Car Accident Lawyer in Jacksonville

Holding the liable party accountable and recovering fair compensation can be difficult after suffering injuries in a car accident. Fortunately, a Jacksonville car accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process and work to recover damages that address your injuries and financial losses.

The Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at The Schiller Kessler Group can file your car accident claim and negotiate with insurance companies or assist you with a lawsuit if you qualify. Our legal team has helped over 30,000 injury victims in Florida. Reach out to us today for a free case evaluation with a member of our team.

Potential Compensation Following a Car Accident in Jacksonville

You may recover a wide range of damages after suffering an injury in an auto collision. The compensatory damages you may receive will vary depending on your situation and the severity of your injuries. Our car accident attorneys serving Jacksonville can track all the losses associated with your personal injury claim. 

Economic Damages

In many cases, we help clients seek coverage for medical costs, which can include:

• Emergency healthcare
• Hospitalization and medications
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Future medical bills, if you require ongoing medical care

Additionally, you may be able to recover compensation for your lost wages and diminished earning capacity if you are unable to return to your prior position due to a permanent impairment.

Non-Economic Damages

We can also seek non-economic damages for your pain and suffering, which includes awards for your physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish. Loss of quality of life may apply if a disability prevents you from independently performing daily activities. 

Additional non–economic damages that may apply include:

• Permanent disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

Our Case Results

$500,000

Driver struck by texting driver

$625,000

Motorist hit by out-of-control vehicle

$550,000

Motorist hit by truck

$3,000,000

Driver struck by drunk driver

View All Results

We Can Help if You Have Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Car Accident

If a loved one suffered fatal accident injuries, our Jacksonville wrongful death lawyers can help your family seek justice from an at-fault driver. We can seek reimbursement for your loved one’s medical bills, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and loss of income.

While you honor your family member’s memory, we can handle the legal process and provide compassionate legal representation.

How Florida’s No-Fault Insurance System Affects Your Car Accident Claim

Florida operates under a no-fault insurance system. Under this system, your primary avenue for recovering damages after a collision will be through the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage you carry with your own insurance carrier.

Accident victims are only eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit if they have suffered a “serious injury” as a result of the accident. Some severe injuries that qualify include:

• Any substantial and permanent scarring or disfigurement
• The significant and permanent loss of an essential bodily function
• A permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
• Death

An experienced car accident lawyer serving Jacksonville can assist you in determining whether your injury meets the necessary criteria for filing a lawsuit.

How Our Car Accident Lawyers Serving Jacksonville Can Help

Working with a Jacksonville auto accident attorney means you’ll have someone there to assist you every step of the way. Our team begins by reviewing your situation with a free consultation.

After we understand your case, we can start building your insurance claim or filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party.

Gather Evidence in Jacksonville

We can investigate your accident and gather evidence. This allows us to identify all negligent parties, seek a fair settlement from an insurance company, or take legal action against the liable party.

In many cases, our personal injury lawyers can:

• Identify and question car accident eyewitnesses
• Visit the location of your motor vehicle collision
• Collect photo and video evidence
• Work with car accident experts to reconstruct the accident
• Get copies of any accident reports, such as police reports
• Review your medical records related to the injuries you sustained
• Obtain expert witness testimony, such as medical experts who can speak to the extent of your injuries

We utilize the evidence we gather to support your account of events and to show that someone else caused your accident and injuries. We can guide you through the claims process step by step while you focus on your physical recovery.

Deal With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies may try to block your claim after a collision. Our team can communicate with these representatives on your behalf while you focus on your health. We will negotiate with insurers, protecting you from accepting unfair settlement offers or delay tactics.

Handle Your Personal Injury Lawsuit

If you suffered injuries that qualify for a personal injury lawsuit, our experienced attorneys will build a case for court. Our Jacksonville auto collision lawyers can represent you in front of a judge and jury and seek a fair verdict.

Potentially Liable Parties in a Car Accident

Determining who is responsible for a car accident is a critical part of pursuing compensation for your injuries and damages. While the at-fault driver is often the primary liable party, there are situations where other individuals or entities may also share responsibility. 

The At-Fault Driver

The majority of car accidents involve a driver who acted negligently. If a driver was negligent, they will likely be the primary liable party. Negligence can include behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, or driving under the influence. 

If the at-fault driver’s actions caused the collision, they are typically responsible for compensating the injured parties for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Vehicle Owners

In some cases, the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident may also be held liable, even if they were not driving at the time. This can occur when the owner knowingly allows an unlicensed, inexperienced, or reckless driver to operate their vehicle.

Employers

If the at-fault driver was operating a commercial vehicle, such as a delivery truck or company car, their employer may also be liable under the legal principle of “vicarious liability.” 

