Jacksonville Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
Being hit by an uninsured driver limits your options after a car accident, but it doesn’t have to mean you get nothing. Our resourceful Jacksonville uninsured motorist lawyers have successfully recovered significant compensation in uninsured motorist claims. We might be able to recover your full claim value through alternative insurance policies, liable parties other than the driver, and other avenues. Call us today at (904) 549-6434 to schedule a free consultation.
When you are seriously injured in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. When the at-fault driver is uninsured, we leave no stone unturned in identifying other available coverage so you can receive every penny you deserve. We are a Jacksonville personal injury law firm with homegrown roots, and our attorneys are dedicated to helping those who need it most.
Why Hire Our Uninsured Motorist Lawyers in Jacksonville, FL
After an accident, you should be free to focus on your medical treatment without having to navigate your legal claim on your own. An uninsured motorist accident lawyer can take the pressure off of you by handling the following:
- Identify all sources of compensation available for your injuries
- File your no-fault insurance claim and your uninsured motorist claim
- Gather evidence to prove who was at fault for the accident
- Review your medical records and calculate your damages
- File a personal injury lawsuit against all liable parties
- Negotiate a settlement or fight for you in court if the liable parties refuse to pay fair compensation
Experience Makes All the Difference. Put Ours To Work for You
We have protected clients since 1979 and recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements. Our results are no accident. We don’t just delegate your case to an attorney and then forget about you. We work as a team so that you can benefit from our entire firm’s strengths, resources, and experience.
Caring, understanding, and hard work are how we win. We will take the time to get to know you and provide round-the-clock support. Our open-door policy means you will always be able to reach us, and your team will have access to our senior partners. We will help you find a doctor, schedule your appointments, and coordinate your medical care. Our genuine devotion and concern drive us to fight vigorously for the best results possible.
If an uninsured driver has injured you, we are ready to find you the compensation you deserve. Contact us now for a free consultation.
A Proven Track Record of Outstanding Case Results
Our dedicated attorneys are determined to find every source of compensation available to you and recover the maximum amount possible. Our tenacity pays off considerably for our clients who have been struck by uninsured motorists. Some of our results include:
- $540,000 for a married couple who suffered significant injuries after being rear-ended by an uninsured driver.
- $410,000 for the family of an accident victim killed by an uninsured motorist.
- $250,000 for the family of an elderly dementia patient who wandered into traffic and was fatally struck by an uninsured driver.
A Law Firm That Cares About People
We care about the people of Jacksonville and show it by donating our time and money for our community’s greater good. We support numerous worthy organizations that help veterans, people with disabilities, and other community members who need a hand.
Our Jacksonville community involvement includes programs we started ourselves, such as the Safe Ride Home program. Under this program, we have given away more than 12,000 free vouchers for Uber and similar ride services to help people get home safely during holidays and community events that typically involve drinking. We also give away free bicycle helmets to children.
Our Empowering Greatness Scholarship program awards college scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate strong academic potential and commitment to community service. We have given away approximately $200,000 in scholarships since 2020.
Our Clients Are Glad They Chose Us
We regularly earn glowing reviews from our past Jacksonville clients who received compassionate, personalized service from our dedicated attorneys. Below are just a few examples of our client testimonials:
“Hiring Farah & Farah was one of the best decisions I’ve made after being in a life-changing accident! Robert Bonner and his assistant Jordan were amazing. Patient, understanding, and caring are just a few words to explain my experience with Mr. Bonner. He was there for me every step of the way with whatever questions or concerns I had. Thank you, Robert Bonner and Assistant Jordan. I will forever be grateful.”
“Wonderful people to work with. Andrew and Jessica were with me every step of the way. We always had great conversations and became more like friends. Many times, they asked me how my family was doing. They always made me feel comfortable and like they cared for me and my family. I would recommend this firm to everyone. Again, thank you, Andrew and Jessica, for all your hard work and caring like you do. God bless you.”
“I am beyond grateful to have Kahlil Farah and Ynette as my team! They did an amazing job protecting me, educating me, and being thorough throughout this whole process. I highly recommend Farah and Farah as a whole. They will make sure you have the best care and outcome that assists you with getting back to your normal life.”
