Car Accident Attorney Jacksonville, FL

What a Montlick Car Accident Lawyer From Jacksonville Can Do For You

Over the past four decades, we’ve made a name for ourselves, representing clients in the community who need someone they can count on. Although we can’t turn back the clock and stop the accident from happening, we can minimize its long-term effect by winning big for you. Our team has recovered billions for people in impossible situations. We’ve done so by:

• Investigating
• Preserving evidence
• Negotiating maximum compensation for our clients
• Litigating cases to conclusion when necessary

Montlick won’t rest until you can.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Jacksonville?

First and foremost, your consultation with a Jacksonville car accident attorney from Montlick will always be free. When you decide to move forward with us as your representatives, we’ll work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay us a penny unless we reach a fair settlement with the defendant. Typically, attorney’s fees are a percentage of the total amount recovered, ranging from 25% to 40%.

The Power of Picking the Right Attorney

There’s a never-ending supply of Jacksonville auto accident lawyers. But how do you pick the right one? What qualities should you look for? How can you be sure they’ll follow through with what they say? Most importantly, are they truly as compassionate as they first seemed? At Montlick, we have all the qualities necessary to put your worries at ease.

Compassionate and communicative

Car accidents have the potential to crush their victims in more ways than one. The emotional and physical toll they take is serious. You should always feel comfortable talking about the realities of your situation with your lawyer. Montlick attorneys understand this and approach all cases with kindness and respect.

Experienced and transparent

Four decades of experience handling car accident cases is hard to beat. Over that time, we’ve dealt with a few similar to yours. Our attorneys are always upfront with you about the situation and will be forthcoming about what you can anticipate happening. A Montlick car accident lawyer from Jacksonville is well-equipped to handle whatever the defense might throw at them and can always be trusted to be transparent.

Picking an attorney whose right to defend you became a lot easier with Montlick as an option. One of our heavily vetted car accident attorneys stands by to take your call and help your case achieve the desired outcome. When it comes down to it, trust your instincts– choose Montlick. Montlick is always empathetic yet aggressive when it counts: pursuing the total value of your claim.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Jacksonville

It seems like everyone is in a hurry, disregarding safe driving practices to get where they want to go and failing to consider the potential consequences of their actions. A study published by the insurance shopping platform Assurance I.Q. ranked Florida as the third most dangerous state to drive in, with the most dangerous highways overall.

The same Forbes study mentioned earlier surveyed the 50 most populated cities in the U.S. and compared car crash data from each. Jacksonville, FL, landed at spot 14, more than halfway to the top of that list. Florida was only second to California in fatal crashes per 100 miles (19.6 versus 20.3). If you have been involved in a car accident in Jacksonville, here’s what you should do.

Seek Medical Attention

First and most importantly, evaluate your safety. If able, check yourself and others for injuries, then move away from the crash to wait for first responders. Even if you feel perfectly fine, ensure you receive medical attention, as some injuries may not manifest until days or weeks later. Some may not give warning signs at all until it’s too late.

The state of Florida emphasizes the importance of seeking medical attention as soon as possible. Under Florida Statutes § 627.736(1)(a), commonly known as the 14-Day Rule, those involved in a car accident must receive medical care within 14 days of the accident to be eligible for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. To be clear, it’s never too late to receive medical attention. But be aware that if you choose to wait, you may be unable to recover medical expense compensation from PIP coverage.

Document the Scene

If you feel alright enough to do so or someone is with you, you can ask them to document the accident scene. Take pictures of your car and others involved in the incident. Make a note of what the road and weather conditions were like, as well as the traffic signals and anything else that could potentially prove who was at fault in the accident.

Collect Evidence

Collect insurance details, contact information of witnesses, and any other relevant information. In the coming weeks, document everything related to the accident, including medical expenses, repair costs, and rental cars or taxis taken due to injury or damage caused. Keep detailed communication records with insurance companies and lawyers to prove when specific steps were taken in filing a lawsuit or negotiating a settlement offer.

Contact a Montlick Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer

Nothing can fully heal how a car accident changes your life. However, the law is on your side. It can provide financial recourse for lost wages, medical care, pain and suffering, and more. The sooner you contact us for a free case evaluation, the better off your case will be.

This sounds like a lot, we know, and it is. But a Montlick car accident lawyer from Jacksonville, FL, will handle the complicated aspects of your case. You focus on physically recovering; let us focus on winning big.

