Clay County / Orange Park, Florida
Clay County is located directly to the southwest of Jacksonville, Florida. The population of Clay County is approximately 190,000 people. The county seat is located in Green Cove Springs, Florida. However, the biggest town in the county is Orange Park, Florida. Other towns in the county include Middleburg, Keystone Heights, and Penney Farms. The county encompasses 643 square miles and has a population of more than 140,000, making it the 26th largest county in Florida. Clay county is known for its many waterways and lakes including the St. Johns River, Doctor's Lake, Lake Asbury, Black Creek and Kingsley Lake. Major roadways through Clay County include Highway 17, Blanding Boulevard (also known as State Road 21), and State Road 16.
The Clay County Courthouse is located in Green Cove Springs, at 825 N. Orange Avenue. Clay County is in the fourth Judicial Circuit, which also includes Nassau and Duval Counties. James B. Jett currently serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Clay County. The circuit court judges for Clay County are: William Wilkes; John H. Skinner; McCarthy Crenshaw Jr.; Daniel Wilensky; Lenore Dunaway; Symantha Juneau; Kaye Tate; and Star Mariano.
Our lawyers have experience handling a variety of cases in Clay County, Florida, ranging from automobile accidents to real estate disputes. The majority of our firm's cases are tort cases. Tort cases are claims for either personal injury or wrongful death caused by the careless or negligent behavior of another. Tort cases include car accidents, boating accidents trucking accidents, workers' compensation, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, slip and falls, bicycle accidents, and dog bites or attacks, to name a few.
There are 14 million licensed drivers in Florida. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Clay County experienced 1,539 car accidents in 2010. Of those collisions, 155 were alcohol related and 14 accidents resulted in fatalities.
While car accidents are fairly common, not everyone knows what steps to take if they are involved in a car wreck. Here are some tips:
- Seek medical care right away. Request to be transported via ambulance if you are experiencing pain immediately following the accident.
- Try to get pictures of the damage if at all possible.
- Get the names and contact information of anyone witnessing the accident.
- Consult with an attorney early in the process.
- Report the claim to your auto insurance company.
If you were injured in a car accident due to someone else's negligence, you are typically entitled to compensation for your medical bills, injuries and lost wages. Our firm's goal is to resolve your case as quickly as possible so that you can resume a normal life.
The founder of our firm, Greg Lawrence, grew up in Orange Park and graduated from Orange Park High School in 1986. If you need any help for an injury, insurance, workers compensation or business matter in the Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, or Clay County areas, please do not hesitate to call for a free no obligation consultation. For your convenience, our St. Augustine Office is in 2225 Florida A1A #C-16 and our main office is in downtown Jacksonville at 1301 Riverplace Blvd #1630.
Notable Verdicts in Clay County and Orange Park, FloridaThe following jury verdicts were rendered in Clay County. These verdicts are not representative of typical cases, rather, they are considered “notable” because of the large damage awards. These cases were not handled by The Lawrence Law Group, P.A. For cases handled by The Lawrence Law Group, P.A., please see our “Firm News” section and our Google reviews.
$2,765,000.00 Verdict for Wrongful Death in Train Accident – July 24, 2012
A teen-age boy was killed in a train accident while he was on a railroad trestle crossing over Black Creek near Green Cove Springs in Clay County. The boy’s parents claimed that the train company was negligent and acted recklessly when it failed to take reasonable steps, such as adhering to the speed limit and applying emergency brakes, to avoid striking and killing the young man.
$776,003.00 Verdict for Plaintiff in Car Accident – May 18, 2011
A man was involved in a car accident with an underinsured motorist. The plaintiff’s counsel successfully argued that the man’s personal injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses exceeded the at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage of $100,000.
$176,337.62 Award for Car Accident Victim – July 13, 2011
A woman was involved in a car accident at the intersection of County Road 220 and Joe Johns Road in Middleburg, Florida. The defendant was an uninsured or underinsured motorist, so the woman was able to recover damages from her own automobile insurance company’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. The jury awarded compensation for past and future medical expenses, but determined that the plaintiff did not suffer a permanent injury and awarded nothing for pain and suffering.
$119,578.73 Award for Rear-End Car Accident – October 14, 2008
A woman stopped at a red light on Blanding Boulevard in Middleburg, Florida, was injured in a rear end car accident. Because the at-fault driver was an underinsured motorist, the woman sued her own auto insurance company for underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. The insurance company disputed the woman’s neck, back and shoulder injuries; however, the jury disagreed and ruled in her favor.