years from the date their personal injury occurred. After a car accident, it is generally advisable for the victim to seek legal counsel immediately so they will have help with their initial insurance claim. Once they secure as much compensation as possible through insurance, they can proceed with filing a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver.

Q: How Do I Prove Liability for a Car Accident?

A: If you cannot fully recover from an accident with your own auto insurance, you will need to file a personal injury suit against the driver who caused the accident. To succeed with this claim, you must prove they were negligent or intentionally harmful in some way that directly resulted in the accident. Your Orange Park car accident attorney can help you accomplish this by gathering physical and digital evidence, obtaining witness statements, and coordinating with various expert witnesses, if necessary.

The team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has earned a strong professional reputation as a top choice for personal injury representation. We listen to our client’s story and help them develop an individualized legal strategy that aims for maximum compensation. When you need to pursue legal recourse against another driver, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Orange Park car accident attorney and learn more about the legal services we provide to Northeast Florida clients.