1. Farah & Farah
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, intersection accidents, highway accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, hit-and-run accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, PIP claims, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in Florida. Jacksonville-based personal injury law firm. One of the largest personal injury firms in Florida. Handles thousands of cases annually. Eddie Farah and Chuck Farah are founding partners. Decades of experience in Florida personal injury law.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Contact: (800) 533-3555 | https://www.farahandfarah.com
Bar Number: Active (Florida Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
2. Pajcic & Pajcic
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, product liability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, drunk driving accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, fatal accidents, permanent injury cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, PIP claims, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in Florida. Jacksonville personal injury law firm. Recognized as one of Florida’s prominent personal injury firms. Experience with complex litigation and trials. Known for handling serious injury and wrongful death cases throughout Northeast Florida.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Contact: (904) 358-8881 | https://www.pajcic.com
Bar Number: Active (Florida Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
3. Edwards & Ragatz, P.A.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, intersection accidents, highway accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, hit-and-run accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, PIP claims, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in Florida. Jacksonville personal injury attorneys. Experienced in handling car accident and personal injury claims throughout Duval County and Northeast Florida.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Contact: (904) 399-1609 | https://www.edwardsragatz.com
Bar Number: Active (Florida Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
4. Harrell & Harrell, P.A.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, nursing home abuse, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, hit-and-run accidents, multi-vehicle accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, PIP claims, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in Florida. Jacksonville-based personal injury law firm. Over 40 years serving Northeast Florida. Handles serious injury and wrongful death cases.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Contact: (904) 251-1111 | https://www.harrellandharrell.com
Bar Number: Active (Florida Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
5. Sheftall & Associates
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, insurance disputes
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, intersection accidents, highway accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, uninsured motorist claims, underinsured motorist claims
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, PIP claims, bad faith insurance claims, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in Florida. Jacksonville personal injury attorneys. Focus on motor vehicle accidents and insurance claims. Experience with Florida’s no-fault insurance system.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Contact: (904) 647-2296 | https://www.sheftalllaw.com
Bar Number: Active (Florida Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Florida
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Four years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (reduced from four years in 2023 for some claims – verify current status). Standard negligence claims have four years under Florida Statutes Section 95.11.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims: Two years from the date of death.
Claims Against Government Entities: Must file a notice of claim within three years. Additional procedural requirements apply under Florida’s sovereign immunity laws.
Fault System: Florida transitioned from a no-fault to a fault-based system effective March 2024 with the repeal of the PIP (Personal Injury Protection) statute. Injured parties can now pursue claims directly against at-fault drivers.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Florida follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar (changed from pure comparative negligence in 2023). Recovery is allowed only if the injured party is not more than 50% at fault. Compensation is reduced by percentage of fault.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (As of 2024):
- Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident (required after PIP repeal)
- Property Damage Liability: $10,000
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): PIP was repealed effective January 1, 2024. Florida now requires bodily injury liability coverage instead.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Not required but available and recommended.
Medical Payments Coverage: Optional coverage that pays medical expenses regardless of fault.
Damage Caps: Florida does not cap economic damages. Non-economic damages may be subject to certain limitations in specific case types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How has Florida’s car accident law changed recently, and how does it affect my Jacksonville claim?
A: Florida significantly changed its car accident laws effective 2023-2024. The state moved from a pure comparative negligence to a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar, meaning you cannot recover damages if you are more than 50% at fault. Additionally, PIP (Personal Injury Protection) was repealed, and Florida now requires bodily injury liability coverage. These changes mean injured parties can pursue claims directly against at-fault drivers’ liability coverage rather than relying solely on their own PIP coverage.
Q: What is the statute of limitations for car accident claims in Jacksonville?
A: Florida provides four years from the accident date to file a personal injury negligence lawsuit under Florida Statutes Section 95.11. Wrongful death claims have a two-year limitation from the date of death. Claims against government entities have special notice requirements. Given recent law changes, consult an attorney to verify current deadlines applicable to your specific situation.
Q: What should I do after a car accident in Jacksonville?
A: Stop at the scene and check for injuries. Call 911 for any injuries or significant damage. Exchange information with other drivers including insurance details. Document the scene with photos. Collect witness information. Do not admit fault. Seek medical attention promptly. Report the accident to police if there are injuries, deaths, or property damage over $500. Notify your insurance company. With Florida’s new fault-based system, consider consulting a personal injury attorney to understand your rights.
Q: What compensation can I recover in a Jacksonville car accident case?
A: Florida allows recovery of economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, future care costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement). Under the new fault-based system, you pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may need to rely on your own UM/UIM coverage if you have it.
Q: What insurance coverage is now required in Florida after the PIP repeal?
A: Since January 1, 2024, Florida requires all drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage at minimum levels of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $10,000 in property damage liability. PIP coverage is no longer required or available for new policies. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional but strongly recommended given the number of uninsured drivers on Florida roads.