Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers
Being injured in a car accident is painful, disabling, and financially overwhelming. Medical bills pile up at a time when you’re unable to work, and insurance companies resort to every trick in the book to avoid paying enough compensation to cover your costs, let alone your pain and suffering. Our award-winning Gainesville car accident lawyers won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you when you’re injured. Call us now at (352) 505-8093 for a free case evaluation.
Gainesville traffic is often heavy due to a combination of university, tourist, and local traffic. Heavy traffic would present little or no danger if all drivers paid attention and exercised reasonable care at all times. Sadly, this is not the case, and car accidents occur every day in our city.
If you or your loved one has been injured by a careless driver in Hogtown, you can count on our supportive and experienced Gainesville personal injury lawyers to help you through this difficult time. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Our Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers Are the Number One Choice in Gainesville
We’re a family-centered law firm that provides caring, supportive advocacy from our small Gainesville law office. However, our Gainesville car accident attorneys have access to the vast resources of the entire Farah & Farah law firm. This allows our skilled legal team to go against large insurance companies and win the damages you deserve.
Since 1979, we have won more than $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients. Our results are no accident. Our experience makes all the difference in getting our clients the compensation they need. Don’t try to fight the insurance company by yourself. Let us put our experience to work for you.Â
We have homegrown roots in Gainesville. Our founder, Eddie Farah, and his daughter, Dalya Farah, are University of Florida alumni, and we love the city of Gainesville. We show that love through community involvement and by proudly supporting local programs through financial giving and volunteerism. For example, attorney Ryan O’Connor coaches a youth soccer team and invests in the community.
We treat every client with honesty, dignity, and respect. Our Gainesville car accident attorneys have an open-door policy, which means you will always be able to reach us, and we will proactively keep you informed about your case.
We Have a Track Record of Outstanding Car Accident Results
Getting the compensation you need to cover all your losses after a car accident can be challenging in Florida. Our car accident lawyers in Gainesville go above and beyond to find every source of compensation available. This is why we have achieved the results below and thousands more like them:
- $2.5 million verdict for a young woman injured by a negligent driver, resulting in painful neck injuries.
- $1.8 million for a father of a young daughter who became disabled in a low-impact collision while driving a company truck.
- $1.2 million for a master electrician who sustained a spinal cord injury after being rear-ended.
- $1.1 million for a client who suffered neck injuries after a careless driver failed to yield at an intersection.
- $850,000 for an elderly client who was T-boned by a driver who pulled out of a parking lot without looking.
- $650,000 for a client who suffered herniated discs and slipped discs after being rear-ended at a traffic light.
What Our Clients Say About Our Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers
Our Gainesville car accident attorneys get results through caring, understanding, and hard work. Our clients know how much we care from the beginning because of the support and attention we give them, and it shows in the client testimonials we regularly receive from our Gainesville clients, such as:
“Since I have been working with my team at Farah & Farah, I have been at ease just knowing they would take care of me. My case manager has walked me through everything and helped me tremendously throughout this process, keeping me informed and providing guidance… That’s why, when I unfortunately got in another auto accident, I used my same team to handle the second case… I want to personally thank my attorney… She is awesome and a joy to speak with.”
— Curtis Thomas
“Wanted to share my positive experience with Mr. Charles Bowen of Farah & Farah and the help they provided after my car accident. Mr. Bowen was always kind and got to the point… I had a line directly to him throughout the entire case. Mr. Bowen was able to get me a substantial amount of money from my claim… [The] office is clean, staff is friendly, and the building is easy to get to.”
— Stephen P.
“The car accident was traumatizing, to say the least; it altered my entire way of living… It was great to have an awesome legal team to deal with the legal side of my case. Special thanks to Ms. Kim Gebhardt, who kept in regular contact to receive updates on my condition as well as to relay information regarding my case. Kim also fought very hard to minimize my expenses in a time-efficient manner which ultimately led to me receiving a higher personal check. My family and I were able to do some much-needed things. I highly recommend this firm.”
— Jessica L.
Bradley Latone | Gainesville Car Accident Lawyer | Farah & Farah
Why should someone hire the Farah & Farah Gainesville office?
The Farah & Farah Gainesville office is a good, close-knit office where all we all work hard together we treat each other like family, we treat our clients like family. Ultimately it goes into the results we get for our clients when we get the best results because we all do work really well together. We’re right around the corner if you need to stop in and drop off papers. If you need to meet with us, we’re here to meet with you. You don’t have to drive to the next town over, we’re right here in the community.
Why hire a car accident lawyer in Gainesville?
