Florida Car Accident Lawyers
Different Parties Who Can Be Liable in a Truck Accident
At Fenderson Law Firm, our experienced truck accident attorney is adept at conducting thorough investigations to identify all parties who may be liable for your accident. This comprehensive approach allows us to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can get started.
Determining liability in a truck accident is often more complex than in typical passenger vehicle collisions due to the multiple parties involved in the trucking industry. Several entities can potentially be held accountable, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident:
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment & Contact Police
The very first call after an accident should be to 911. Even if you feel perfectly fine after the accident, adrenaline might mask the pain of injuries below the surface. Catching injuries early provides the best chance of limiting their extent and the pain they cause. Additionally, Florida Statutes Section 627.736 requires accident victims to seek treatment within 14 days for personal injury protection, so every second counts.
You also want to have police or local authorities on the scene to document the accident. If there is a car accident injury claim, this report becomes one of the first documented accounts of what happened, and what caused the accident. Contacting the police is also required in many accidents involving injuries or damages above $500.
Gather Evidence If It’s Safe to Do So
If you’re safe and uninjured, the next step is to document the accident. Start by gathering the contact information of the other drivers, passengers, and any eyewitnesses involved in the crash. Be sure to also get the other driver's car insurance information as well.
You can also take pictures and videos of the cars involved in the accident. It also helps to document the entire accident scene, including the roadways, intersections, street lights, tire marks, and objects in the road. This information can help car accident lawyers recreate what happened and why.
Contact a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer
Before you reach out to the insurance companies to file a claim, call an experienced Florida car accident lawyer. Conversations with insurance companies are recorded, and adjusters use this to their advantage. They may ask seemingly benign questions designed to confuse and reduce compensation. When you call an attorney first, they can help prepare you for these scenarios to avoid having your claim reduced because of a single answer to a question.
File Your Insurance Claim
Once you have a car accident lawyer working alongside you, they can also help you navigate the entire claims process. Florida’s No-Fault System and Personal Injury Protection requirements can confuse and ensnare unsuspecting car accident victims. Rather than have your claim reduced or denied altogether, you can proceed with confidence knowing someone is watching out for your best interests.
Looking For ‘The Best Car Accident Lawyers Near Me’
Why Trust Our Car Accident Lawyers?
Just having legal representation is important, but having a car accident lawyer you trust is paramount. When you're injured, your car is damaged, and you're out of answers, you need someone dependable to carry you through these difficult times.
At Fenderson Law, that's exactly what we do. We understand that answering your questions honestly and preparing you for the road ahead matters just as much as fighting for your rights—whether at the negotiating table or in court. It's why we have a history of representing clients across Florida with empathy, diligence, and respect.
These principles come from our firm's founding attorney, Gordon Fenderson. Attorney Fenderson advocates aggressively for every client while providing them with the answers they need to move forward. When he's not standing up for his client's rights, he's volunteering at the local children's hospital or as a judge in Teen Court. This program helps teenagers avoid incarceration and improve outcomes for first-time offenders.
Our Florida Car Accident Results
1 Million
recovery for a client who was injured in a collision with a rental car.
500,000
recovery for a U.S. Army veteran injured in an accident on I-95
Florida’s No-Fault Insurance System Explained
At the heart of Florida's No-Fault insurance system is the mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Florida Statutes Section 627.736 requires vehicle owners to purchase $10,000 in personal injury protection. After an accident, the no-fault law requires that drivers seek treatment within 14 days and file with their insurance company rather than the other driver.
If the physician determines emergency services were required, the PIP coverage covers up to 80% of the reasonable medical expenses associated with car accident injuries up to the $10,000 limit. However, if the treatment was determined to be a non-emergency, the coverage is reduced to a maximum of $2,500.
Often, though, these limits don't fully compensate victims for their injuries. The law does allow victims to pursue damages for the pain and suffering the injury caused in specific circumstances. Contact an attorney experienced with Florida's no-fault system to help assess your accident, injuries, and the road ahead.
Florida’s Most Dangerous Intersections and Roads
Florida has hundreds of thousands of miles of roads, and accidents can occur anywhere along them. That said, some roads are more dangerous than others. According to reports and data compiled from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation, these are some of the most dangerous roads in Florida:
- US Route 1, especially around Brevard and Miami-Dade counties
- Interstate 95 around Broward County and Palm Beach County
- US Route 41 in Hillsborough and Lee Counties
- Interstate 75
- US Route 27
Our Credentials
Fenderson Law is a member of the Florida Bar, Jacksonville Bar Association, Middle District of Florida, and Florida Justice Association.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida
What You Need to Know
Florida is notorious for its high rate of car accidents. Our car accident lawyer at Fenderson Law Firm understands that many factors might contribute to a collision. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Florida include:
Distracted driving: This is one of the leading causes of car accidents across the United States. Drivers who are distracted by texting, talking on the phone, or even eating and drinking while driving are at a higher risk of causing an accident.
Speeding: Exceeding the speed limit is another major cause of car accidents in Florida. When drivers go above the recommended speed limit, they have less time to react to unexpected situations on the road, making it more likely for them to lose control and cause an accident.
Drunk driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is never a good idea and can have serious consequences, including car accidents. In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.
Reckless driving: This includes behaviors such as tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes, and ignoring traffic signals. These actions not only put the driver at risk but also endanger other drivers on the road.
Poor weather conditions: Florida is known for hurricanes and sudden rainstorms, which can create hazardous driving conditions. Drivers who do not adjust their speed or take necessary precautions during inclement weather are more likely to cause an accident.
