Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer

Car accident victims can experience physical, emotional, and financial harm that persists far beyond the day of the crash. If you or someone you love has suffered serious injuries in an auto accident, you may wonder whether you should hire a car accident lawyer in Jacksonville.

Because personal injury cases have legal time limits, we recommend that you not delay, especially since you have nothing to lose with a free consultation. Contact us at Whitley Law Firm as soon as possible to see how a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer can help you. 

We have over 120 years of combined legal experience advocating for accident injury victims and a long record of success. Our law offices are waiting to hear from you.

You Deserve the Whitley Advantage for Your Jacksonville Car Crash Injury Case

The Whitley Advantage is the unique way we treat our clients. We work together as a family and want to help you and your family. We truly care about and listen to our clients. We follow the Golden Rule and treat our clients the way we would want to be treated.

Our team in Jacksonville will ensure you feel heard and respected throughout the entire process. You don’t work for us; we work for you!

Recoverable Compensation Through a Car Accident Attorney in Jacksonville

Every car accident case is different. Therefore, the amount of monetary damages you could pursue from the at-fault party could vastly differ, even from someone else injured in the same crash.

This might sound confusing, but our Jacksonville car accident attorneys are here to help. We will take the time to develop a close relationship with you and ensure you understand what’s happening with your case throughout the process so you never feel in the dark.

To help you understand what you could receive from your insurance claim or lawsuit, here are some common categories of damages that can be recovered following a car accident. We’ll seek to get you maximum compensation for: 

• Medical expenses: The medical bills you incur to treat your wounds are usually compensable in a personal injury claim.
• Long-term care: Catastrophic injuries from car accidents can leave a person unable to live independently without daily assistance. If this applies to you, we can include the cost of this care in your claim.
• Lost wages: If you cannot go to work because of your injuries, you might miss paychecks that you rely on to pay for rent, your mortgage, groceries, and more. If you lost income because of your injuries, we can help you fight to recover those lost wages in your claim.
• Lost future wages: Some severe injuries can impact you for a lifetime. You might be unable to earn as much money as you did before the car accident because of lasting impairments, even after completing your treatment. If this is the case for you, we will help you calculate the difference between your old income and your new income and seek compensation to make up the difference.
• Property damage: Your vehicle will need repair or replacement if your insurance policy doesn’t cover it. The at-fault driver can be held liable.
• Pain and suffering: While it’s difficult to quantify your physical discomfort and emotional distress, we will seek appropriate compensation for your suffering.
• Other non-economic damages: These non-economic damages can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disfigurement from scars, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages: These are rare, but your accident claim may qualify for additional money if the person who harmed you acted in gross negligence.

Jacksonville Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (800)785-5000

 Wrongful Death Damages

If you lost a loved one due to a car accident, we extend our deepest condolences to you. When you become one of our clients, you immediately join the Whitley Law Firm family. That means if you lost a member of your family, we lost a member of ours, too. Our personal injury attorneys will stop at nothing to pursue justice and fair compensation on your behalf.

In a fatal car accident case, we can pursue compensation for your family by filing a wrongful death claim. You can trust our wrongful death lawyers in Jacksonville to compassionately guide you through the process.

Compensation available in a wrongful death claim may include the following and more: 

• Funeral and burial costs
• Final medical bills
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of household income
• Pain and suffering

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 38,824 fatalities resulted from motor vehicle accidents in 2020.

Calculating Your Damages

Determining the full extent of your damages is crucial for seeking fair compensation. When we build your insurance claim, our team will carefully assess all aspects of your losses.

We’ll gather evidence like police reports and medical records to determine who the liable parties are and which insurance policies may cover your auto accident claim. From there, we can calculate the damages you can get.

The at-fault party’s insurance coverage may cover all costs, but it may not. If it doesn’t, we will seek additional compensation through the legal process.

Insurance Adjusters Are Not Your Friends, but Our Jacksonville Car Accident Attorneys Are

Claim adjusters are not working in your best interests, despite any appearances to the contrary. Their primary goal is to protect the insurance company’s financial interests, not to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.

Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts on claims, often by employing tactics such as downplaying the severity of injuries, disputing the need for certain medical treatments, or pressuring claimants to accept lowball settlement offers. They may also attempt to shift blame onto the injured party or claim that pre-existing conditions are the true cause of the damages.

Furthermore, anything you say to an insurance adjuster can be used against you later. Therefore, consult an experienced auto accident attorney before making recorded statements or signing documents. A lawyer can serve as a buffer between you and the insurance company, protecting your rights and interests throughout the claims process.

Ultimately, the insurance adjuster is not your friend or ally; they represent the insurance company whose job is to protect their employer’s bottom line. By retaining legal counsel, you can level the playing field and ensure you receive a fair car accident settlement.

Pure Contributory Negligence in North Carolina Car Accident Cases

North Carolina is a pure contributory negligence state. If the court determines you are even 1% at fault for the accident, you will not be allowed to collect any compensation.

The defendant may try to place part of the blame on you to avoid compensating you, which is another great reason to have a Jacksonville car accident lawyer from our team on your side. We have many years of experience dealing with these cases and know how to avoid common pitfalls.

Our personal injury attorneys will use their knowledge, experience, and reputation to ensure you don’t take the blame for an accident you had no part in causing. 

The Filing Deadline for a Car Collision Injury Lawsuit

North Carolina sets a filing deadline, also called the statute of limitations, for filing a lawsuit seeking monetary compensation for your injuries from the at-fault party. You generally only have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to G.S. §1-52.

If your injury claim does not settle and you do not take legal action in time, North Carolina law will likely bar you from seeking compensation from the negligent party. The defendant and their insurance company will likely stop answering your calls after that date because they no longer hold any obligation toward you.

If you contact us promptly, your experienced car accident attorney in Jacksonville will help you avoid this outcome. After reviewing your personal injury claim, they can determine how long you can file a lawsuit after an accident.

Common Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Car accident victims sustain many types of injuries. Even victims who eventually recover often experience a long and expensive process of medical visits and procedures that disrupt their daily lives and deplete their hard-earned savings.

Some of the common types of injuries that can result from a car accident include: 

• Spinal cord damage
• Severe burns
• Damage to vision or hearing
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Broken bones
• Lacerations and scarring

Other car accident victims endure prolonged cognitive or physical disability that alters the quality of their lives and the lives of those near and dear to them. Many of these disabilities impinge upon the victims’ ability to care and provide for themselves and others.

If you suffer serious injuries in a car crash, our caring personal injury attorneys will give you the care and attention you deserve. We never want a client to regret choosing us to handle their legal case, so we are committed to showing you a level of kindness and empathy that you didn’t think possible from a law firm.

Start Working With a Jacksonville Car Accident Attorney Today

At Whitley Law Firm, we are great listeners. A Jacksonville car accident lawyer from our team wants to hear how the car accident has affected your life and fight for fair compensation for you and your loved ones. Our in-house investigative team will identify all contributing factors in the accident to pursue justice, accountability, and financial compensation for your injuries.

If you want to learn more about how we can fight for your rights, contact us at Whitley Law Firm today. We offer a free initial consultation with our personal injury attorneys.