Most Trusted Car Accident Lawyer in Palatka, FL + 2025 Accident Trend Data
- April Karaffa
- Dec 4
- 5 min read
Were you recently in a car accident in Palatka? Your insurance company may not be paying the full amount you deserve. Protect Your Rights. The time immediately following a car accident is crucial for preserving evidence and building a strong case. Contact our experienced Palatka car accident lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us put our fierce advocacy and compassionate guidance to work for you. Call us or fill out the contact form to get started.
2025 Accident Hotspots
Palatka is a relatively safe place to drive, but there are definitely some accident hotspots you should be aware of. Here are the Top 10 streets with car accidents in Palatka in 2025:
Crill Avenue
Reid Street
State Road 19 (SR 19)
Saint Johns Avenue
South State Road 19 (S SR 19)
North State Road 19 (N SR 19)
U.S. Highway 17 / U.S. Road 17
State Road 20 (SR 20)
State Road 100 (SR 100)
Town and Country Drive
Palatka’s traffic patterns reflect its role as a crossroads city where major routes like State Road 19, U.S. Highway 17, and State Road 20 converge near the St. Johns River. Commuters, freight traffic, and weekend visitors all funnel through these arteries, creating congestion and heightened crash risk at key intersections. The city’s layout—anchored by a mix of older corridors and regional highways—produces sharp transitions between local streets and fast-moving state roads. Notably, several danger zones emerge around Crill Avenue near Palatka High School, the Reid Street and SR 19 commercial corridor, and the Memorial Bridge area along U.S. 17, where mixed traffic and tight merges frequently lead to collisions.
Crill Avenue and Palatka High School Zone
Crill Avenue (SR 20) carries steady east–west commuter flow and serves as a school zone during peak hours. Heavy student drop-offs, crosswalk congestion, and turning traffic combine to make this stretch a high-conflict area, especially between State Road 19 and Palmetto Street.
Reid Street and State Road 19 Corridor
This corridor forms the city’s commercial heart, lined with fast-food outlets, gas stations, and retail driveways. Frequent left turns and uneven lane discipline along Reid Street (U.S. 17) and SR 19 create unpredictable patterns, particularly near the intersection with St. Johns Avenue, one of Palatka’s busiest crash clusters.
Memorial Bridge / U.S. Highway 17 River Crossing
The Memorial Bridge funnels local and through traffic between downtown Palatka and East Palatka, merging vehicles from U.S. 17 and SR 100. Limited visibility, lane shifts, and tourist activity near the riverfront contribute to frequent rear-end and side-impact crashes, marking it as a persistent regional risk zone.
Latest Trend Data (2022-2025) + Lawful Protection
Here’s the three year car accident trend in Palatka. Accidents have decreased an impressive 17% compared to the overall 7-county trend that decreases by 4% when comparing 2021 averages to 2024 and 2025 results.
76% of the car accidents in Palatka happened during daylight.
81% of the car accidents were under clear skies.
Road surface condition: 88% occurred during dry roads.
Most accidents in Palatka occur during daylight, under clear skies, and on dry roads because of the city’s predictable traffic patterns and significantly consistent sunny, dry weather. Accident distribution across such conditions mirrors when and where most people drive. The bottom line: stay vigilant and attentive around cars, regardless of time or weather.
When should you consult Palatka’s #1 Car Accident Lawyer?
Regardless of road condition, weather, light condition or any other contributory factors, if you were injured, don't let them dictate the terms of your recovery. Your fight for justice starts now. Call the Moore Law Firm now to speak to our lawyers, or start with the contact form.
Latest Car Accident Impact Profiles
The following is data around the types of car accident impacts in Palatka over the past 3 years: We see an uncommonly more even distribution of how cars collide. Rear-ender car accidents are at the highest at 30%, but Angled and “Other” are not too far off at 23% and 18%. In addition, other types of impact have been substantially tagged as well.
Here are the types that people hit in Palatka:78% of car accidents occurred in transport while 7% involved a parked motor vehicle.
Car Accident Outliers in Palatka Versus the Rest of NE Florida
We find distinct patterns about the car accidents in Palatka compared to the rest of Northeast Florida:
Aging Drivers: Crashes involving older drivers make up 33% of accidents in Palatka versus 21% region-wide — a 12-point increase, reflecting the area’s older population and slower-paced traffic environment.
Hit & Run: Hit-and-run incidents account for 11% in Palatka compared to 17% across the region — a 6-point decrease, suggesting higher accountability and stronger community familiarity among local drivers.
Alcohol-Related Accidents: Alcohol is a factor in 4% of Palatka crashes versus 7% region-wide — a 3-point decrease, potentially linked to shorter local commutes and reduced nightlife activity.
Intersection Accidents: 30% of Palatka crashes occur at intersections compared to 27% across Northeast Florida — a 3-point increase, likely tied to busy crossings along U.S. 17 and State Road 19.
Injury Crashes: 34% of crashes in Palatka result in injuries versus 37% region-wide — a 3-point drop, indicating a slightly lower severity rate in local collisions.
FAQ
How much does an attorney charge for a car accident in Palatka, Florida?
Most Palatka car accident lawyers don’t charge you anything upfront. They use a contingency fee, so you only pay if your lawyer recovers money for you. Under Florida Bar Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B), that fee is usually 33⅓% if the case settles early and can go up to 40% if a lawsuit or trial is needed. This setup lets drivers on routes like Crill Avenue or U.S. 17 get legal help without taking on financial risk.
Is it worth getting an attorney for a car accident in Palatka?
Yes. If you were hurt, fault is disputed, or the crash happened at one of Palatka’s camera-monitored intersections, a lawyer is a smart move because the video or crash report can be used to prove liability. The city enforces red-light violations under Florida Statute 316.0083, which means intersection evidence often exists — a lawyer knows how to get it and use it. People with counsel in Florida typically recover 2–3x more than people who go alone.
3. What is the average car accident settlement in Palatka, Florida?
Most Florida auto claims land in the $10,000–$50,000 range, and Palatka cases track that, especially crashes along Reid Street, SR 19, and SR 20. Serious injuries, long treatment, or crashes involving commercial traffic on U.S. 17 can push the value above $100,000. Strong medical documentation plus the official Florida crash report — which officers must submit within 10 days under §316.066 — usually improves your leverage.
Why should you get an attorney after a car accident in Palatka, FL?
Because Florida requires qualifying crashes to be reported and documented, a lawyer can make sure the report, intersection footage, and medical bills all line up before you settle. If you skip that step, providers can still chase you for unpaid balances. A local attorney also knows you can get the report through FLHSMV or local law enforcement, and will fold those costs and liens into the final demand so you’re not paying them later.
What is the maximum amount you can sue for after a car accident in Palatka, Florida?
Florida doesn’t set a hard cap for standard auto-injury cases, so the ceiling in Palatka depends on your injuries, the insurance available, and whether a business, government unit, or multiple vehicles were involved. Severe or wrongful-death cases tied to high-speed corridors like SR 19 or SR 100 can reach six or even seven figures, but your lawyer has to identify every liable party and every policy to get there.
Data Source: FDOT Crash Database 2022 - June 2025