A Car Accident Lawyer Protects Your Rights
No matter what caused your accident, your insurance company may not have your best interests at heart. It is important to seek legal representation from a trusted car accident lawyer in Florida to make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
Contact our Florida firm today to schedule a free consultation so we can hear your story and explain how we can help you seek the full compensation you deserve. From our Orlando and Jacksonville office locations, we're proud to work with clients throughout North and Central Florida
Who Can Be Liable in a Car Accident?
At Fenderson Law Firm, our car accident lawyer is adept at conducting thorough investigations to identify all parties who may be liable for your accident. This comprehensive approach allows us to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can get started.
Determining liability in a car accident is often more straightforward than in a truck accident, but it can still be complex due to the potential involvement of multiple parties. Several entities can potentially be held accountable, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident:
Drivers
Driver negligence can include behaviors such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, or failure to adhere to traffic regulations. If the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they might be held liable for the accident.
Vehicle owner
If the car involved in the crash was borrowed or rented, the vehicle owner could be held liable, especially if they allowed an unqualified or impaired driver to operate it.
Manufacturer
In some cases, the car itself may have had manufacturing defects or mechanical failures that contributed to the accident. If defective parts or poor workmanship led to the crash, the manufacturer or the company responsible for vehicle maintenance could be accountable.
City or municipality
Poorly maintained roads, missing signage, or malfunctioning traffic signals can cause or contribute to an accident. In such cases, the entity or municipality responsible for road maintenance or traffic management could be held liable.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for My Accident?
Florida is now a modified comparative negligence state. That means if you are found more than 50 percent liable, you are barred from making any recovery for your damages. Under this system a jury or a judge can assign partial fault to the parties involved. The person making the claim cannot be over 50 percent liable.
Under this system, the jury or trial court assigns a percentage of fault to each party involved in the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example, say the other driver was texting and driving and blew threw a red light. However, you were speeding at the time of the accident. The jury or trial court may find that the other driver was 90% at fault and you were 10% at fault. If your total damages are $100,000, you would still be entitled to receive $90,000 in compensation.
Work with a seasoned attorney to minimize your fault percentage and maximize compensation. At Fenderson Law Firm, we know how to gather meaningful evidence that the defense may look over, consult a variety of experts, and build a strong case to hold negligent parties accountable and secure justice, regardless of your partial responsibility.
Florida Car Accident Lawyers See Common Crashes
Each type of accident brings its own set of challenges in proving liability and damages, which is why having an attorney experienced in handling a wide variety of car accident cases is crucial for securing a fair financial settlement.
It's a common misconception that only serious accidents warrant legal action. In reality, any car accident can cause physical, emotional, and financial harm. Some of the most common types of car accidents include:
Rear-end collisions
Often a result of following too closely or sudden stops, these accidents can lead to whiplash and other injuries.
T-bone accidents
Occur when the side of a vehicle is impacted by the front or rear of another, typically at intersections.
Head-on collisions
Among the deadliest accidents, these happen when two vehicles collide front-to-front.
Sideswipe accidents
When the sides of two parallel vehicles touch, often due to merging or lane departure.
Hit and run accidents
Incidents wherein one party leaves the scene without providing contact information or aid.
Single-car accidents
Accidents involving only one vehicle which can include rollovers or collisions with stationary objects.
Multiple vehicle pile-ups
Large accidents involving several vehicles, often on highways, leading to complex liability issues.
Vehicle Rollovers
Typically involving taller vehicles like SUVs, leading to serious injuries or fatalities.
Accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists
Often serious and require thorough investigation to determine right of way and liability.
Commercial truck accidents
Involve heavy vehicles with the potential for severe damages and intricate commercial insurance policies.
Reliable Representation After a Fatal Car Accident
Losing a loved one in a car accident is an irreplaceable loss that no amount of money can mend. Seeking legal recourse can hold the responsible parties accountable and offer crucial financial support during this challenging period.
According to Florida Statutes Section 768.20, the personal representative of the deceased person's estate, often named in the will or appointed by the court if no will exists, typically files the claim. This representative acts on behalf of the deceased's estate and the surviving family members who may be entitled to compensation.
The eligible parties to receive compensation generally include the decedent's spouse, children, parents, and any relatives or adopted siblings.
The damages recoverable in a wrongful death claim can cover a wide range of losses, including medical and funeral expenses, loss of earnings, loss of companionship, as well as mental pain and suffering for the surviving family members.
Our experienced car accident lawyer will handle every layer of your case and work tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation available. We believe that you shouldn't have to suffer any more than you already have due to someone else's negligence, and we are committed to fighting for your rights. Our team is here for you, every step of the way.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in Florida
It's important to note that time is of the essence when it comes to filing a car accident claim in Florida. According to Florida Statutes Section 95.11, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of the accident.
If you fail to file a lawsuit within this time frame, you may lose your right to seek compensation forever. However, there are exceptions that can shorten or extend this deadline depending on specific circumstances, such as if the victim was a minor at the time of the accident or if there is evidence of fraud or concealment by the at-fault party.
Don't wait until it's too late to take legal action. Contact our experienced car accident lawyer today for a free consultation. We serve communities throughout North Florida, including Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala, and Panama City, as well as Central Florida, including the areas of Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Lakeland, Deltona, Largo, and more.
Car Accident Lawyer Serving Clients Across Florida
At the Fenderson Law Firm, we understand the physical, financial, and emotional toll that a car accident can take on victims and their families. Our dedicated team is committed to providing reliable legal representation and compassionate support to clients throughout North and Central Florida. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to someone else's negligence, contact our firm today for a free consultation.
