Accident Lawyer for Ocala and Gainesville
If you were hurt in a crash in Ocala, Gainesville or elsewhere in North Central Florida, Dolina Lascaze can explain your options, whether the crash happened on I-75, near campus or on a county road.
The consultation is free. Lascaze Law's only office is in Aventura. We represent clients in Alachua and Marion counties remotely and across Florida.
Two neighboring counties along I-75
Gainesville, in Alachua County, and Ocala, in Marion County, are linked by I-75 and US 441. Gainesville is a university city with a young population and heavy pedestrian traffic, and Ocala is a fast growing city in horse country with one of the busiest stretches of I-75 in the state. They are in different judicial circuits, so each is covered separately below.
Lascaze Law's only office is in Aventura. Clients in both cities consult with Attorney Dolina Lascaze by phone or Zoom, sign electronically and share evidence online, with the same direct access to the attorney as an office visit.
Dolina Lascaze began her career as a prosecutor and then spent about 19 years on the insurance and defense side, including trial work and senior leadership at a major insurer. She knows how insurers weigh liability, medical records and the risk of trial, and she now uses that to prepare claims for injured people.
Ocala and Gainesville: roads, claims and local details
Ocala accident lawyer
About 71,800 residents; Marion County about 442,700
Ocala is the county seat of Marion County, which has about 442,700 residents (Census estimate, July 2025), and nearly 30 percent of them are 65 or older. The city itself has about 71,800 residents. The Villages, which spans Sumter, Marion and Lake counties, adds golf carts and a large retiree population to the traffic mix.
Ocala truck accident attorney: I-75 through Marion County
I-75 in Marion County carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day, about 25,000 of them trucks, the Ocala Gazette reported. County commissioners have said the road closes about every nine days because of crashes, and the Florida Department of Transportation is widening it from SR 44 to SR 326 in a $479 million project. Because so many drivers and trucking companies come from other states, an Ocala truck accident attorney often has to look at insurers and carriers outside Florida.
Ocala motorcycle accident lawyer and pedestrian injuries
Marion County had 78 deaths in 76 fatal crashes in 2025, according to preliminary FLHSMV data, including 21 motorcyclists, 18 pedestrians and 4 bicyclists (Ocala-News.com). Marion County had 21 pedestrian deaths in 2024, and the Ocala Gazette named Maricamp Road (CR 464), SR 200 and SR 464 among the roads getting safety work. An Ocala motorcycle accident lawyer can help when an insurer argues the rider shared the blame, and a person found more than 50 percent at fault generally cannot recover damages (Florida Statutes 768.81).
Ocala car accident lawyer: after a crash
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, at 1431 SW 1st Avenue, is a Florida Department of Health designated Level II trauma center and the only trauma center in Trauma Service Area 6, which covers Marion, Citrus and Hernando counties. Marion County is in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, whose judicial center for civil filings is at 110 NW 1st Avenue in Ocala (Marion County Clerk). The Marion County Sheriff's Office points online crash report requests to the state portal, and Ocala Police Department Records requires an affidavit for reports less than 60 days old.
Hurt in a crash in Ocala? Call (305) 473-7858 or send a message below for a free consultation.
Gainesville accident lawyer
About 148,700 residents
Gainesville has about 148,700 residents (Census estimate, July 2025), and the University of Florida had 54,814 students in fall 2023. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seats 88,548, and on game days the streets around campus are closed hours before kickoff. Gainesville is also on I-75, so local drivers, students and long haul trucks share the same roads.
The City of Gainesville's Vision Zero Action Plan names these as its highest risk corridors: SR 24 (Archer Road), SR 26 (Newberry Road), SR 26 (West University Avenue), US 441 (West 13th Street), SR 331 (SW Williston Road), SW 34th Street (SR 121), SW 20th Avenue, NW 39th Avenue, North Main Street, NW 16th Avenue and NW 53rd Avenue.
The plan counted 95 deaths, 647 severe injuries and 22,242 total crashes within city limits from 2018 to 2022. Pedestrians were involved in 40 percent of the fatal crashes (36 of 91), and roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher carried 30 percent of fatal and severe crashes. The city's Q3 2025 newsletter reported 18 traffic fatalities in 2024. Gainesville accounts for about 80 percent of Alachua County's bicycle and pedestrian crashes, according to WUFT.
Game days, students and scooters
On game days West University Avenue closes from Gale Lemerand Drive to NW 17th Street about three hours before kickoff, and other stadium area streets close about five hours before, according to WCJB for the 2026 opener. Closures change each game, but crowds of pedestrians, rideshare pickups and unfamiliar drivers are part of every home weekend. Students and visitors without a car often walk, bike or ride a scooter, which makes understanding PIP, uninsured motorist coverage and a driver's liability policy important.
Gainesville car accident lawyer
A Gainesville car accident lawyer can help if you were hurt as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist. Florida's no fault system generally requires treatment within 14 days of the crash to keep PIP benefits (Florida Statutes 627.736), and a student who goes home for the summer should not wait to be seen.
Gainesville truck accident attorney
I-75 and US 441 carry tractor trailers through Alachua County. A Gainesville truck accident attorney can look at the driver, the carrier and the insurance involved. For how truck claims work in general, see the truck accident section of our Florida personal injury page.
Gainesville motorcycle accident lawyer
Riders near the University of Florida and on SR 26 and SR 121 share the road with students, buses and cyclists. A Gainesville motorcycle accident lawyer can help when a rider is seriously hurt and the insurer disputes fault.
