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Nobody understands what you’re going through more than Whitley Law Firm. That’s because, since 1974, we’ve helped countless claimants recover damages and navigate the claims process. You’re not alone in a time like this, and you shouldn’t have to take on any case-related obligations either. That’s our job.

A Jacksonville personal injury lawyer from our firm in North Carolina can be your sword and shield in your fight for fair compensation. No matter if you suffered injuries in a traffic accident or fall, we want to provide comprehensive advocacy in your time of need. To learn more about entrusting your case to our team and what that entails, call (919) 739-4448.

A lawyer of a lawsuit

Personal Injury Claims in Jacksonville: What You Need to Know

Why Getting Fair Compensation After an Accident in Jacksonville Matters

There are a few key reasons why getting fair compensation in a personal injury claim in Jacksonville, Florida, is important:

  • Covers losses suffered. The purpose of personal injury compensation is to cover the various losses suffered by the injured victim, such as medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, etc. Fair compensation allows the plaintiff to recover from the accident both financially and emotionally. Without it, they may suffer long-term negative consequences.
  • Deters negligence. Fair payouts deter potential defendants from neglecting safety and acting negligently. Knowing they will be held fully accountable makes parties more diligent. This promotes public safety.
  • Provides a sense of justice. When responsible parties pay fair damages, it gives plaintiffs a sense that justice was served. Negligence was adequately punished and accounted for. This can provide emotional closure.
  • Allows plaintiff to move on. With fair compensation in hand, plaintiffs can pay off debts, get medical treatment, and move forward with their lives after the trauma of the accident and legal process. Unfairly low rewards prevent this.
  • Upholds legal rights. The right to fair compensation when injured due to another’s negligence is an important legal right. Upholding this right promotes the rule of law and consistency in the legal system.
  • Impacts future cases. Fair payouts and judgments set benchmarks and precedents for similar future cases. This maintains equitable standards over time. Unfairly low rewards set bad precedents.

How Much You Can Get in a Jacksonville Personal Injury Claim

During your consultation, a personal injury lawyer in Jackson can review your claim and give you an estimate of what your potential settlement could look like. Without a careful review of the details and evidence in your claim, there is no way to estimate the value of your claim.

Each case is unique, but here are some examples of recent  results we’ve achieved for our clients:

  • $10 million for the surviving family members of four apartment fire victims
  • $5.5 million to a rural mail carrier who was injured while delivering mail
  • $4 million settlement to a worker who suffered from paralysis after a fall
  • $3.5 million settlement after a plaintiff was hit by a bus
  • $3 million to the family of a man who was killed after being hit by a commercial truck
  • $2.4 million for a construction worker who suffered injuries after a wall collapse
  • $2.3 million to the victim of a serious bicycle accident
  • $1.17 million settlement for the victim of a DOT vehicle crash

If you accept the first settlement offer from the at-fault party’s insurance company, there is a good chance you will be left without the full and fair compensation you’ll need to cover all of your future accident-related expenses – especially if your injuries require ongoing treatment.

We fight for the full value of your claim because our goal is to make sure you have the financial compensation you need to move forward from your accident with the resources you need to recover.

Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Jacksonville, FL

There are several important reasons why hiring a personal injury lawyer is beneficial if you have suffered an injury due to another party’s negligence:

  • Expertise – Personal injury law can be complex. An experienced personal injury lawyer understands the nuances of negligence law and procedures. They know how to build a strong case, navigate the litigation process, argue liability and damages, negotiate settlements, and give you the best chance of maximizing your compensation.
  • Resources – Lawyers have the time and resources to dedicate to your case that you likely don’t have, such as investigating the incident, consulting expert witnesses, researching case law precedents, and collecting medical records and other evidence. A good lawyer will leverage these resources effectively.
  • Objectivity – Emotions often run high after an injury. A lawyer approaches your case from a neutral, objective perspective to determine legal options. Emotions may bias a plaintiff and hurt their case. The lawyer serves as an objective advocate.
  • Court Experience – Most injury victims have little court experience, which puts them at a disadvantage against seasoned insurance company lawyers. Your lawyer has the courtroom skills, knowledge of the judges and systems, and litigation experience to competently try your case if a trial is necessary.
  • Settlement Negotiation – Personal injury lawyers are effective negotiators who know how to put pressure on insurance companies to get full and fair settlements. Without legal representation, you may get pressured into accepting less.
  • No Fees Unless You Win – Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning no upfront fees and they only get paid if they win or settle your case. This provides access to representation.