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Our Jacksonville Uninsured Motorist Attorneys Won’t Give Up Until We Get the Compensation You Deserve
The stress of being injured in an accident increases significantly when you learn the other driver is uninsured. Our uninsured motorist accident attorneys refuse to allow the driver’s mistakes to cost you the compensation you need for your losses. We are prepared to take advantage of every other compensation avenue for your benefit.
In a recent case, attorney Andrew Scott recovered more than half a million dollars for a married Jacksonville couple who suffered severe back and shoulder injuries when an uninsured driver rear-ended them. Both required pain management, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and surgery because of the accident.
Andrew Scott identified multiple lines of insurance through the couple’s uninsured motorist policy. Finding the coverage was only the first battle Mr. Scott had to win. The insurance company attempted to minimize our clients’ injuries and lowball their claims. He kept the pressure on the insurance company and secured a $540,000 recovery on their behalf.
Pursuing Compensation After Being Hit by an Uninsured Driver
Florida law considers a driver an uninsured motorist under any of the following circumstances:
- The insurance company cannot pay due to insolvency.
- The insurance policy limits are lower than the total damages.
- The driver is excluded from coverage on the insurance policy.
What happens when an uninsured driver hits you is different for every person. Fortunately, there may still be multiple paths to compensation available to you. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation, during which we will review your accident and provide insight into your legal options. Call us today at (904) 549-6434 to schedule yours.
If an uninsured driver is at fault for an accident that severely injured you, the driver is personally liable for your damages. However, uninsured drivers often lack collectible income or assets, so a lawsuit is not always beneficial. Fortunately, you may have other options.
Your No-Fault Insurance
Florida is a no-fault state, which means you must file your initial claim against your own no-fault insurance policy, also known as personal injury protection or PIP. Personal injury protection covers some of your lost wages and medical expenses. It does not cover non-economic damages, such as pain, suffering, or emotional distress. You can only file a claim against your uninsured motorist policy if your no-fault insurance falls short of covering all your damages and your injuries are severe.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
Although it isn’t required, every Florida driver can purchase uninsured motorist coverage, and we highly recommend it. An uninsured motorist policy replaces the coverage you should have received from the driver.
When filing an uninsured motorist claim, your insurance company takes on the same role the other driver’s liability insurer would have fulfilled had the driver been insured. You will be able to pursue damages not covered by your no-fault insurance, such as the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
Insurance companies typically use underhanded tactics to avoid paying fair compensation. They may pressure you to admit fault, minimize your injuries, stall, and offer lowball settlements. Although you have timely paid premiums for your uninsured motorist coverage every month, you can expect similar treatment from your own insurance company.
These tactics are no match for our award-winning uninsured motorist accident lawyers. We will do what it takes to build a strong case and fight for you in court if necessary.
A Successful Uninsured Motorist Claim Against State Farm
In a recent case, State Farm used a technicality as grounds for refusing to pay proceeds from an uninsured motorist policy to a client injured by an uninsured drunk driver. Attorney Khalil Farah filed multiple claims on our client’s behalf and ultimately pursued a bad-faith insurance lawsuit against State Farm. His hard work paid off, and he recovered ten times the policy limits for our client.
At-Fault Parties Besides the Driver
Car accidents often result from multiple factors, and the uninsured driver may not be the only responsible party. The following parties also may be liable for your injuries:
- The vehicle owner, if not the driver
- A government entity if road conditions contributed to the accident
- A manufacturer of a defective vehicle component.
- A bar owner who knowingly served alcohol to an underage or habitually addicted drinker.
We will thoroughly investigate your accident to identify all the contributing factors and determine who else we can hold liable for your damages.
Other Insurance Policies
Our clients are often surprised when we find insurance policies they didn’t know they owned, such as disability insurance through an employer. Occasionally, we discover umbrella policies owned by the uninsured driver. An umbrella policy covers excess liability when a driver or other liable party’s insurance falls short of covering all the damages they caused.
