Who We Are
A law firm where you will work with Attorneys, not case managers. We will give you an honest assessment of your situation, outline the steps involved in your case, the choices you will have to make along the way, and the possible outcomes for your case.
JOHN A. WILKERSON
ATTORNEY
John Wilkerson hails from Bloomington, Indiana where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree at Indiana University. John received a Juris Doctorate degree from Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. He has been licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1991. He is a member in good standing with the Florida Bar and the Volusia County Bar Association. In addition to his legal education, John has experienced a variety of occupations over the years that have influenced and helped him over the years communicate with clients and jurors alike. John has worked in construction, the food industry, maintenance and manufacturing. He has served 3 years in the military, including one year in South Korea. He also worked for a state agency adjudicating disability claims for Social Security. As a lawyer, he was asked to serve on a grievance committee of the Florida Bar from 2006-2009 investigating ethics complaints against lawyers in Central Florida.
John has practiced in two areas of the law over the past 25 years. (1) Civil trial lawyer: John has been a civil trial lawyer handling primarily claims involving personal injuries as a result of the negligence of others such as automobile, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall cases, trip and fall cases, negligent security, and premises liability cases. He has handled cases on both sides—those injured by the negligence of others and those alleged to have caused injuries by their negligence. (2) Social Security Disability: John handles claims for people who can no longer work due to disabilities and who seek benefits under the Social Security Disability Act. He takes cases from the very initial application or through the 1st and 2nd appeal for those who were denied. The 2nd appeal is before an Administrative Law Judge. Throughout the process of your claim at this firm, whether it is personal injury or social security disability, you will work with John in each step to ensure the best possible resolution of your case.
BRANDY D. ROOD
ATTORNEY
Brandy Rood attended UCF where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies with an Honors Certificate in Litigation Advocacy and a Minor in Business Administration. Brandy then graduated cum laude from Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law with an Honors Certificate in Trial Advocacy. At Barry University, Brandy was a member of the Barry Law Review and Juvenile Defense Clinic where she developed and refined analytical, research, trial practice, and writing skills that are paramount in the successful practice of law. Brandy worked for O’Mara Law Group in 2012-2013 assisting in the defense of the criminal prosecution of George Zimmerman on the charge of second-degree murder stemming from the shooting of Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. Brandy started working at John A. Wilkerson, PA in November 2013. After the initial client meeting, Brandy will attend Depositions and Mediations, obtain discovery, file the appropriate Motions, and attend Trial. Brandy is a member of The Florida Bar and Volusia County Bar Association.
KAREN ELLIOTT
PARALEGAL
Karen Elliott has worked with John Wilkerson since 2000. Karen was born and raised in North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University. After living in several different parts of the country, she moved to Florida in 1983 and has worked in the legal community of Central Florida since that time. Karen assists the attorneys in each aspect of the case, from preparing the initial case materials to attending trial. Karen’s responsibilities include summarizing medical records, preparing and organizing the files for Depositions and Mediations, internet and social media investigation, expert witness manager, and various administrative duties. Karen’s attention to detail and extensive investigation into the details of each case enables our firm to assist our clients in obtaining the best possible resolutions.
TINA ZALICH
PARALEGAL
Tina Zalich started working at John A. Wilkerson, PA in 2013. Tina was born and raised in Daytona Beach. Tina began working as a paralegal in 1990 after attending Daytona State College where she obtained her Paralegal Degree. You will hear from Tina throughout the different stages of your case as she is responsible for scheduling office conferences, Depositions, Mediations, and Hearings. Throughout the discovery process of your claim, Tina will obtain medical, employment, and education records, as well as radiological films from various sources. Tina’s organization and communication skills enable our firm to work efficiently and effectively.
Areas of Practice
Call for a free consultation with an attorney. For most cases, there are no fees unless we win your case.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS:
In 2015, there were nearly 375,000 motor vehicle accidents in the state of Florida, accounting for nearly 250,000 injuries. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it can be an extremely stressful and confusing time. Our firm can reduce your stress during the process and allow you to concentrate on recovering from your injuries. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident due to the carelessness or negligence of another driver, Florida law allows you to be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and, in some cases, pain and suffering. Our firm has experience with working with insurance companies to receive the highest possible settlement or verdict amounts for our clients. We also have experience getting compensation for damages that are a little more difficult to determine, such as pain and suffering. Contact our firm today to talk to an attorney right away to discuss your options. If you choose to work with us, there is no fee unless the claim is handled successfully through a verdict or settlement.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS:
With our office located in the motorcycle capital of the world, we understand the inherit risk that comes with the enjoyment of riding a motorcycle. Our firm is experienced and knowledgable about the unique laws with regard to motorcycle accidents. Individuals involved in motorcycle accidents are entitled to different compensation than those individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents. It is important in choosing an attorney to have confidence that they are aware of these unique laws and challenges. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. We will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company and take your case to trial, if necessary, to recover compensation for your losses. Contact our firm today to talk to an attorney right away to discuss your options. If you choose to work with us, there is no fee unless the claim is handled successfully through a verdict or settlement.