Employers are responsible for the actions of their employees while they are performing work-related tasks.

Automobile Manufacturers

Defective vehicle parts or systems, such as faulty brakes, airbags, or tires, can lead to accidents. If a defect in the vehicle’s design or manufacturing contributed to the collision, the vehicle manufacturer or parts manufacturer could be held liable.

Government Entities

Poorly maintained roads, missing or damaged road signs, or dangerous road designs can contribute to car accidents. In these cases, a government entity responsible for road maintenance and safety may be held accountable. 

Claims against government entities often involve complicated legal procedures and strict deadlines. A skilled Jacksonville car accident attorney can help ensure that all your paperwork is completed accurately and that you meet all deadlines in your case.

Other Third Parties

In some accidents, third parties, such as bars or restaurants that over-serve alcohol to an intoxicated driver, may share liability. These establishments can potentially be held accountable under “dram shop” laws if their actions contributed to the driver causing a crash.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, identifying all potentially liable parties is necessary for securing the compensation you deserve. The experienced Jacksonville, FL, car accident lawyers at The Schiller Kessler Group can investigate your case thoroughly and pursue claims against every responsible party. 

Filing Deadlines for Jacksonville Car Accident Lawsuits

When it comes to filing a personal injury claim after a car accident, you need to be mindful of Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(5)(a), you generally have two years to file a negligence-based personal injury lawsuit.

If you miss this deadline, the court can dismiss your request for damages. Fortunately, an experienced Jacksonville car collision attorney can review your case and keep you aware of all approaching deadlines.

The earlier you get started on your case, the easier it will be for us to collect evidence supporting your claim and speak to witnesses while their memories are fresh.

Our Experienced Jacksonville Auto Accident Lawyers Work on a Contingency Fee Basis

We always put our clients first in everything we do, which is why we will never risk putting you in a position where working with us causes further financial losses.

Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We don’t charge upfront fees or bill at an hourly rate. Instead, we will collect payment for our services at the conclusion of your case from the money recovered from the liable party at a fixed percentage. If we don’t get you money for your losses, you don’t pay us for our services.

Working in this manner allows us to help any accident victim, regardless of their financial means. You can also be confident that our lawyer will work to get you maximum compensation for your losses.

Don’t Trust the Insurance Companies

In theory, insurance companies offer protection to injured parties in the event of an accident. While the stated goal of these companies is to safeguard individuals against disasters, the truth is that far too often these companies prioritize profits over people. Insurers will often go to great lengths to deny or devalue valid claims.

Insurance companies will use various tactics to minimize their financial losses, including offering quick, lowball settlements before you understand the full extent of your losses and manipulating you into saying something they can use to undermine your claim.

The best way to protect yourself is by refusing to accept any settlement offer or give a statement until you have secured experienced legal representation. Once you hire an attorney, they will handle all negotiations with the insurer to protect your interests.

Types of Negligence That Can Cause Auto Collisions

Drivers are expected to operate their vehicles responsibly and take reasonable care to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Unfortunately, negligent behavior often leads to serious accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. 

Below are some common types of negligence that can cause auto collisions. Our car accident lawyers in Jacksonville can investigate your case to determine how negligence played a role. 

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents across the nation. It occurs when a driver’s attention is diverted away from the road due to activities such as:

• Texting or talking on a cellphone
• Adjusting the radio or GPS
• Eating or drinking
• Interacting with passengers

Even a few seconds of distraction can lead to catastrophic consequences. A Jacksonville car accident attorney can help determine if distracted driving contributed to your accident and seek compensation for your injuries.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving involves willful disregard for traffic laws and the safety of others. This type of negligence includes behaviors such as:

• Speeding excessively
• Tailgating or aggressive driving
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Weaving in and out of traffic

Reckless drivers put everyone at risk, and their behavior often results in severe accidents and injuries. If a reckless driver has injured you, a skilled Jacksonville car accident lawyer can help you hold them accountable.

Other Common Forms of Negligence

In addition to distracted and reckless driving, other forms of negligence can cause car accidents, such as:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Ignoring weather or road conditions
• Driving without proper vehicle maintenance

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our car accident attorneys serving Jacksonville are here to help.

Our Knowledgeable Car Accident Attorneys in Jacksonville Are Ready to Help

At The Schiller Kessler Group, we can assist you as you pursue compensation after an accident in Florida. Hiring a Jacksonville car accident attorney means you always have someone on your side dedicated to addressing your legal concerns.

Our team brings over three decades of experience to your car accident case in Jacksonville. We treat each claim as a unique challenge, exploring all aspects of your collision with integrity and working aggressively on your behalf. You can learn more by calling us for a free initial consultation.