Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer

Hurt in an accident in Jacksonville, Florida? Being injured due to someone else’s carelessness can throw every aspect of your life off balance. The challenges that come with an unexpected injury are overwhelming, including hefty and unexpected medical bills, loss of income, and a painful recovery. You don’t have to handle the aftermath alone, though. Instead, turn to Zimmet & Zimmet, the law firm that’s been helping injured people throughout Florida since 1975.

At our law firm, our attorneys understand what you’re going through right now, and we want to get you the money you need to make things right. We will never treat you like another case number and prospective payday. Instead, we’ll explain your options so that you can make informed decisions and only take actions that are in your best interest.

Ready to find out why generations of Floridians have turned to Zimmet & Zimmet for help when they’ve needed it most? Then contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer.

Why Should I Hire a Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney?

Don’t make the mistake of trying to handle your own personal injury claim. Insurance companies like dealing with injury victims who don’t have legal representation because they can push them around and pressure them into accepting less than they deserve. Instead, get help from an experienced personal injury lawyer in Jacksonville.

While you rest and recover, the team with Zimmet & Zimmet can:

• Investigate the accident to understand what happened and identify everyone who could be to blame
• Calculate the financial and personal costs of your injury to determine the compensation you’re entitled to
• File insurance claims and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf
• Work hard to get you the money you need without you ever having to set foot in a courtroom
• Prepare your case for trial if litigation becomes the best way to get you the money you deserve
• Support you throughout the process by informing you of your rights, explaining your options, and only taking actions that serve your best interests

We understand that if you’re wondering whether to hire a personal injury lawyer, you’re likely concerned about the cost of doing so. Don’t be. Our firm works on a contingency basis, which means we will only charge you a fee when we win your case. If you don’t get paid, neither do we. That way, there’s no financial risk to asserting your rights with the help of experienced, committed legal help.

Contact us at Zimmet & Zimmet today to get started with a free consultation and to learn more about your options.

How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?

If you’ve been hurt and suspect that someone else is to blame, you’re likely wondering if you have a viable personal injury case against them. Legal terms like “negligence” and “liability” can be confusing, and you might be unsure of your rights. As a general rule, if your injuries would not have happened had someone else behaved with more care, you likely have a case.

If you’re still not sure, contact us at Zimmet & Zimmet today. We’ll review your case and advise you on your options at no charge and without obligation.

What Damages Could I Be Entitled to in a Personal Injury Case?

If someone else is indeed to blame for what happened to you, they should have to compensate you for the harm you suffered as a result. This includes not just dollars-and-cents harms like medical costs but harm of a subjective nature, too.

As such, your personal injury compensation could cover the following:

• Medical expenses, from emergency transport and treatment to hospitalization and surgeries to medication and outpatient care
• Lost income, including wages, salary, tips, commission, bonuses, and benefits you could not earn because you were too hurt to work
• Diminished earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to return to your old job and advance your career
• Pain and suffering, or the physical and emotional discomfort your injuries and their aftermath cost you
• Reduced quality of life if your injuries prevent you from taking part in your favorite activities or hobbies
• Damaged personal property and the costs to repair or replace it

There are complex laws that surround finding other sources of recovery beyond the at-fault parties’ insurance policy. It is extremely important to hire an experienced lawyer who not only understands how to find other sources of recovery but will leave no stone unturned during the investigation to find them. Many times this is the difference between no recovery and recovering millions of dollars.

Floria law also provides for the award of punitive damages in cases of intentional or grossly negligent behavior. In other words, if the person who hurt you did so because of their particularly egregious behavior, a trial court could award you additional damages to punish them and deter similar behavior in the future.

Can I Still Get Compensation If I Was Partly to Blame for My Injuries?

Florida’s modified comparative fault law means that you could be entitled to compensation even if you were partially to blame for your injuries. Under this rule, a judge or jury acting as factfinder weighs the evidence presented to them and then assigns a percentage of blame to all involved parties. An injured party can still be awarded compensation if they are up to 50 percent to blame, although the amount awarded is reduced accordingly. An injured party found to be more than 50 percent at fault is barred from recovery.

Here’s a hypothetical scenario, an auto accident, to explain this rule. Sarah is attempting to make a left turn against traffic. As she does so, she’s T-boned by an oncoming vehicle driven by Jim. Sarah should have waited until it was safe to make her turn, while Jim broke the law by driving 10 miles above the speed limit. Jim sues Sarah, seeking $100,000 to pay for his medical care, repair his vehicle, and offset the income he’s losing while he recovers. At trial, the court agrees that Jim suffered $100,000 in losses but also finds that his having sped at the time makes him 20 percent responsible for the accident. Because of this, Jim recovers $80,000.

The modified comparative negligence rule directly applies to court rulings, not out-of-court settlements. Still, insurance companies make offers based on what they think would happen at trial. If an insurer thinks a jury would determine you to be partially at fault for the accident — or, just as good, that they can convince you that you’re to blame — the insurer will try to get you to accept a lower settlement amount. Don’t take their word for it. Instead, push back with the help of a Jacksonville personal injury attorney from Zimmet & Zimmet.

How Long Do I Have in Florida to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Florida has a statute of limitations on negligence-based claims that generally gives you two years in which to file your personal injury lawsuit. While certain circumstances could decrease or increase this period, the consequences of filing after the deadline has passed will be the same: dismissal of your suit as untimely filed. Act now to protect your right to recovery by calling Zimmet & Zimmet.

How Long Does a Typical Personal Injury Case Last?

How long it might take to resolve your personal injury case will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The amount and complexity of the evidence your lawyer recovers
• How many parties are potentially at fault for causing your injuries
• How clearly other parties are at fault for the accident and your injuries
• Whether there are sufficient insurance policies in place to cover your costs
• The at-fault parties’ and insurers’ willingness to negotiate fairly

Relatively simple cases take a few months to resolve, while more complicated or contentious ones might take a year or longer. An experienced attorney can give you a better idea of what to expect after reviewing your case in detail.

What Must Be Proven in a Personal Injury Claim?

To win your personal injury case, your lawyer must show that someone else caused your injuries and that the consequences of those injuries can be remedied monetarily. How they go about this will depend on the legal theory around which they build your case.

For example, under a negligence claim, your attorney must show through a preponderance of the evidence that your injuries were the direct result of the other party’s carelessness. This might require evidence like:

What Are Common Personal Injury Cases?

At Zimmet & Zimmet, we’re prepared to handle personal injury cases involving:

What Types of Injuries Happen Due to Personal Injury Accidents?

A serious accident can result in equally serious injuries, such as the following:

Contact a Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney Today

Are you dealing with the aftermath of a serious injury in Jacksonville, FL? If someone else is to blame for what happened, they should have to compensate you, too. Trust the team at Zimmet & Zimmet to help you seek the full amount you need.

We’ve been helping injury victims throughout Florida since 1975, and we have a lengthy track record of settlements and verdicts you can trust. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer and learn more about what we can do for you.