Florida Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Lawyers
Schackow, Mercadante & Edwards is a dedicated criminal defense and personal injury law practice in Gainesville, Florida. When you contact a lawyer at this firm, you will be represented by an experienced professional who focuses on your kind of case.
Our criminal defense attorneys include Thomas Edwards, who has more than 22 years of criminal defense experience, and Geoffrey Mason, who has been Thomas Edwards' partner for over 10 years. Our personal injury lawyers include Gerald Schackow, who has been practicing in the Gainesville area for more than 45 years.
We understand that people come to us because they need help during what may be the most stressful time of their life. We represent people who face all types of criminal investigations and charges ranging from DUI, to sex offenses, to federal conspiracy, to murder. We also represent people who have been injured in car accidents, truck accidents and other types of negligence.
Our Mission:
We take pride in our success and professional integrity. Our attorneys have significant trial experience and are assisted by a support staff of professionals. We are experienced professionals who fight for the rights of our clients.
Our lawyers use state-of-the-art technology to create persuasive presentations. We maintain ongoing relationships with nationally known jury consultants and experts to ensure that our cases are well founded and carefully supported.
Brands
Areas of Practice:
* Personal Injury
* Wrongful Death
* Nursing Home Negligence
* Automobile Accidents
* Civil Litigation
* Trial Practice
* Litigation
* Medical Malpractice
* Criminal Law
* Custody & Visitation
* Guardianships & Conservatorships
* Family Law
Payment method
check
Location
Located on NW 8th Avenue one block west of NW 43rd Street, 1.5 miles east of I-75.
Our Gainesville law firm is a group of dedicated personal injury lawyers. Located in the heart of North Central Florida, our firm represents clients in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City and all the surrounding areas.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is not a deliberate act that was intended to hurt someone. However, patients have to put a tremendous amount of trust on doctors, nurses and medical institutions, and these entities are held to very strict standards of care by both state and federal regulations. So, when medical professionals fail to perform their duties with a high level of competence and care, the end result can have serious consequences. Florida's malpractice laws were created to protect both the professional healthcare provider as well as the patient by defining strict limits of liability in cases involving medical negligence. But, malpractice lawsuits are complicated and must be properly managed to adequately address the unique legal issues. Whether you decide to hire our law firm or not, we offer a FREE initial attorney consultation to explain your rights and options. Click here to contact our office.
Following a crash, it is not uncommon for the at-fault's insurance company to contact you in an attempt to settle quickly at a low figure. It is always best to avoid speaking with any adjuster unless you have legal counsel present. Discussing your case with others could severely limit the compensation you may be entitled to receive. In order to obtain fair restitution for medical bills, loss of current and future income, medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, rehabilitation, property damage, and pain and suffering, your lawyer will accurately document and quantify the damages. This is necessary for negotiating with the insurance carriers or presenting your claim before a jury. Our bicycle accidents Gainesville attorneys understand how catastrophic a collision can be and are committed to providing you with quality representation. To learn more, click here to contact us for a free consultation.
Premises Liability
Marie is admitted to the Florida Bar (2014) and is a member of the Young Lawyers Division. Her practice includes motorcycle accidents, automobile accidents, and premises liability.
With few exceptions, employers with four or more employees and construction companies with only one employee must provide work comp insurance as a mandatory requirement set forth by Florida statutes. The state's program is designed to help pay medical expenses and provide income for employees who have been injured on the job, regardless of fault. Although the claims are suppose to be self executing, due to the complexity of the process, collecting a fair compensation for personal injuries caused by a work-related accident or occupational illness can be difficult. At Schackow & Mercadante, our workers' compensation Gainesville attorneys can help determine which benefits apply in your case as well as what a reasonable estimate of your bi-weekly benefit payments would be.
If the other driver in an accident has no liability insurance, your uninsured motorists policy will cover expenses up to the amount of coverage purchased. Uninsured insurance coverage may apply if you are injured in a hit-and-run accident where the at-fault driver was not indentified.
Criminal Defense
Initially, Gerald was a Criminal Defense attorney, as well as, a Family Law attorney. In the early 1970s, he wrote the “Florida Family Law Practice Manual,” which was published by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., and is still a current and well-used family law publication. Soon thereafter, he began to limit his practice to personal injury work and has done that exclusively for the past 40 years. He is currently an AV rated attorney, and because he lives in Gainesville, Florida, which has 50,000 students at the University of Florida and Interstate 75 running through it, Gerald has specialized in Interstate (I-75) accidents, wrongful death cases, truck accidents, and student bicycle, motorcycle, and scooter accidents.