Sara Jones Law, P.A., represents people who have suffered severe injuries in Florida. We understand that behind every insurance claim is a real person who needs help. Injuries caused by the negligence of others are more than just painful – they are incredibly traumatic events that have long-lasting or permanent physical, emotional, and financial impacts.
Many car accident victims do not understand the full scope of their legal rights, or Florida’s complex personal injury and insurance laws. If you have a severe injury, unless you are a personal injury attorney in Florida, we strongly advise you not to take on a case alone. Our attorneys can help at every stage of the insurance claim and litigation process, including:
- Investigating an accident
- Locating all possible defendants for your case
- Determining insurance available in a claim
- Documenting financial/economic loss
- Reconstructing an accident
- Negotiating the maximum compensation available.
A knowledgeable, hard-working Florida personal injury lawyers at Sara Jones Law, P.A., can be the difference between minimal or no compensation and maximum, full, and fair compensation. If you’d like to speak with our team about your potential case, contact us for a free and confidential case evaluation.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
If your accident or injury is caused by the negligent or intentional actions of another party, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. We handle all types of serious injury accidents in Florida, including the practice areas below:
Car Accidents
Car accident personal injury claims include rear-end accidents, sideswipe accidents, head-on collisions, SUV rollovers, and other types of motor vehicle accidents. Common causes of car accidents in Florida include distracted driving, driving under the influence, following vehicles too closely, failing to check blind spots during lane changes, driving too fast for weather conditions, and falling asleep at the wheel. We also handle car accidents involving Uber/Lyft and other rideshare vehicles.
Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists are extremely vulnerable to injury on Florida roads. We handle car vs. bicycle accidents involving left-turn and right-turn collisions, crosswalk accidents, wrong-way accidents, and rear-end accidents. We also handle defective bicycle part product liability claims and roadway defect injury claims. If you’ve been injured or a loved one has died due to an issue with your bicycle or dangerous road condition, you may be entitled to compensation.
Bus Accidents
When bus accidents occur, injuries are often very serious or fatal, including brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and burn injuries. A bus accident injury claim may involve a school bus, public transit bus, charter bus, commercial bus, hotel shuttle bus, airport shuttle bus, or prisoner transport bus. If the bus was operated by a government entity or agency (such as a city transit agency or school district), the case may be subject to strict procedural requirements compensation may be limited. If you’re involved in any bus accident, consult a lawyer as soon as possible.
Pedestrian Accidents
Florida consistently has one of the highest rates for pedestrian fatalities in the United States. Pedestrian accidents refer to accidents involving anyone walking, hiking, jogging, or even standing outside of a broken down vehicle. Elderly adults and children are especially vulnerable to being struck, as drivers may not see them, or they may not be able to dart out of the path of a vehicle in time to avoid being struck.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries caused by trauma in a car accident may lead to permanent paralysis and serious complications. These life-changing injuries can leave an accident victim unable to walk or even talk, and the financial cost of caring for a spinal injury victim can be enormous. Although no amount of money can ever lessen the physical or emotional trauma of a spinal injury, compensation can ease financial burdens and allow victims and families to focus on healing and moving forward.
Time Limits Affecting Your Florida Personal Injury Claim
Time limits, called a statute of limitations, exist in all personal injury and wrongful death claims in Florida. These limits are typically either two years, four years, or five years. Florida also has a “14-day rule,” which mandates that you get medical attention within 14 days of a car accident in Florida. If you do not visit the doctor within 14 days, you cannot file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim, which is the compensation available under Florida’s no-fault insurance laws. To best protect your rights, get medical attention right away, and then contact a lawyer right away.
Florida Traffic Accident Statistics
The state of Florida consistently averages more than 1,000 car accidents each day. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has provided the following statistics about Florida car accidents in 2018, the most recent year statistics are available: In 2018, there were:
- 403,626 car accidents in Florida
- 3,135 fatalities from all crashes
- 167,219 total injury accidents
- 160 bicyclist fatalities
- 531 motorcycle fatalities
- 720 pedestrian fatalities
- 207 hit-and-run fatalities
- 21,610 hit-and-run injuries.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you are not alone. You have legal options for pursuing compensation for your injuries if another party’s negligence caused the accident. After an accident, you must report the accident to your insurance company, according to the terms of your policy. Do not speculate on fault or provide a recorded statement. Before you accept any compensation from an insurance company, talk to a lawyer about your rights and options, and how much your personal injury claim may really be worth.
How to Get the Maximum Compensation Available For Your Car Accident Claim
Most cases settle outside of court, and it is possible to settle a case without hiring a lawyer. However, not hiring an attorney could mean you receive far less money than you are entitled to receive. If insurance claims were simple and straightforward, personal injury attorneys would not exist.
When you report an accident, your point of contact may have the title of claims adjustor, claims specialist, or claims representative. They will tell you, or imply, that they can efficiently settle your case without the need to involve a lawyer. Although you may be tempted to trust your adjuster, remember that insurance companies are businesses, and the adjuster’s job is to clear or close your case out for as little as possible. Adjusters are empathetic and kind because that builds trust. Their job is to do “lawyer math” and offer car accident victims a low settlement, far lower than what could be awarded in court. They even receive compensation and bonuses based on how little of a payment they can get policyholders and accident victims to accept.
Get a Free Florida Personal Injury Attorney Consultation
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, call Sara Jones Law, P.A. today. We offer a free consultation to answer your questions, review your case, and explain your legal rights. If we represent you, we will not charge anything unless we recover money for you. Call us at 863.455.4811 or request a consultation on our website.