Getting Compensation After A Jacksonville Car Accident

Under Florida’s PIP car insurance laws, you can file an injury claim with your insurance company and receive compensation. Drivers must have at least $10,000 in medical and disability coverage and $5,000 in death benefits. If your insurance does not cover all of your accident-related expenses, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault party with the help of a Jacksonville car accident attorney. Additional damages you may be able to recover with Montlick’s help in the lawsuit include:

Economic Damages: These damages are intended to reimburse a victim for money lost due to their injuries. This includes medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and any other monetary loss caused by the accident.

Non-economic Damages: These damages are designed to compensate victims for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

Punitive Damages: In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded if the responsible party is found negligent or reckless in causing the accident. Punitive damages are intended to punish wrongdoers and discourage others from similar behavior in the future.

Wrongful Death: If a loved one has died due to a car accident caused by another party, their family may be able to pursue wrongful death damages that include medical expenses incurred before death, funeral costs, loss of companionship and support provided by the deceased person, and more.

If you have been injured in a negligent auto accident, contact us to learn about your rights and what steps are necessary to protect them. A highly skilled Montlick car accident lawyer from Jacksonville, FL, will help you navigate these confusing times.

Filing A Wrongful Death Claim

If your loved one was killed in a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. When you’ve lost someone due to the actions of another, you deserve justice– and so does your loved one. A Montlick attorney can guide you through this difficult time. Compensation in wrongful death and related claims can include:

• Full economic and non-economic value of the lost support and services of the victim
• Loss of companionship
• Value of support and services
• Punitive damages
• Burial and funeral expenses
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering of the deceased

Wrongful death claims require significant investigation. At Montlick, we have the resources to do it right. Put our decades of experience pursuing wrongful death cases to work for you.

Distracted Driving On The Rise In Jacksonville

Road dangers are increasing as more people begin returning to their daily commutes after working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2021 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that nearly 43,000 people died in traffic accidents that year. Three thousand of those people were killed in an accident involving at least one distracted driver.

What Is Distracted Driving?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines distracted driving as anything that takes your attention away from driving. This can include texting, talking, navigating, and eating. Generally speaking, distractions can be classified into one of three categories:

• Visual – Taking your eyes off the road
• Manual – Taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive – Taking your mind off driving

Jacksonville Drunk Driving Above National Average

A study published by the NHTSA in 2021 named Jacksonville, FL, as the No. 1 state for deadly DUI incidents. To break this down, Jacksonville sees an average of 15.32 deaths per 100,000 residents. Of those, 4.49 fatal accidents per 100,000 people involved a drunk driver.

Incidents Involving Dangerous Driving

In October 2023, Jacksonville had multiple dangerous driving situations – mainly caused by road rage – make headlines. The first involved a pickup truck and an SUV, both of which had passengers that included children, speeding and braking erratically on the U.S. 1 highway. This event ended with the guns being pulled out and fired, injuring two children. The next occurred southbound on I-295 when police believed one driver did not allow another to merge. Like the first incident, this ended in gunfire, seven shots to be exact.

Another accident happened in December of the same year, resulting in four people being injured and the death of a one-year-old. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the driver drove off the side of the road and into multiple trees. The same night, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue removed a trapped individual from another car crash who was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. In January 2020, a man was killed by a drunk driver going the wrong way. The driver was later charged with a DUI and manslaughter.
The accidents mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg regarding dangerous driving in Jacksonville. If you’ve been the unfortunate victim of a reckless driver and need compensation, contact a Jacksonville auto accident lawyer from Monltick.

Face the Facts

Jax is one of the largest cities in the country. It’s also one of the most dangerous for a driver. As of 12/31/2023, there were:

• 23,958 total crashes with 172 fatalities and 15,906 injuries
• 158 total fatal crashes
• 10,550 total injury crashes
• 7 223 hit and run crashes with 14 fatalities and 1,527 injuries
• 475 total pedestrian crashes and 43 fatalities

The Most Dangerous Intersections in Jacksonville

Car accidents in Jacksonville are most likely at various points along Blanding Boulevard. These include the intersections of Blanding and Wells Road, Youngerman Circle, Argyle Forest Road, Kingsley Avenue, 103rd Street, and Collins Road. Other dangerous intersections include 103rd Street and Ricker Road, Atlantic Boulevard and Southside Boulevard, Beach Boulevard, Hodges Boulevard, and State Route 312 and US-1. Honorable mentions, according to thejaxsonmag.com, are Baymeadows Road and Southside Boulevard, Blanding Boulevard and C.R. 218, Beach Boulevard and Southside Boulevard.