Gainesville pedestrian, bike and scooter injuries
Because pedestrians were involved in 40 percent of the fatal crashes in the city's Vision Zero data, people on foot, bikes and scooters deserve their own mention. They may have PIP and uninsured motorist coverage in addition to the driver's liability insurance, and a consultation can review which policies apply.
Hurt in a crash in Gainesville? Call (305) 473-7858 or send a message below for a free consultation.
What to know locally after a crash in Ocala or Gainesville
Trauma center levels, courthouse locations and crash report procedures can change, so use this as a starting point and call us if you are unsure.
Get medical care first
UF Health Shands Emergency Room and Trauma Center, at 1515 SW Archer Road, is a Level I trauma center and describes itself as the area's only Level I facility (UF Health). Begin treatment within 14 days of the crash to keep PIP benefits available. In an emergency call 911.
Get your crash report
Gainesville Police Department Records, at 545 NW 8th Avenue, takes requests through its online system. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office points requesters to the state's Florida Crash Portal, which charges $10 plus a $2 convenience fee, and University of Florida police have their own process. Florida keeps reports confidential for 60 days except to the people involved, their lawyers and insurers (Florida Statutes 316.066).
Know where a lawsuit would be filed
Alachua County is in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and civil cases are filed at the Alachua County Family and Civil Justice Center, 201 East University Avenue in Gainesville (Eighth Judicial Circuit). Most claims settle, but we prepare each one for the possibility of trial.
Protect evidence quickly
Photograph the scene, signals and any campus or business cameras, collect witness names, and write down what you remember the same day. Call us before you give a recorded statement to any insurer or sign a release.
In an emergency, call 911. Information about hospitals, courts and agencies comes from the sources linked above and may change.
Dog bite cases in Ocala and Gainesville
If a dog bit you in Gainesville or Ocala, we can look at who owns the dog and whether a homeowner's or renter's policy applies. See how dog bite claims work in Florida.
How working with an Aventura attorney works for Ocala and Gainesville clients
Our only office is in Aventura, but Gainesville and Ocala clients do not need to travel. You can consult by phone or Zoom, sign electronically and share records securely.
Consult by video or phone
Talk directly with Attorney Dolina Lascaze by Zoom or phone about what happened and what your options are.
Sign paperwork digitally
Review and sign documents online, from home, instead of traveling to an office.
Review evidence online
Share photos, records and bills through secure digital platforms, and review the evidence together.
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Attorney background
- Former prosecutorBegan her legal career in the courtroom.
- About 19 years on the insurance and defense sideLitigation for a major insurance company.
- Trial experienceOver 40 criminal and over 30 civil trials.
- Senior leadershipLed teams inside a major carrier.
- Now for injured peopleThat experience now works for you.
What clients say about Lascaze Law
Reviews reflect individual clients' experiences. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
Ocala and Gainesville accident questions
Do you have an office in Gainesville or Ocala?
No. Lascaze Law's only office is at 20200 W. Dixie Hwy, Suite 902, in Aventura, in Miami-Dade County. The firm represents injured people in Gainesville, Ocala and across Florida by phone, Zoom and electronic signature. Call (305) 473-7858 to arrange a consultation.
I am a University of Florida student hurt in a crash. What should I do?
Get medical care and begin treatment within 14 days to keep PIP benefits available. Keep records of your bills and missed classes, and avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurer before getting advice. Lascaze Law can explain how PIP, uninsured motorist coverage and the driver's insurance may fit together for you.
What if I was hurt on I-75 near Ocala or Gainesville?
Florida Highway Patrol generally handles crashes on the interstate. Because many drivers and trucking companies come from other states, the insurers involved may be based elsewhere, and an early investigation helps preserve evidence such as driver logs and vehicle data.
Which hospital treats serious crash injuries in Gainesville and Ocala?
UF Health Shands in Gainesville is a Level I trauma center. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is a designated Level II trauma center and the only trauma center in the Marion, Citrus and Hernando county service area. In an emergency, call 911.
How do I get my Gainesville or Ocala crash report?
In Gainesville, use the Gainesville Police Department's online records request, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office link to the state portal, or the University of Florida Police Department for campus crashes. In Ocala, Ocala Police Department Records and the Marion County Sheriff's Office handle requests. Reports are confidential for 60 days except to the people involved, their lawyers and insurers.
How long do I have to file a claim after a crash in Gainesville or Ocala?
For negligence claims that arose after March 24, 2023, Florida generally allows two years to file a lawsuit. PIP requires treatment within 14 days, and claims against government agencies have special notice rules. Exceptions apply, so speak with a lawyer as soon as you can.
Why does it matter that Dolina Lascaze worked on the insurance side?
She began as a prosecutor and spent about 19 years on the insurance and defense side, including trial work and senior leadership at a major insurer. She knows how insurers evaluate claims and how defense lawyers approach litigation, and she now uses that for injured people. No lawyer can promise a result.
Helpful guides
- Florida's 14 day PIP rule: what happens if you wait to see a doctor
- Whiplash after a car accident in Florida: symptoms, treatment and your claim
- Hit by an uninsured driver in Florida: what to do and where coverage comes from
- Concussion and head injuries after a Florida car accident: signs, records and claims
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Hear from Dolina Lascaze
Watch a short introduction to how Dolina approaches injury cases and what you can expect when you call. A free consultation is the best way to talk about your own situation.
Schedule a free consultationHurt in Ocala and Gainesville? Talk to an accident lawyer. It is free.
Tell us what happened. We will listen, explain your options, and answer your questions. There is no obligation.
Lascaze Law
20200 W. Dixie Hwy, Suite 902
Aventura, FL 33180
Phone: (305) 473-7858
Email: info@lascazelaw.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM