Even though Florida is a no-fault car insurance state, there could be instances where another driver is liable for damages caused by a car accident. If a driver is liable for your crash, you could be entitled to compensation for damages. However, you have the burden of proving liability for a Tampa, Florida, car accident.
The Tampa car accident lawyers of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers have over 50 years of legal experience between them. Our team of attorneys includes an Elite Lawyer for Accidents & Injuries, Board Certified attorneys, and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Call an experienced car accident attorney in Tampa, FL at (813) 686-7588 for a free consultation.
How Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Determine Liability After a Tampa Car Accident
Determining Tampa's car accident liability can be challenging after a car accident. Our personal injury lawyers at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help. When you hire us to handle your car accident case, we can:
- Conduct an independent investigation to determine how your car accident happened
- Analyze the evidence to identify the party who caused the crash
- Hire accident reconstructionists and other experts to assist with the investigation as necessary
- Determine who is liable for your car accident and file the appropriate claims
- Negotiate with insurance companies for the full value of your damages
- File a lawsuit and take the case to trial, if necessary
If you don't know what to do after an accident, call our Tampa car accident attorneys at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate help. We understand Florida insurance laws and personal injury laws as they relate to liability for a car accident. We will fight for you!
We can help you sort out the details of your car crash to determine your options for recovering compensation for your damages. Contact our law office to schedule a free case assessment with one of our experienced Tampa personal injury lawyers.
What Is Liability for a Tampa Car Accident?
Liability is being held legally responsible for something. In a car accident case, liability means a party is financially responsible for the other party's damages.
Damages in a car accident case can include economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages. However, it also includes a person’s pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.
You can get compensation for damages after any of these common auto accident claims:
- Head-on crashes
- Highway crashes
- Intersection crashes
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Red and yellow light crashes
- Rollover accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Speeding accidents
- Uninsured motorists claims
Tampa Car Accident Liability – Steps To Protect Your Rights
Are you concerned about protecting your right to file a claim against another driver? If so, you need to take steps after a car accident to preserve evidence and help prove liability. Steps you can take include:
- Call 911 to report the crash so a police officer can investigate and file a crash report
- Do not apologize for the accident or admit fault
- Take photographs and make a video of the vehicles and the accident scene
- Take photographs of other evidence, such as skid marks, road debris, damage to other property, and more.
- Ask anyone who witnessed the accident for their name and number
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries
- Give a brief statement to the officer about how the accident occurred, but do not answer questions he does not ask or offer information about what you were doing before the collision
As soon as possible, contact our Tampa car accident attorneys. We can help you take additional steps to build a liability case. Learn more about what you can ask a lawyer after a car crash and the most frequently asked questions.
Proving Negligence To Establish Tampa Car Accident Liability
You must generally prove negligence to establish liability for a car crash. The elements of a negligence claim include:
- Duty of Care
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages
In short, you must prove that the other driver owed you a duty of care and breached that duty. Then, you must prove the breach of duty caused the car accident. Finally, you need evidence proving you sustained damages and harm because of the car crash.
If the insurance company or other driver claims you are partially to blame, Florida’s modified comparative fault laws could apply to your case. If you are 50% or less at fault, you can recover compensation. However, it's reduced by the percentage of fault you share. If your share of blame exceeds 50%, you cannot recover compensation.
Therefore, if you are 10% to blame for the crash, your damages may be reduced by 10%. If you're 51% to blame, you cannot recover damages.
Recovering Compensation for Car Accident Damages
If you prove the other driver is liable for your damages, you should receive compensation from the driver’s liability insurance company. Drivers who do not have liability insurance to pay a claim can be held personally liable if you sue them and receive a judgment.
Unfortunately, proving liability does not guarantee payment. Insurance companies routinely fight claims that are clearly their liability to avoid paying settlements. If you sue the driver and go to trial, you cannot be sure what a jury might decide, even if your evidence proving liability is convincing.
The best step to take is to seek legal advice from a lawyer. An attorney can help you decide the best legal option for receiving money for your claim. Then, the lawyer handles all the legal matters to pursue a claim for Tampa car accident liability.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Tampa Car Accident Lawyers
Do you have questions about Tampa car accident liability? Call us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Tampa.
Other Car Accident Claims We Cover
At Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of car accident claims in Tampa, including:
- Distracted driving accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Lane change accidents
- Left turn accidents
- Recreational vehicle accidents
- Road defects
- Self-driving accidents
- U-turn crashes