You should hire a car accident lawyer because insurance companies will take your case more seriously. We know how serious it is and we know that is important to you but the insurance company isn’t going to take you seriously. So when you hire a car accident attorney, we can negotiate with the insurance companies. We’re not scared of the insurance companies. It helps us to get the best result for you.
If I hire Farah & Farah what will you do for my case?
When you’re hiring an injury attorney the difference is we can negotiate with insurance companies and candidly insurance companies take you more seriously once you hire an injury attorney. They don’t just try to take advantage of you and we’re there to make sure that the insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you whether that be through a demand to the insurance company – helping to negotiate medical bills or ultimately securing the best settlement we can for you.
What is the fee to hire Farah & Farah?
If your case is won, the fee is paid through the settlement itself then it’ll be deducted from whatever we ultimately recover in the settlement. You don’t owe us anything unless we get a result for you. You don’t owe an upfront amount. You don’t owe us anything until we get a good result for you. If we don’t ultimately prevail, you won’t owe us anything.
How Our Car Accident Attorneys in Gainesville Will Help You Maximize Your Recovery
Our skilled and thorough Gainesville car accident lawyers won’t settle for less than you deserve. While we could do the easy thing and accept an early lowball settlement offer, we prefer to stand by you, do the hard work, and fight to ensure you get every penny you’re due. This is how we accomplish it:
- Perform our own forensic analysis of your accident with the help of reputable accident reconstructionists.
- Collaborate with medical experts and life care planners to prove how severe your injuries are and their lifetime costs.
- Identify all the parties that caused or contributed to your accident, such as vehicle manufacturers and other parties that were not drivers.
- Refer you to medical providers who will not overcharge you.
- Negotiate with your medical providers for lower rates so you can keep more of your settlement in your pocket.
- Refuse to accept less than the amount you deserve.
- If necessary, we’ll confidently take your case to trial.
Our early investigations of your accident and injuries are the most important jobs we can do as car accident lawyers in Gainesville because we often uncover evidence that insurance companies can’t overcome. When our evidence is robust, your case is more likely to settle for the amount you deserve without the necessity of going to trial. If it does go to trial, our case will be strong.
Gainesville Car Accident Statistics
In 2022, there were 5,124 car accidents in Alachua County. This equates to about 14 accidents per day. These accidents caused 3,288 injuries and 50 deaths. An estimated 312 injuries were caused by hit-and-run accidents, and these accidents caused three deaths.
According to the City of Gainesville Vision Zero report, 24 percent of severe crashes and 44 percent of fatal crashes in Gainesville occur in disadvantaged areas, disproportionately affecting people with lower incomes, people with disabilities, and minorities.
Gainesville’s Most Dangerous Intersections
The highest number of crashes in Gainesville have historically occurred at the following intersections:
- Northwest 34th Street and Northwest 39th Avenue.
- The on and off ramps for Interstate 75 on Southwest Archer Road.
- Southwest Archer Road and Southwest 37th Boulevard.
- West University Avenue and Northwest 22nd Street.
- Southwest 20th Avenue and Southwest 62nd Boulevard/52nd Street.
- Southwest 16th Avenue and Southwest 13th Street.
- Southwest 34th Street and Southwest 20th Avenue.
- Southwest 40th Boulevard and Southwest Archer Road.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in Gainesville?
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accidents in Gainesville, accounting for 42 percent of all car accidents. The information in the charts below was compiled by Gainesville Vision Zero, and it shows that the most common serious accidents are rear-endings, left-turn accidents, and pedestrian crashes.
Rear-End Collisions
Despite their commonality, rear-end collisions can be serious, especially if the trailing vehicle is going full speed and the leading vehicle is stopped at an intersection. Rear-endings can push the leading vehicle into a busy intersection and cause multi-vehicle accidents. However, even a low-impact rear-end collision can result in serious neck injuries, such as whiplash.
Left-Turn Accidents
Left-turn accidents are less common overall than rear-endings, but they are more likely to be serious or fatal, accounting for 29 percent of all serious and fatal accidents in Gainesville. One reason for this high number of serious accidents is that left-turn accidents are the most common cause of accidents involving a car and a motorcycle.Â
This type of accident occurs when a car turns left in front of a motorcycle that was going straight, often severely injuring the motorcycle rider. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Gainesville have helped riders recover significant compensation after these types of accidents.
Left turns require drivers to cross several lanes of traffic, and this leaves a lot of room for error when they are distracted, in a hurry, or just not paying attention. Careless mistakes that can lead to these accidents include:
- Hurrying through an intersection when a light is turning red.
