Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Painful or serious injuries, or the death of a loved one, can be a most traumatic event in a person’s life. It is even harder to face when the injury or death has resulted from the negligence of someone else. These trying times are further complicated by trying to deal with insurance companies, loss of work and income, medical situations and more.

Additionally, our laws have become so complex that most people are often not aware of what steps they need to take and what their rights are in these situations. This is when you need the counsel of a caring, competent lawyer, one who knows how the system works and can make it work for you.

Over the years, the firm of David Lee Sellers has tried, handled and resolved hundreds of injury claims worth millions of dollars to the victims of personal injury and wrongful death. Mr. Sellers is highly experienced in dealing with insurance companies whether your intent is to advantageously settle your claim or aggressively litigate your matter in court. The firm is dedicated to insuring you are fairly and completely compensated for your claim whether your injuries are caused by a car or truck accident, criminal or animal attack, or on property belonging to someone else.

Property Damage (PD)

When your vehicle or other property is damaged in a wreck, you are entitled to have it repaired or paid for by the insurance company of the person who caused the wreck. Sometimes, it is quicker and less difficult to have your own insurance company undertake these repairs (if you have comprehensive or collision coverage). Your company should be able to get your deductible reimbursed to you from the responsible parties’ insurance company and is obligated to make this reimbursement to you.

You should take it upon yourself to immediately report the loss to the insurance company of the person who caused the wreck, as he or she may very well not have reported the wreck.

You are entitled to have other property which was damaged in the wreck paid for or repaired as well (such as eyeglasses, clothing or any other item(s) which may have been damaged).

You may select the body shop of your choice to estimate and repair your vehicle and get a second opinion of the damage and cost of repairs to your vehicle. The repairs are required to be made with “like” kind and condition parts (not plastic or fiberglass for steel) notwithstanding anything the insurance company tells you to the contrary.

You are also entitled to have the insurance company of the person causing the wreck to authorize or reimburse you for the cost of a rental vehicle during the time you lose the use of the vehicle. In the event you do not need a rental vehicle, you are still entitled to be paid the reasonable value for the loss of use of your vehicle until it is repaired.

Lastly, in the event the cost of repairing your vehicle is estimated to be a value which is 80% or more of the fair market value of your vehicle, the company will probably declare your vehicle a “total” loss. In this event, you can either sell the vehicle to the insurance company for its “salvage” or parts value (usually several hundred dollars) or keep the vehicle. In either event, the company is responsible for paying you for at least 80% of the fair market value of the vehicle. Fair market value is not the amount you paid for the vehicle, but is the amount for which you might reasonably expect to sell the vehicle to someone in the area where you live, given the age, condition and mileage of the vehicle.

If the vehicle is declared a “total” loss, you cannot lawfully drive the vehicle in Florida and will not be able to get anything but a “salvage” title on the vehicle. The company is also responsible for paying you 7% sales tax on the sale of the vehicle (in Escambia County), together with the cost of transferring the tag to another vehicle.