Social Security Disability
If your accident causes a permanent disability preventing you from working, our Jacksonville Social Security Disability lawyers can determine whether you are eligible for disability compensation through the Social Security Administration. If so, we will apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits—monthly tax-free compensation you can receive indefinitely based on your work history.
Workers’ Compensation
If an uninsured driver hit you while you were working, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. These include free medical care and partial wage replacement. Our Jacksonville workers’ compensation lawyers will file your workers’ compensation claim for you or appeal a denied claim.
Receiving workers’ compensation benefits does not bar you from also recovering damages under your uninsured motorist policy. State law specifies that uninsured motorist coverage benefits are available over and above the benefits you can receive through workers’ comp and other disability programs.
Proving the Other Driver Was at Fault
You cannot collect from an uninsured motorist policy unless the other driver is at fault and your injuries are severe. To establish fault, you will need to prove that all of the following elements of negligence were present during your accident:
- The driver owed you a duty of care. Every driver has a legal duty to follow the law and take reasonable measures to avoid accidents.
- The driver breached the duty of care. The driver violated the law or otherwise failed to exercise reasonable care.
- You suffered an injury. Your injury is measurable and has caused verifiable financial losses.
- The breach of duty is the actual and proximate cause of your injury. Your injury would not have occurred if not for the breach of duty, and the breach was related closely enough to the injury to be the primary cause.
You’ll need hard evidence to prove your case. When you put our dedicated Jacksonville uninsured motorist accident attorneys to work for you, we’ll do the hard work to prove your case. We’ll photograph the scene, review video footage, interview witnesses, and obtain your medical records, among other endeavors. Contact us now to schedule your free case review.
How Much Insurance Coverage Are Florida Drivers Required to Carry?
Florida drivers generally must carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability. Florida’s insurance laws don’t require drivers to carry bodily injury liability. These low minimum requirements make it possible to be struck by an uninsured driver who was following the law.
Florida’s Financial Responsibility Law requires drivers convicted of DUI to carry significantly higher liability coverage for the three years following license reinstatement, including:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability for one injured person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability for two or more injured people
- $50,000 property damage liability
Florida drivers who fail to carry the required insurance can have their driving privileges suspended for up to three years. Despite this severe penalty, more than a million Florida drivers drive without insurance. Statewide, 6.24 percent of drivers were uninsured as of May 5, 2024. The rate of uninsured drivers in Duval County is even higher at 7.79 percent.
We strongly recommend carrying as much uninsured motorist coverage as you can afford. It is the most sure way to recover compensation after being hit by an uninsured driver, including hit-and-run accidents.
“Uninsured motorist coverage also covers you when you're not in your vehicle. For instance, if you were walking down the side of the road, or maybe riding a bicycle and you were struck by a hit-and-run driver, or a driver that did not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries, your uninsured motorist coverage would cover you even though you were not in your vehicle. It even covers you if you were in someone else's vehicle. So this is very viable coverage, and we want to make sure that you understand that if you have it, you're entitled to use it.”
Don’t Wait To File Your Claim
The Florida personal injury statute of limitations allows most injured accident victims to file a claim for up to two years after an accident. However, don’t wait to contact an experienced uninsured motorist accident lawyer after your accident with an uninsured driver. The evidence you will need to prove your claim may only be available for a short period, and your attorney will need time to collect the evidence, analyze your medical records, and build a strong case before filing.
You could leave significant money on the table if you miss the deadline. An uninsured motorist claim can provide the financial resources you need for medical care and financial security. You have nothing to lose by filing an uninsured motorist claim but potentially a significant amount to gain.
“A lot of people are concerned that if they make an uninsured motorist claim against their own insurance company, it means that their insurance rates will rise. This is just not the case because uninsured motorist coverage is coverage that you purchased and paid for, and you purchased it just like you purchased your health insurance policy.”
Contact Us To Handle Your Uninsured Motorist Accident Claim
Being hit by an uninsured driver can lead to an uncertain future when your injuries are severe. Our experienced attorneys are committed to helping those who need it most. You’ll get through this, and we can help. With over $2 billion recovered, we have experience you can trust. Let us go to work for you. Call us today at (904) 549-6434 to schedule a free consultation.
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