Mark Hickey

Sarasota Car Accident Attorneys


Car accidents happen every day in Sarasota.  Some are minor collisions, resulting in annoyance and some are serious, leaving victims devastated for life.  A single careless decision by a negligent driver could leave you or a family member seriously injured with life-long disabilities.   With nearly 25 years of experience protecting the legal rights of injured clients, our Sarasota auto accident attorneys are always here to help.

The Fernandez Firm Accident Injury Attorneys has won more than $90 million in settlements and jury verdicts at trial.  Many of our clients injured in car accidents by negligent drivers were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thankfully, however, they then chose the right law firm to help them find competent medical providers and fight the insurance companies to recover and start their lives over again.

Injured in a Sarasota car accident? Contact our office to learn more about your right to recover compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, wage loss and resulting damages 1-800-222-8163.

Types of Auto Cases We Handle

A Sarasota car accident could be the result of any number of negligent acts.  Our car accident attorneys handle a variety of claims:

  • Rear-end collisions
  • Distracted driver accidents
  • Mild impact car accidents
  • Rollover car accidents
  • T-Bone car crashes
  • Drunk driving accidents
  • Head-on collisions
  • Hit and run crashes

If you have been injured in a car crash, whether a catastrophic accident or minor impact collision, our experienced team is available 24/7 to discuss your case. Click here for an immediate free case review.

Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer

What is Automobile Negligence?

Not all car accidents are the result of negligence. To have a successful negligence claim, the injured party (the plaintiff) has the burden of proving that the defendant driver’s conduct was unreasonable under the circumstances and that such unreasonable conduct caused the accident, resulting in injuries and damages.

In order to win a motor vehicle case in Florida, the plaintiff must prove:

  • The driver being sued owed the plaintiff a legal duty to drive a safe vehicle in a reasonable way that would not endanger others;
  • That duty was breached (eg. the driver was speeding, ran a red light, was distracted or intoxicated);
  • That breach was the legal (or proximate) cause of the accident which caused the injuries; and
  • The plaintiff suffered harm as a result.

Under Florida law, if the above factors are proven by the “greater weight of the evidence,” the defendant may be held liable to pay the plaintiff compensation for the injuries suffered as well as economic losses caused by the accident.

Building Your Auto Accident Case

Car accident cases are built on facts. If you have been injured in a Sarasota car accident you should contact us as soon as possible so we can start a thorough investigation.  We will talk to you and all other witnesses before memories fade, photograph the scene, property damage and obtain the police report and copies of all your medical records, bills and wage loss.

We may hire an expert to recreate the accident based on the evidence. An expert’s opinion is frequently crucial in determining who is at fault and to what extent.  Once we have a thorough understanding of all the facts, we will make a demand to the insurance company for the at-fault driver (or, depending upon the circumstances, your carrier providing uninsured/underinsured coverage).

Usually the parties will engage in pre-suit negotiations and, if a settlement agreement cannot be reached, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf to recover the compensation you deserve.  If the at-fault driver’s insurance company refuses to settle your case for its fair value, we will not hesitate to take them to court and try your case to a jury. One of the reasons insurance companies take us seriously is the knowledge we will go to trial when our clients are not treated fairly.

Sarasota Car Accident – Call Today!

You may be tempted to try to negotiate with the insurance company yourself. The insurance company will most certainly be happy to speak with you and minimize the company’s exposure by trying to obtain your statement and/or sign documents making it more difficult — if not impossible — for you to successfully pursue your auto accident claim.  While you may be able to settle with the insurance company on your own, it almost certainly will be for far less than what your personal injury case is actually worth.

If you have questions regarding a car accident injury claim, contact our Sarasota car accident attorneys today at 1-800-222-8163.  Our experienced team of trial lawyers is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your legal options and the consultation is free

At the Fernandez Firm Accident Injury Attorneys, we do not get paid unless we win …and We Want to Win!