Gainesville & Ocala Personal Injury Attorneys > Ocala Personal Injury Lawyer

Ocala Personal Injury Lawyer

Emergency rooms see millions of injured people each year. Slippery floors and speeding vehicles can result in injuries ranging from relatively minor cuts to life-changing spine or brain injuries. No matter what type of injury you suffered, however, you will likely face financial losses such as medical bills or lost income.

The Ocala personal injury attorneys at Meldon Law are committed to helping victims of accidental injuries recover from their losses whenever they can. If you would like to learn about your legal rights following a personal injury, please call our office today at (888) 447-4429 to discuss your specific situation with a member of our legal team.

You May Be Entitled to Compensation for Your Personal and Financial Losses

Injuries occur in many different ways. In many cases, these injuries happen because someone else acted negligently. Negligence means that someone did not act with reasonable care and their action or inaction caused an injury.

Injury victims have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party by filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit. You may be entitled to compensation for expenses you paid or funds you’ve lost, such as:

Medical expenses
The cost of repairing or replacing damaged property
Loss of wages while you’re unable to work, or loss of future earnings if a serious injury prevents you from working in the future
The costs of renovating your home or vehicle to accommodate a disabling injury

You can also receive compensation for losses that don’t always come with an invoice, commonly called non-economic damages. These can include:

Diminished quality of life
The physical and mental pain and suffering
Disability or disfigurement due to the injury
Loss of relationships

Our personal injury attorneys care about you and take your case personally. We use our experience and extensive knowledge of the law to determine who is liable for your injury and to prove that negligence occurred.

We’re a force to be reckoned with inside and outside of the courtroom because we simply won’t back down.

How Much You Can Get in a Personal Injury Claim in Ocala, FL

You will find compensation calculators online, but the truth is, the only way you can get an estimate of the value of your claim is to get a consultation and talk to a lawyer who can evaluate the facts of your case.

How much you can get in an Ocala personal injury claim will depend on a variety of factors, which include the severity of your injuries, your future prognosis, how much work you missed (and whether you can still work at all), and the degree to which your life has been affected by your injuries or the loss of a loved one.

One exception to this is the damage caps Florida imposes on punitive damages, which are damages that can be ordered in cases of serious wrongdoing. For example, a driver who has caused drunk driving accidents in the past knowingly getting behind the wheel when they knew they had been drinking and were therefore putting others at risk.

In Florida, punitive damages are limited to three times the amount of your compensatory damages or $500,000.

Florida’s New Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits in 2023

Most personal injury cases are settled with insurance companies before reaching court. But, there are times when it is necessary to file a lawsuit for appropriate compensation.

Prior to Governor Ron DeSantis’s 2023 reforms, injured parties in Florida had four years from the time of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, that has now been reduced to two years. Now more than ever before, it is critical that you talk to an attorney about filing a lawsuit in a timely manner.

The sooner you have a consultation with us, the sooner we can begin gathering evidence to present your claim. If you don’t file by the deadline, you will not be allowed to file.

Our Ocala personal injury attorneys will go over this important point of law with you during your free evaluation. We will keep your case on schedule to allow you the opportunity to file a lawsuit, should that become necessary.

How Modified Comparative Negligence Can Affect Your Ocala Injury Case

Under Florida’s updated 2023 768.81 comparative fault statute, in Ocala and elsewhere in Florida, if you were 50% or less responsible for the accident, you may be able to recover compensation from the liable party. But, if it’s determined that you were 51% or more responsible for the accident and subsequent injury, you may not be able to recover any compensation.

Since 1986, Florida has been a pure comparative negligence state, which means after an accident, the degree of fault of each party involved in an accident is assessed, and damages are allocated accordingly. However, that changed in 2023. Under the new Florida negligence law, plaintiffs who are found to be more than 50 percent liable are barred from recovering damages.

The defendant’s insurance company may try to claim your percentage of fault is higher than it actually was to reduce your compensation or bar you from getting compensation at all. We will fight to prove your true level of fault if you were partially responsible for the accident.

Meldon Law, Your Ocala Personal Injury Attorneys

Meldon Law was established over 50 years ago. We now have multiple offices and serve our fellow Floridians with the Meldon CARES pillars of excellent service:

Compassion
Accountability
Reliability
Excellence
Success Driven

Our entire staff believes that what we do isn’t just our job, it’s our calling. Our clients become family, and we fight for our family.

Testimonials From Our Clients in Florida

As always, our clients and their welfare rank highest with our personal injury lawyers in Ocala and the other Florida communities we represent, and your opinions of our work matter.

“Hands down the best law firm!!! True to their word, They won’t back down! God sent me to them for a reason, Thank You Jesus. Grateful for sure. Trustworthy, Notable and for the people. Thank you!!!” —Jermaine

“My team with Meldon Law was awesome and were really helpful during a difficult time in my life. They showed how much they cared and took their time to explain the process to me. I’m happy I chose them to help me with my case.” —Orianna

“GREAT LAW FIRM! The personal detail and professionalism is what sets this law firm apart from others. Extremely empathetic!”—Mike

How Our Ocala Personal Injury Lawyers Help You

Your injury and the circumstances surrounding your accident are unique to you. Our personal injury attorneys adapt their work to meet your needs and to help you get the best possible outcome for your case. We:

Meet With You for Free

We provide a free evaluation of your case. This is a time when we listen to your story, answer your questions, and discuss the options we see for you. If you would like to work with us, we assemble your Meldon Team.

Conduct an In-Depth Investigation

Our experts conduct an independent investigation of the accident which led to your injury. We gather police, medical, and insurance reports, collect and analyze evidence from the scene, speak with witnesses, and review what we’ve learned to determine negligence and identify the liable party or parties.