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS:
In 2015, over 15,000 people were involved in accidents as a pedestrian, either walking or on a bicycle. Due to the increase in distracted driving with the use of cell phones and texting, pedestrians are in more danger than ever before. There is a great risk that vehicles pose to pedestrians which is why Florida has created laws to protect our pedestrians. If you have been injured as a pedestrian by a careless or negligent driver of a motor vehicle, you may be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our firm today to talk to an attorney right away to discuss your options. If you choose to work with us, there is no fee unless the claim is handled successfully through a verdict or settlement.
FLORIDA NO FAULT LAWS (PIP):
Florida has a unique law requiring each owner of a vehicle registered in the state of Florida to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. The purpose of the Florida No-Fault Law is to provide for medical, surgical, funeral, and disability insurance benefits without regard to fault. That means that your OWN insurance company will pay a portion of your medical treatment and lost wages whether you caused the accident or somebody else. PIP benefits will pay 80% of your medical bills up to $10,000.00 for medically necessary treatment. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and intend for PIP to cover your medical bills, it is important to get treatment right away. Initial treatment must be rendered within 14 days of the motor vehicle accident. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and do not own a vehicle or do not have the required PIP benefits, you may be entitled to PIP benefits under somebody else’s policy. Florida law allows for you to receive PIP benefits if a relative in your home has PIP, you are operating a vehicle in which the owner has PIP, you are a passenger in a vehicle in which the owner has PIP, or you are a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle under certain circumstances. The process of receiving PIP benefits can be a confusing time while you are trying to recover from your injuries. Contact our office to navigate this process for you. It may also be necessary to file a claim against a negligent party to recover any damages that your PIP benefits will not pay.
SLIP AND FALL:
Recent changes to the Florida law has made it more difficult to get your medical bills paid when you have been injured by a slip and fall. Due to the recent changes, it is important to work with an experienced attorney to secure a fair settlement or verdict. In Florida, the owner or occupier of business owes a duty of reasonable care to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition for your safety. If you have been injured, you will have to prove that the business knew about the dangerous condition and should have taken action to fix it. When you have no proof that the business owner actually knew of the dangerous condition, you can prove that the the dangerous condition existed for so long that they should have known about it or that the dangerous condition happened so often that it was foreseeable. Contact our firm today to talk to an attorney right away to discuss your options. If you choose to work with us, there is no fee unless the claim is handled successfully through a verdict or settlement.
PERSONAL INJURY DEFENSE:
Our firm handles a unique kind of case in that we represent individuals and companies who have been sued as a result of an accident. The most common type of personal injury defense case is motor vehicle accidents. When you file a personal injury claim, it is your burden to prove that the other party caused the accident, your treatment is related to injuries sustained in the accident, and, in some cases, that you have a permanent injury. As your defense counsel, we will investigate the injured party’s claim and require that they prove each element of their case. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as you are aware that a lawsuit has been filed because there are very important deadlines that you must meet. At our firm, you will have access to the attorneys in every stage of the case—from filing initial pleadings to going to trial.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
If you are no longer able to work due to medical conditions, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. The medical conditions that keep you from working must last or be expected to last at least 12 months. The regulations are written and administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, the individual states receive your applications and process your claim. The Disability Determination Services (DDS) from each state gather the evidence including your medical records and work history and apply the facts to the regulations and make the disability decisions. The regulations use a sequential analysis to determine whether you are entitled to an award of disability benefits. The initial part of the analysis is to determine whether your medical condition meets a certain set of criteria. If the medical evidence shows you meet a particular listed condition, then you will be awarded disability benefits. If you have a significant disability but it does not meet the listed criteria, then you still may be entitled to SSD benefits based on your age, education and work history. If you can no longer work due to your medical conditions, contact my office for a free consultation.
REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS
Now offering mobile closings
Buying and selling a home is an exciting, and at times, daunting process. With so many moving parts, it's important to hire a settlement agent who is knowledgable and organized. Our firm reviews the contract to ensure your interests are protected, guides you through the process, explains the legal impact of documents, examine title to the property, conduct the closing, and issue title insurance. Like all real estate settlement or closing agents, non-attorney or attorney, we charge a small flat fee to provide comprehensive support throughout your real estate transaction. We know how busy real estate agents are. That is why we offer MOBILE CLOSINGS also. Send us your next contract. We look forward to working with you.