What to Expect From Whitley Law Firm on Your Personal Injury Case

Our clients receive the Whitley Advantage when we handle their personal injury claims. But what does this entail?

We listen––truly listen–– to you. We care about our clients and treat them the way we would want to be treated – you know, the Golden Rule. The Whitley Advantage is not just one thing; it’s everything.

You Can Afford to Hire Our Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorneys

You might have hired a lawyer before to help you with a traffic ticket or divorce. In cases like those, you had to pay legal fees from the beginning. That is not how legal fees work in personal injury claims.

We use contingency-fee arrangements for payment on personal injury cases. You do not pay us any upfront legal fees. At the end of the matter, we receive a portion of the settlement or court award for our attorney’s fees. Also, we have a strict “no-fee” policy, which means that you do not owe us any legal fees unless you win compensation.

Lawyer Providing Legal Advice to Client

Injured Due to Negligence? Our Jacksonville Injury Lawyers Can Advocate for You

At Whitley Law Firm, we handle many kinds of personal injury cases. Here are some of the more common types of personal injury claims we handle for our friends and neighbors in Jacksonville:

  • Motor vehicle collisions, including cars, trucks, buses, bicycles, pedestrians, and motorcycles. If another driver or person caused the motor vehicle crash in which you suffered significant injuries, our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers can help you hold them financially accountable for your losses.
  • Dog bites. The owner of a dog known to be aggressive or dangerous can be responsible if they attack or bite someone. The owner might also be liable even if the dog has not bitten anyone else before.
  • Premises liability incidents. Premises liability incidents refer to injuries suffered on another party’s property. For instance, if you slipped and fell at a big-box retailer, you could have a case against the store’s management.
  • Construction accidents. With this type of accident, the injured person might be able to file a workers’ compensation claim for benefits and, under some circumstances, file a personal injury case against the at-fault party. A Jacksonville personal injury attorney can help you with either type of case.
  • Workers’ compensation. These cases involve job-related injuries or occupational diseases. You do not have to prove fault because the North Carolina workers’ compensation program is a no-fault system. You do have to follow strict rules, however, to qualify for benefits like medical treatment and two-thirds of your lost wages.
  • Product liability incidents. Manufacturers and some sellers can be liable when a person gets injured because of a defective or dangerous product. Examples of product liability cases include dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, car airbags, talcum powder, and other products that have been or should have been recalled due to defects causing injuries.
  • Wrongful death. When a close relative loses their life due to the negligence or intentional act of someone else, you want a lawyer who will treat you and your family with compassion. Our services will not only include working relentlessly for your family’s financial compensation. We also help people with their personal and emotional recovery in devastating times like this.

If your type of claim is not on this list, please do not worry. Most likely, we handle your kind of case. We have more than 80 years of combined experience, and we’ve helped countless people recover the damages they need. You can reach out to us today to learn more about our commitment to client-centered care.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Jacksonville Seek Full and Fair Compensation

The kinds of monetary damages you could seek in your personal injury claim will depend on the unique facts of your situation. Our lawyers assess your current and anticipated healthcare needs to arrive at a fair figure for your hardships. We also fight for a settlement that acknowledges the trauma, inconvenience, and gravity of your accident.