- Failing to yield to other vehicles that are going straight.
- Failing to check for pedestrians and bicyclists before turning.
- Turning the wrong way onto a one-way street.
Right-Turn Accidents
Right-turn accidents are significantly less common than left-turn accidents, comprising just 1 percent of all accidents in Gainesville and 2 percent of serious accidents. These accidents are often due to distracted driving. Pedestrians are especially at risk from right-turn accidents.
Right-turn accidents are more common in large commercial trucks and buses. These vehicles must swing out to make some right turns. If they fail to signal or swing too far left, a passenger car could be led to believe that the truck is turning left and become caught between the truck and the curb, resulting in a dangerous accident.
Sideswipes
A sideswipe crash occurs when the side of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle while traveling in the same direction. Approximately 12 percent of all crashes in Gainesville are sideswipes. These types are less likely to be serious than other types, but the potential is still there. Sideswipes account for 3 percent of all crashes that result in serious injuries or death.
Sideswipes are common on interstates and other roads where traffic lanes merge, including on-ramps and off-ramps. They can also occur when an inattentive driver makes an improper lane change or when a driver attempts to take a curve too quickly and drifts into your lane.
Rollovers
Rollover accidents are dangerous accidents that can result in head, spinal cord, and other serious injuries. Fortunately, they are among the least common types of accidents in Gainesville. Just 1 percent of accidents in our city are rollovers, but they account for 3 percent of all fatal and serious accidents.Â
Rollover accidents are often due to driving too fast around a curve. Many rollovers are caused by a driver swerving to miss a vehicle, animal, or pedestrian that has suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle. Your vehicle could also roll over as a result of a high-speed collision with another vehicle or fixed object.
On windy days, there is a risk of tractor-trailers rolling over, potentially landing on top of cars while driving on Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 441, or other highways in our area, especially if they do not have cargo in their trailers. Our Gainesville truck accident lawyers can help if you or your loved one has been harmed in a big truck accident.
Angle Crashes
An angle crash is a collision that occurs at an angle. One of the most common types of angle crashes is a T-bone crash, also known as a broadside crash. This type of collision occurs at a 90-degree angle when another vehicle collides head-on with the side of your vehicle.Â
These types of collisions are very dangerous. Though just 7 percent of all crashes are angle crashes, they are responsible for 12 percent of severe and fatal crashes in Gainesville.
Off-Road Crashes
An off-road crash occurs when a vehicle loses control and leaves the roadway. In some cases, you may be run off the roadway by another vehicle because the other driver lost control, fell asleep at the wheel, drove drunk, drove while distracted, or drove aggressively.
Being run off the roadway can lead to a domino effect. You could roll over if there is a deep ditch or embankment. You could collide with a power pole or a building. Pedestrians can also be endangered when a car runs off the roadway.
Approximately 4 percent of all car accidents in Gainesville are off-road crashes, but they are the cause of 11 percent of severe crashes.
Head-on Collisions
Head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous types of accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration, they most commonly occur on undivided highways. They are also more common in rural areas, in areas with blind curves, and in wet conditions.Â
Head-on collisions are rare in Gainesville compared to other types of collisions. Approximately 2 percent of all crashes are head-on collisions, and they account for about 1 percent of the crashes in Gainesville that result in serious injuries and fatalities.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Single-car accidents can lead to collisions with the most vulnerable roadway users: pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrian and bicycle accidents account for just 1 percent of all car accidents each, but collisions with bicycles cause 4 percent of serious and fatal crashes, while collisions with pedestrians cause 15 percent of all crashes leading to severe injury or death in our city.
One reason for the difference in severe outcomes could be that bicyclists often wear helmets, preventing some head injuries.Â
According to The Independent Florida Alligator, University Avenue and Waldo Road are tied as the most dangerous roads for pedestrians. Pedestrian crashes on University Avenue are especially likely to result in disabling injuries due to the higher speeds on that road. Other dangerous roads for pedestrians include:
- Archer Road
- 13th Street
- 34th Street
- Main Street
Contact our Florida pedestrian accident attorneys as soon as possible if you or your loved one has been hit by a car.
Why Are There So Many Accidents in Gainesville?
The city of Gainesville is a growing area. Everyone wants to live in Gator Country because of the state-of-the-art medical facilities, outdoor activities, and of course, the University of Florida. Unfortunately, infrastructure has not kept up with growth, and our roads have become increasingly congested.Â
The more congested traffic becomes, the less room there is for error. Of the 33 cities in Florida with a population of 75,000 or higher, Gainesville has the ninth-highest incidence of serious and fatal accidents. Among these cities, Gainesville has the fifth-highest rate of distracted driving accidents and the seventh-highest rate of impaired driving crashes.