Why are these intersections so dangerous? Well, there are many reasons. For one, people tend to check their phones at traffic signals, which causes them to become distracted. Due to this inattention, drivers may also commit moving violations such as running a red light or stop sign and performing illegal turns.

What Causes Car Accidents in Duval County?

According to a study published by the NHTSA, the most common causes of car accidents in Jacksonville are:

• Speeding: This contributes to about one-third of fatal car accidents and is usually paired with drivers acting erratically.
• Reckless driving: This may involve failing to use turn signals, ignoring stop signs, and drifting into oncoming lanes of traffic. Reckless driving often leads to fatal car accidents.
• Drinking and driving: Drivers that operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol accounted for 31 fatal car crashes in Duval County in 2022, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
• Poor weather conditions: Weather conditions like rain storms are risky for drivers. Over half of Jacksonville’s July days see rain.
• Drowsy driving: Drivers who begin to feel tired but do not pull over pose another risk factor in car accidents. Those that have sleep conditions are particularly susceptible to such accidents.

Common Car Accident Types in Jacksonville, FL

Intersection Collisions

This occurs most commonly when drivers fail to yield the right-of-way. Intersection collisions happen when one driver isn’t paying attention or is distracted, taking their eyes off the road. Distractions could be a child, text, or conversation with a passenger. Whatever the cause, the few seconds their eyes aren’t on the road significantly increase the likelihood of running a traffic signal.

Sideswipe Collisions

Sideswipes happen when a driver fails to pay close enough attention to how close they are to another vehicle. For example, not correctly checking blind spots before attempting to merge or change lanes poses a threat of sideswipes.

Speeding Collisions

The NHTSA reported that 11,528 people died as a result of a speeding accident in 202, which equates to one-third of traffic deaths. In Florida specifically, 35,451 speeding/aggressive driving accidents were reported.

Rollover Accidents

A rollover is most likely to occur when a vehicle moves at a high speed, makes a sharp turn, or both. If drivers become fatigued or drowsy, the chance of an accident will also increase. This type of accident is most commonly associated with “family-sized vehicles” like SUVs.

T-Bone Collisions

Also known as side-impact or broadside crashes, these collisions occur when one vehicle smashes into the side of another car. The two most common places where t-bone accidents occur are red lights or stop signs and when a car turns left without yielding to traffic.

Rear-End Collisions

When traffic becomes heavy in Jacksonville, you’ll hit the car in front of you if you don’t pay close enough attention. The sudden stopping and accelerations cause bumper-to-bumper traffic, making rear-end collisions more likely.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions are the most dangerous type of car accident. In this instance, two vehicles collide with their front ends. The speed at impact is what makes this collision so dangerous– if one car is going 60 and the other 80, they’ll meet at a speed of 140 MPH– resulting in horrible or fatal injuries.

Car Accident Injuries In Jacksonville, FL

While some injuries from a car accident may eventually heal, other damages, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, and more, may result in long-term impairments. Injuries commonly seen in Jacksonville after a car accident may include:

• Fractures
• Whiplash
• Concussions
• Internal and external bruising
• Heart damage
• Internal bleeding
• Neck and chest injuries
• Dislocated joints or amputated limbs
• Herniated disks
• Ear injuries
• Lacerations and cuts
• Abdominal injuries Burns
• Sprains and strains

Defending All Types of Auto Accident Victims

Jacksonville Rear End Crash Lawyer

Rear-end collisions are often the result of negligence and can cause injuries that impede your daily life. Montlick auto accident lawyers fight for our clients to get them the money they deserve.

Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents caused by a driver’s negligence, poor driving conditions, or malfunctioning vehicle parts can be devastating. That’s why we ensure victims receive fair compensation for their damages.

Jacksonville Drunk Driving Accident Victim Lawyers

Drunk driving accidents almost always result in severe injuries or death. Our attorneys have extensive experience with drunk driving cases and understand what it takes to WIN.

Jacksonville Defective Vehicle Component Lawyer

Thousands are injured and killed in car accidents every year due to defective auto parts or manufacturing. Montlick knows how to take on powerful car manufacturers and win.

Montlick’s Promise To You

We believe comprehensive legal representation is a right, not a privilege. That’s why we provide services on the contingency fee mentioned earlier. You only pay when we win; winning is what we do best. Past results of our firm include:

If you’ve been in an accident, you’re probably looking for a formidable car accident lawyer in Jacksonville, FL. We understand your need for justice, for help, and most of all, for someone fighting in your corner. Montlick has helped people just like you all over the United States. Give us a call to get started for free.