Compensable losses through a claim or lawsuit may comprise:

  • Lost wages. If your boss did not pay your regular wages during the time when you could not work because of your injuries, you might have a claim for lost income.
  • Medical expenses. You can recoup the cost of your past, present, and future medical treatments as they relate to the accident. You could seek coverage for surgeries, hospitalization, medications, and doctors’ copays.
  • Long-term care. Catastrophic injuries, like paralysis from spinal cord damage, can leave the injured person unable to live independently without daily assistance.
  • Future lost wages. A person can have a claim for future lost wages if, after completing their prescribed medical interventions, they continue to have problems that interfere with their earning capacity.
  • Anything you spent out of pocket. You may have spent money out of pocket on certain expenses, such as on childcare costs and temporary transportation arrangements. Those losses are compensable, and we can help you document them.
  • Pain and suffering. This category of compensation is for the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the accident and your injuries.
  • Other non-economic losses. Some people have compensable losses that do not come with receipts and price tags. Instead, they reflect the intangible harm to one’s physical and emotional well-being. Examples of these damages are the loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement from extensive scars, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Our personal injury lawyers in Jacksonville take on your fight like it happened to us personally. We won’t settle for a dime less than you deserve, and we approach negotiations with the tenacity you can expect from a firm with decades of combined experience.

You Have a Limited Time to Seek Damages in Your Jacksonville Personal Injury Case

Our legal team refers to Jacksonville’s courts as “our home away from home.” We’re so familiar with litigation and what it entails that when we walk into the courtroom, we’re greeted with familiar faces. However, you don’t have an unlimited time to pursue damages following a personal injury.

You generally have three years to file a lawsuit, according to G.S. § 1-52. If you do not file a lawsuit before the filing deadline expires, North Carolina law will forever bar you from seeking compensation for your injuries and other losses from the negligent party. Different types of cases, like wrongful death and medical malpractice, can have different filing deadlines.

Negotiating with the liable insurer is not the same as filing a lawsuit. The only way to protect your right to litigation is to file a lawsuit before the deadline. Time is of the essence, and there’s no need to stress about calling us. When we pick up the phone, you’ll be greeted by a friendly voice on the other end.

Woman Client Consulting a Lawyer with Laptop and Tablet at Office

Jacksonville Personal Injury Claim FAQs

How Important is Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Case?

Most personal injury claims in Jacksonville rest on the principle of negligence. Negligence refers to injuring another person through carelessness or recklessness.

For example, if you knocked someone over while cheering at a football game, this would likely not constitute negligence because you didn’t act without regard for others’ safety. Matters change when a drunk driver causes an accident, or a property owner doesn’t address a dangerous hazard on their premises.

But why are we sharing this? Because proving negligence is one of the most important tasks your lawyer takes on. To hold another party financially responsible for your losses, we must establish:

  • The other party had a duty of care, an obligation to act with reasonable prudence.
  • The other party acted without regard for others’ safety, putting others at risk of injury.
  • Because the other party acted negligently, you suffered injuries. You would not have been injured had it not been for the other party’s actions or omissions.
  • As a result of the accident and your injuries, you have damages, such as medical bills and lost income.

You don’t have to worry about proving any of these elements when you entrust your case to the team at Whitley Law Firm. We investigate the circumstances of your accident to learn what happened, how much you deserve, and how to hold the other party accountable.

Why Is Proving the Other Party’s Negligence So Important?

Contributory negligence is the legal doctrine that if a person is even one percent to blame for the accident in which they were injured, they cannot recover any compensation from the other party. North Carolina follows the rule of pure contributory negligence in personal injury cases. So, the at-fault party’s insurance company may dispute the cause of your accident to shield itself from liability.

A personal injury lawyer can fight an unfair assessment of your situation. Whitley Law Firm can battle the insurer on this issue and any other improper tactics it may use to discredit your case.

Why Are Expert Witnesses Important in Florida Injury Claims?

