How to Find the Best Car Accident Attorney for Your Case
A car accident can be life-changing. Even minor accidents can cause severe injuries and medical bills that can pile up fast. You need a car accident attorney to ensure that you receive the full amount of compensation you are entitled to under Florida law.
A skilled Jacksonville car accident lawyer will be an essential asset to your case and can help you navigate the complex insurance claim process. They will prepare your case from the start, gather all relevant evidence, and conduct a thorough investigation of the crash and your injuries. They will also use a variety of effective negotiation tactics to maximize your settlement.
When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, it is critical that you hire a car accident attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you do so, the more support you will have as you go up against a team of professionals who are working hard to save their employer money. A skilled car accident attorney will be able to spot any red flags that the other driver or their insurance company might try to use against you. This can include statements that you make at the scene of the accident or something that you said in your initial statement to police. The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more damage you may be causing your own claim.
While Florida is a no-fault state, it still allows victims to file civil claims for damages that exceed their PIP coverage. PIP insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other monetary losses related to a crash regardless of who is at fault. However, the PIP limit does not cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
You can also file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if you add uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage to your policy. However, you must meet certain criteria to qualify for a UMBI claim.
In addition to proving that the at-fault driver breached their duty of care, you must prove that this breach caused your damages. This is known as causation, and it is the core element of a successful personal injury case.
One of the most common causes of car crashes in Florida is distracted driving. This is why it is so important that all drivers pay attention to the road at all times. Distracted driving can include using a mobile device, eating, smoking, or simply not paying attention to changing traffic conditions. This type of negligence often leads to rear-end collisions, side-impact crashes, and head-on crashes.
Other causes of car accidents that you might experience in Jacksonville include faulty vehicle parts, roadway defects, and speeding. You can also file a lawsuit against a government agency if you have been injured due to the design or maintenance of an unsafe road or sidewalk. These types of claims are very complex and must follow different rules than other civil claims against private entities. An experienced Jacksonville car accident attorney will be able to determine if you have the right to file a governmental tort claim.