Gainesville also has the ninth-highest incidence of crashes involving vulnerable roadway users, including motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Other common causes of car accidents in Gainesville include speeding, aggressive driving, and failure to yield.
What Types of Damages Can I Receive if I’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident in Gainesville?
Our Florida car accident lawyers in Gainesville are committed to helping you recover the maximum compensation available. When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you have a right to pursue damages for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of future earnings, property damage, and other financial and emotional losses.Â
You may also qualify for punitive damages if you have clear and convincing evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence by the at-fault driver, such as drunk driving. These damages are above and beyond those meant to compensate you for your injuries. They are awarded as a punishment against the defendant and to deter others from similar conduct.
If your injuries are expected to last a year or more, our Social Security Disability lawyers in Gainesville can help you apply for Social Security Disability benefits in addition to your personal injury lawsuit. Social Security Disability is a monthly tax-free benefit for injured people who cannot work.Â
It is one of many ways our team of experienced Gainesville car accident lawyers work together to maximize your compensation. Call us now at (352) 505-8093 for a free case review.
What Factors Can Influence My Car Accident Settlement?
Every case is different. Many factors will influence what your car accident injury case is worth. Among those factors are the following:
- Your age.
- Types of injuries you suffered.
- Whether you have a permanent disability.
- The difference in your earning capacity after the accident.
- The insurance coverage available.
- Your share of the fault.
Recent changes in state personal injury laws may also impact your compensation. As of March 2023, the state changed the rules of evidence for medical expenses. Under the old system, only your medical bills were admissible in court. Doctors who accept insurance must sign a contract agreeing to accept a lesser payment for services billed. Under the new law, this lower amount is now admissible in court.
If you do not have health care coverage, the admissible amount is 120 percent of the amount Medicare would pay. The effect of this law is that it lowers your medical damages. This has the potential to also lower your pain and suffering damages because your medical expenses are part of the formula used to calculate them.
Our caring and skilled car accident attorneys in Gainesville are passionate about ensuring you receive fair and reasonable compensation. Despite these changes, there is still no limit on the amount of compensation a jury can award. These changes have not stopped us from getting our clients the results they deserve.
What if My Family Member Was Killed in a Car Accident?
If you’re coping with the tragic loss of a beloved family member after a fatal car accident, our compassionate car accident lawyers can help. We’ll work with you and your family to get justice against the careless driver who brought on your family member’s unnecessary death. Â
While no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, it can relieve the financial hardships brought on by their death and provide your family with financial security now and in the future. Damages for the wrongful death of a loved one may include your loved one’s medical expenses, burial expenses, and pain and suffering between the accident and their death.
You can also receive compensation for your loved one’s lost income and your family’s emotional losses, including loss of companionship, loss of parental guidance, loss of support, and more. Call our Florida wrongful death lawyers in Gainesville today at (352) 505-8093 for a free consultation.
Where Does Compensation Come from After a Car Accident in Gainesville?
The first compensation you recover comes from your no-fault insurance, known as personal injury protection or PIP. This insurance policy covers part of your lost wages and medical expenses. If your injuries are severe enough according to state law, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.Â
Florida law allows drivers to carry as little as $10,000 in liability insurance, which often falls far short of the losses suffered by accident victims with severe injuries. This is one area where our Gainesville car accident lawyers shine. We will dig deep to identify every source of compensation that could be available to you.
We start with your underinsured motorist policy, but we don’t stop there. We will look for additional insurance policies you may not know you had, such as short-term or long-term disability through an employer or an umbrella policy.
The most significant source of additional compensation comes from identifying additional people and businesses who may also be liable for your accident.
Who Is Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
Liability for most car accidents lies with an at-fault driver. However, it is not uncommon for multiple parties to share blame for an accident, including parties who were not driving, such as:
- Vehicle owners who loaned out their car to a careless driver.
- Employers who own the vehicle the at-fault driver was driving and for whom the driver was performing a service.
- Vehicle parts manufacturers and distributors who supplied defective parts that caused or contributed to the accident, such as defective tires, airbags, or brakes.
- Negligent mechanics that performed faulty repairs.
- The city of Gainesville or another government entity that failed to maintain safe road conditions.
- Owners of bars and other establishments that served excessive alcohol to a drunk driver who caused the accident.
- Rideshare companies such as Uber or Lyft if you were in an accident as a rider on either of these services.
Identifying these additional liable parties is crucial for recovering your full case value.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Share the Blame for My Florida Car Crash?
