Personal injury lawyers specialize in representing those who have been injured by the negligent act of another. Examples of personal injury cases include trucking accidents, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip and fall accidents at premises such as grocery stores, parking lots, sidewalks, and retail stores. To learn more about personal injury, visit our page on personal injury.

Negligence is a preventable occurrence. Despite the common use of the word accident, negligence is not actually an accident (even though SEO loves this word). It is not an accident when a negligent party crashes into your car because they weren’t paying attention. Texting, speeding, drinking, applying make-up, looking away from the road, and running stop signs are examples of negligent acts one can commit while driving. Lack of maintenance, obstructed walkways, uneven pavement, spills or water present on walkways are examples of negligent acts by a business that can result in injury to their customers and staff.

At Heights Injury Law, we are dedicated to raising the bar when it comes to personal injury representation and advocacy. Attorney Jennifer Meksraitis is personally involved in every case that comes through our doors. At Heights Injury Law, only two people are making decisions about your case: you and your attorney. If you call our office to speak with your attorney, that’s who you’ll speak with. Choosing Heights Injury Law ensures that your case will be handled competently, professionally, and with your best interest as our sole objective. If your case doesn’t settle, we’re not afraid to file a lawsuit or go to trial.

Most of our clients come to us through word-of-mouth referrals from former clients, which is the highest compliment an attorney can receive. What we lack in flashy billboards, we make up for in integrity, professionalism, and results.

Personal injury cases are generally taken on contingency, which means you don’t have to pay attorney’s fees upfront. A contract called a contingency fee agreement is signed once we accept your case. This agreement sets out the fees we will receive when we win your case either at trial or via settlement based on a percentage of the final dollar amount being paid to you by the at-fault party. If we don’t win your case, you don’t have to pay us.

You’re welcome to try to negotiate your claim with the insurance company directly, but there are a few things you should know before you attempt to do so. Insurance companies have a set of adjusters who only deal with individual claimants like you. They know the ropes and you don’t. They will often bully you, pressure you, and omit important information in an attempt to get you to sign a release enabling them to pay out as little as possible.

Conversely, insurance companies have a completely different set of adjusters who only deal with attorneys. These adjusters are very aware that they must operate within ethical and legal guidelines because they are dealing with attorneys who know the laws and rules that dictate how insurance companies must operate.

Attempting to negotiate your claim on your own will reduce the likelihood of obtaining fair compensation for your injuries and other damages such as loss of use, lost wages and more.

When you are hurt in a collision or slip and fall, what may seem to be minor could end up impacting your life and your health, and your loved ones, for a very long time. Insurance companies rely on those stoic individuals who don’t like to complain or “cause problems.” They count on the fact that you are deciding the status of your injuries instead of a qualified medical professional. Insurance companies have been very successful in convincing people that being fairly compensated for injuries they suffer through no fault of their own is something shameful. Meanwhile, they rake in enormous profits.

Contacting Heights Injury Law for a free consultation in no way obligates you to pursue a claim. Even if you have doubts, play it safe and give Heights Injury Law a call. Our attorney, Jennifer Meksraitis, will give it to you straight and provide you with the facts you need to make an informed decision.

Whiplash occurs when the neck is jerked back and forth as a result of a collision, usually occurring when one is rear-ended. Whiplash can be very painful and can manifest immediately, after several hours, after several days, and in some cases after several weeks. Whiplash injuries can range from minor, dull pain to extreme pain that doesn’t resolve without medical intervention. Your neck and spine health directly impacts your central nervous system and musculature. We’ve all seen the jokes about people wearing neck braces after a collision, but whiplash is no joking matter. While some cases may get better over time with minimal treatment, other cases can produce ruptures and bulges and there is no way to know how serious your injury is without a proper medical evaluation.

There are two components to any collision case that results in injuries: the property damage portion and the bodily injury portion. One of the most difficult aspects of your case will be negotiating the property damage settlement, which is entirely separate from the injury portion of your case. While many firms won’t get involved in property damage, we are here to guide you through that process.

Florida is unique in that many insurance companies will quote prices on “full coverage” or “minimum coverage,” but they are only really talking about Personal Injury Protection (PIP), sometimes referred to as “No-Fault.” It’s very important that Floridians understand that even though PIP is the minimum requirement to register your car, if you do not also have bodily injury liability coverage and you have an accident, it’s possible to lose your drivers’ license for a year. Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers roaming our streets and highways, so making sure you have uninsured and underinsured coverage is another important factor to consider. If you’re injured and the other party doesn’t have bodily injury liability and you declined uninsured motorist coverage, the only insurance you can utilize to pay for your medical care is PIP, after you’ve met your deductible.

When purchasing car insurance, it’s important that you have the coverage you need such as comprehensive and collision if you can’t afford to repair your car without it, rental car coverage if your car is your only means to get back and forth, and more. It’s also important to make sure your insurance company is aware of every person living in your household of driving age or they could deny your claims. It’s important to obtain coverage that adequately protects you before a collision.

Generally speaking, it’s best not to speak with anyone except your own insurance company about your case. However, in the event that the other party doesn’t have insurance, you’re going to need to treat your own insurance company as the “at-fault party” and it’s best to have an attorney negotiate your claim in either instance.

Every case is different. The more complex the case is, the longer it can take. The more serious the injuries are, the longer it can take. In the event there is a liability dispute, it could require filing a lawsuit, which can take years to settle or obtain an award via a jury trial. It’s hard to know how long your unique case will take, but one guarantee we can make is that your case will be given constant attention and never put on a shelf to collect dust. Unlike many personal injury firms, we are a small office and we keep our caseload manageable in order to give each of our clients the personal attention we would want in the same situation.

An individual who has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in the State of Florida can face a variety of extreme legal repercussions, including:

• Incarceration

• Monetary fines

• Loss of driving privileges

• Community Service

• Vehicle Impoundment

• DUI School

First time offenders in the Tampa area should know that their case may be eligible for the Hillsborough County Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism (RIDR) initiative. Under RIDR, an individual charged with their first DUI may be able to reduce their charges. It’s important to consult with an attorney experienced in handling DUI cases before any hearings and before making any decisions that could negatively impact you. Protect your rights and give Jennifer Meksraitis at Heights Injury Law a call today.