Negotiate for What You Deserve

We help you assemble and file your claim, accounting for all of your economic and noneconomic damages. We then negotiate with the insurance company or companies for an appropriate settlement on your behalf. If a settlement is reached, we follow through to ensure all funds are disbursed properly.

Prepare for Trial and Represent You in Court

If a settlement cannot be reached, we prepare for trial and represent you in court, fighting for justice and fair compensation.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits in Ocala

Most personal injury cases are settled with insurance companies before reaching court. But, there are times when it is necessary to file a lawsuit for appropriate compensation.

In Florida, you have two years from the day of the accident to file an injury lawsuit. If you don’t file by then, you will not be allowed to file.

Our attorneys will keep your case on schedule to allow you the opportunity to file a lawsuit, should that become necessary.

Common Accidents Our Lawyers Represent in Central Florida

If you’ve never been injured due to someone else’s negligence, it can be challenging to know if you have a case and how you should proceed. Our attorneys have experience handling cases similar to yours, so they can provide you with knowledge and guidance as you move forward.

Our Ocala personal injury attorneys at Meldon Law regularly handle a variety of injury cases. We are here to help with:

Negligence can be a complex legal concept. The type of evidence needed to prove negligence and the legal questions that may arise in a particular case will depend on the specific act that caused your accident and injuries.

For this reason, you want to ensure that your attorney has experience handling cases that involve the type of accident that happened to you. Our team members have decades of experience handling all types of injury cases.

Motor Vehicle Accidents in Ocala

Millions of Americans sustain injuries in traffic-related accidents every single year. Florida saw nearly 400,000 crashes and 250,000 injuries in 2022, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Motor vehicle accidents happen for many reasons, including the actions of negligent drivers.

Driving drunk or distracted or recklessly violating traffic regulations can lead to crashes and legal liability for any injuries that result from such negligence. Traffic accidents involve different types of vehicles, each of which contributes in its own way to the nature and severity of the injuries suffered. For the zone of the accident and the type of accident, we also serve as a Gainesville car accident attorney.

Car Accident Lawyer – The majority of traffic accidents involve passenger vehicles. Even with all of the safety features and modern technology in vehicles these days, occupants of cars still regularly sustain severe injuries in crashes.
Big Truck Accident Attorneys – When you drive around Ocala, you will likely encounter a number of large commercial trucks. Because these trucks are so much bigger and heavier than passenger vehicles, truck accidents can result in devastating injuries and property damage.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyers – Motorcyclists have no seat belts, airbags, bumpers, or steel frames around them to protect their bodies from the impact of a crash. Even helmets cannot prevent all head and brain injuries in a motorcycle accident. For these reasons, motorcyclists can sustain debilitating injuries in accidents.

What to Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Following any type of traffic accident, you should follow the advice of emergency medical personnel. If you don’t receivemedical care at the scene, see a physician that same day.
If you can remain on the scene, you should wait for law enforcement to arrive and then share your side of the story.
If another driver is intoxicated or has violated the law, police can arrest the driver or issue citations, which can help with your case.
As soon as you know your physical health is stable after an accident, our personal injury attorneys can determine the best course of action for you.
Do not speak with any insurance representatives other than your own before speaking with one of our attorneys. Don’t give a recorded statement even to your own insurer. We will handle these important tasks on your behalf.

Premises Liability Accidents

Many accidents occur because a property owner was negligent in the upkeep of their premises. When a business or property owner allows unsafe conditions or hazards to exist, customers and visitors can be injured.

Slip and Falls – If you slip and fall, you may limp away with a sprain or experience a devastating brain injury. Wet floors, crumbly stairs, and construction debris all present hazards to the unsuspecting public.
Falls – In addition to slips or trips, people fall from heights due to dangerous conditions. Falls down a flight of stairs, off of landings or balconies, or from other high places can result in severe injuries.
Dog Bites – It’s not unusual for property owners to have dogs on the premises. If a dog or other animal attacks and bites you, you may suffer lacerations, torn ligaments, scars, infections, and emotional trauma. We can help you hold animal owners liable for your losses.

Giving Back in Ocala and Around Florida

Our Ocala personal injury lawyers have been fortunate as a law firm to explore multiple ways to give back to the community, including through our:

COVID-19 Response

During the pandemic, we donated food to front-line workers, hosted free laundry days, and even gave away free laundry for a year. Through a partnership with the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Student and Community Center from the University of Florida, we handed out free boxes of fruit and vegetables. We also handed out restaurant gift cards and free face masks.

Meldon Law Scholar-Athlete Program

For the past 25 years, we’ve awarded more than 500 scholarships to high school seniors showing excellence in academics and athletics.

Veterans Making a Difference Program

We established this initiative with CBS4 News to honor veterans and veteran organizations that make a difference in their communities.

Down-to-Earth Informative Legal Content

Understanding the law and our rights as citizens is an important safeguard for all of us. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to inform the public about the law through multiple outlets:

Podcasts
Blogs
Consumer guides
Books
Legal talk radio shows

Everyone at Meldon Law aims to continue to serve and recognize communities around Florida through these organizations and our legal practice

Schedule Your Free Personal Injury Case Evaluation in Ocala

At Meldon Law, our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping you in any way possible following your accident. We understand the stress an injury can put on you and your family. Our job is to address the legal issues of your case while you focus on rest and recovery.If you have been injured, you want a law firm on your side with the experience, skill, and knowledge necessary to provide comprehensive legal representation. Please call our personal injury lawyers in Ocala, FL, at (800) 614-2969 for a free consultation today.

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