Florida law allows you to recover compensation if you share fault for the accident as long as your share of the fault is no more than 50 percent. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of the fault. For example, if your damages are $100,000 but you are 10 percent at fault, your compensation will be reduced to $90,000.
If you’ve been assigned fault for an accident, even if you were assigned more than 50 percent of the fault, don’t let it stop you from reaching out to us. The initial finding of fault may not be accurate. Our forensic investigation is more detailed than that provided by the police, and we may be able to remove some or all of the fault that was assigned to you.
It is important that you call us as soon as possible at (352) 505-8093 if you have questions about fault, and never admit fault to anyone. Even if you think you were at fault, the forensic evidence may tell another story.
What Should I Do After I’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident in Gainesville?
Every action or inaction you take after a car crash can impact the outcome of your case. The sooner you contact one of our experienced Gainesville car accident lawyers, the sooner we can go to work for you to preserve your claim and represent your best interests.Â
While hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is the most important step, there are several other important actions you should take after a car accident and actions you should avoid, including:
- Avoid talking to the insurance company without a lawyer. Insurance adjusters may appear friendly and caring, but they are hoping you will get comfortable enough to admit fault or say something that could hurt your case. Most importantly, do not provide a recorded statement, and never sign documents from the insurance company without your attorney present.
- Stay off of social media. If you have a large settlement at stake, the insurance company may monitor your social media in hopes of finding evidence it can use against you. Even the most innocent post can be misused.
- Avoid discussing your accident with friends or family members. If your case goes to trial, the insurance company may interview your friends or family members under oath. It is safer if they can honestly say that you have not discussed the accident with them.
- Complete your medical treatment. Your medical treatment is the foundation of your entire personal injury claim. It proves that you were injured, creates a medical record, and generates the financial costs necessary to calculate an accurate case value. If you don’t complete your treatment, the insurance company can use it against you and claim treatment is unnecessary.
- Document and preserve evidence. Even if you were unable to take pictures or record video at the time of the event, if you have access to your car or can get back to the scene, there may still be valuable information in any photographs you can get of the damage to the vehicle or skid marks on the road. You can also look for camera surveillance that may have captured the scene.Â
- Preserve eyewitness information. If any eyewitnesses provided you with their contact information, save this for your attorney.
It is not unusual for an insurance company to make a settlement offer shortly after the accident. It may sound like a lot of money at the time, but it is crucial that you don’t make the mistake of accepting this offer without consulting a reputable car accident lawyer in Gainesville. If you accept this offer, you forfeit your right to pursue additional compensation if it turns out to not be enough.
Car Accident FAQs
You have questions after your car accident in Gainesville. We have the answers you need.
When Should I Hire an Attorney After a Gainesville Car Accident?
You should hire a lawyer right away. You should hire a lawyer right away. First, it’s important to know that there is a two-year statute of limitations for car accident cases in Florida. Once time runs out, so does your right to seek damages from an insurer or liable third party. You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim.
Time limits aside, you’ll want to get started on your case as soon as possible. Evidence can degrade or get lost, and witnesses to the accident will have trouble remembering important details as time goes on. You certainly don’t want to let the insurance company control the process, which can happen if you let them get started before you.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accident Injuries?
Commonly reported car accident injuries in Gainesville include:
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Chest injuries
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Wrongful deaths
How Can I Recover Compensation if the At-Fault Driver Was Uninsured?
Being hit by an uninsured driver can be distressing because filing a compensation claim is less straightforward. While it is possible to sue the driver directly, uninsured drivers often lack collectible assets, making such a lawsuit fruitless. Fortunately, you can recover compensation from other sources.Â
As always, your first claim would be against your no-fault insurance. If your injuries meet the state threshold for severe, you can also file a claim against your uninsured motorist policy. We will then look for other insurance policies you own and evidence that nondriver parties shared liability for your accident.
Trusted Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
Don’t try to take on a powerful insurance company by yourself. Let our award-winning Gainesville car accident lawyers lead your fight for compensation. You’ll benefit from a team with decades of experience, a demonstrated track record of success, and a passion for helping crash victims like you. Call our Gainesville law office now at (352) 505-8093 for a free consultation.
Why Our Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers Are the Number One Choice in Gainesville
How Our Car Accident Attorneys in Gainesville Will Help You Maximize Your Recovery
Gainesville Car Accident Statistics
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in Gainesville?
Why Are There So Many Accidents in Gainesville?
What Types of Damages Can I Receive if I’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident in Gainesville?
Who Is Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
What Should I Do After I’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident in Gainesville?
Trusted Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
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