In some cases, our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys may call upon expert witnesses to help prove fault, damages, or other aspects of your case. Here are a few reasons why expert witnesses are important in personal injury claims in Florida:

  • They provide specialized expertise and opinions. Expert witnesses have specialized knowledge, training, and experience in a particular field that can help assess technical evidence and provide opinions on issues related to liability, causation, damages, etc. For example, doctors can provide medical opinions, engineers can analyze mechanical failures, and accountants can calculate economic losses. Their expertise is useful for interpreting complex evidence.
  • They assist the judge/jury. Expert testimony gives judges and juries a better understanding of complicated or disputed technical, medical, or scientific issues that are beyond common knowledge. This assists them in making informed decisions about the case.
  • They can counter opposing experts. The defense will often have their own expert witnesses. Plaintiff attorneys can retain experts not just to provide opinions but also to rebut or undermine the views of the defense experts. Competing expert witnesses allow for a fuller debate.
  • They can strengthen causation arguments. By offering an opinion supporting causation (e.g. this accident caused the injury), expert testimony can help establish the defendant’s liability or negligence. It makes the connection between the accident and injury/losses clearer.
  • They can justify damages. Expert opinions are important for justifying the plaintiff’s claimed damages. An expert can provide analysis and calculations supporting the plaintiff’s claims for medical costs, lost income, loss of future earnings, etc. This evidence can help the plaintiff obtain full compensation.

Expert witnesses are critical for interpreting evidence, educating the judge/jury, establishing causation, and supporting damages in personal injury litigation. Their expertise provides opinions and perspectives the court needs in deciding the case.

Three Secrets the Claims Adjuster Won’t Share About Your Jacksonville Personal Injury Claim

When injured people try to handle their personal injury claims on their own without a lawyer, the claims adjuster does not have any legal obligation to explain their legal rights. Here are just a few of the secrets the claims adjuster might not explain to you:

You May Qualify for More Damages Than You Think

You might qualify for much more compensation than merely your medical bills and lost wages. Your monetary compensation for future lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and other intangible losses can add a significant amount to the financial value of your injury case.

The claims adjuster hopes that by not sharing this information, they can save money on paying for your damages. Our team wants you to recover everything you need to move forward. So, once we calculate your losses, we fight for everything you deserve.

You Don’t Have to Settle Your Case Immediately

You do not have to settle quickly, especially before you complete your medical treatment. You will not know how well you will heal or if you will have long-term impairment from your injuries until you reach maximum medical improvement.

If the statute of limitations is approaching, filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party can protect your right to seek compensation. Our team can explain more during your no-obligation consultation.

You Can’t Request Additional Compensation After Signing a Release of Liability

You cannot go back and ask for more money after you settle your injury claim. You will have to sign a waiver of future claims arising out of the accident when you settle your case. If you need additional medical treatment for your injuries, like surgery or physical therapy down the road, you will have to pay for that yourself.

Working with our personal injury attorneys can protect you from these and other tactics that could lessen the monetary value of your case. We have your best interests at heart, not the insurer’s.

Get Reassurance, Confidence, and Support From a Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer

Take a deep breath. You have options in a situation like this. We strive to offer legal support that feels like a warm hug around you and your family.

If you need a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer, please call Whitley Law Firm today at (919) 739-4448. With our team, you get a friend and advocate. We stop at nothing to recover fair compensation for your losses, both now and in the future. We’re here when you’re ready.

Client Review

By: Ashley B.

Title: Thank you very much Ben and Ashley at Whitley Law Firm!

I injured my ankle and needed real professional advice and help. Whitley Law Firm was professional, courteous, knowledgeable, driven and extremely genuine! I would like to mention Ben Whitely and Ashley McCullough in particular of whom I worked with directly at the firm. Ashley kept in touch with me throughout the process of my personal dealings with the firm and insurance companies. She helped me understand step by step and was very personable and professional to work with. Ben was super easy to speak with regarding the challenges I faced with my injury and confidently assured me that they would do everything they could to help! I couldn't have asked for anyone better to represent me and to help me with my claim. A real review for those looking for real help! Thank you very much Ben and Ashley at Whitley Law Firm!

Rating: ★★★★★ 5 / 5 stars