Were you recently injured in a car accident in Tampa, FL? If the accident wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. With an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers by your side, you’re significantly more likely to recover the maximum compensation you need and deserve. Contact us today at (813) 686-7588.
Our award-winning attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience. We’ve dedicated our entire legal practice to helping accident victims like you–and we’ve recovered over $120 million for our injured clients. Contact our law offices, to schedule a free consultation with an experienced lawyer who can help you.
Why Should I Call Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Car Accident in Tampa?
A car accident can put you in a difficult situation. You may be suffering from serious physical injuries and dealing with emotional trauma. Your financial stress only adds insult to injury. Insurance companies and defense attorneys often make it tough to recover fair compensation. Having an experienced attorney can make a huge difference.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve been helping crash victims like you for decades. For our efforts, we’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers and among Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers have also earned an AV-Preeminent rating from the Martindale Hubbell lawyer rating service.
After a car accident, we can help by:
- Answering all of your questions and offering support
- Investigating to determine the cause of your accident
- Determining who is legally responsible for your damages
- Calculating the value of your personal injury claim
- Hiring experts to testify about complex aspects of your case
- Fighting back when you’re blamed for the crash
- Handling all insurance negotiations on your behalf
Getting legal advice is simple. Just contact our team to schedule a free case review today.
Why Should I Hire a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer?
There are numerous advantages to hiring a car accident lawyer in Tampa:
- Leveling the playing field: When dealing with a car accident case, insurance companies often prioritize profits over fair compensation. Lawyers understand these companies’ strategies and can effectively counter their attempts to deny or reduce your claim.
- Access to essential resources: Car accident lawyers can conduct thorough legal research, internal investigations and enlist the help of experts to bolster your claim. Without these resources, you might receive less compensation than what you rightly deserve.
- Protection from blame allegations: Recent changes in state law mean that if the accident is deemed mostly your fault, you might be barred from obtaining compensation from the other driver. Even if you share partial blame, your compensation could be reduced. An attorney can safeguard your interests and work to minimize the level of fault attributed to you.
- Allowing time for recovery: Car accidents can take a toll on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. By hiring a lawyer, they can handle the intricacies of your compensation claim while you focus on recuperating.
Reach out to our legal team today to explore further how hiring a car accident lawyer could be the optimal choice for your situation.
How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?
Putting a dollar value on a car accident case takes time. Our attorneys will carefully evaluate the unique facts of your accident and injury when assessing your case value.
In the process, we’ll consider many different factors, including:
- The type of injuries involved
- Whether you are expected to recover fully or suffer a long-term disability
- The cost of your medical care, rehabilitation, and property damage
- The value of your lost income during recovery
- How the injury is expected to impact your future earnings
- Damage to your quality of life and emotional well-being
- The physical pain you have suffered
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident and injury
- The amount of available car insurance
- The evidence available to support your claim
Many other factors can also be important in determining the value of your personal injury claim. However, don’t expect the insurance company to take the time to evaluate all relevant factors. Their job is to pay as little as possible. Because of that, they tend to focus on factors that would reduce your settlement.
Before accepting any insurance settlement, contact us to learn more about your case value.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Florida?
Under Florida law, the statute of limitations is two years in most personal injury cases. If you wait longer than two years to take legal action, your case will be dismissed, and you’ll be unable to recover compensation. The two-year clock typically starts running on the date your accident occurs.
There are exceptions to the general rule, but the exceptions are rare.
For example, you could have more time if the defendant is facing criminal charges. For example, if you were injured by a drunk driver who is facing drunk driving charges, the statute of limitations will be paused until the criminal case is resolved.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Auto Accident Victims in Tampa?
Florida laws give car accident victims the right to pursue compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages. These are called “compensatory damages” and are meant to make a victim “whole” again after a wreck.
Our lawyers will work closely with your family, your doctors, and other specialists as we build your case. That way, we’ll be able to understand the specific losses you have endured and learn how the injury has changed your life.
What Are Economic Damages?
Economic damages should compensate you for all of the financial costs you have incurred.
Common examples include:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages, income, and employment benefits
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Nursing care
- In-home assistance
- Transportation costs
- Property damage
You’re entitled to seek compensation for both your current expenses and your anticipated future costs.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Serious car accident injuries often cause losses that don’t have a clear dollar value. There are some things that money can’t buy. However, as a victim, you are entitled to pursue compensation to “make up” for these losses.
Common examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems
- PTSD
- Embarrassment
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium and other damages for wrongful death
These damages can be difficult to value. They’re also the types of losses that can continue to haunt you well after your physical injuries have healed.
Am I Entitled To Recover Punitive Damages?
Florida courts rarely award punitive damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish a defendant for their actions. They’re only available in cases involving intentional wrongdoing, malicious conduct, or gross negligence.
For example, if you were injured in a drunk driving accident, it’s possible that the judge will award punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Like most accident attorneys, our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation in your case. Instead, we’re paid by taking a percentage of your settlement or verdict. That means you can hire our law firm without paying any upfront costs.
We use this fee structure for multiple reasons. You already have bills piling up if you were recently injured in an accident. Many accident victims wouldn’t be able to afford a lawyer if they had to pay upfront.
The contingency fee also lets you rest assured that your lawyer is working hard to maximize your settlement or verdict. After all, we only get paid if we win.
Can I Get Money If I Was Partly at-Fault For My Car Accident?
Each state has its own comparative fault laws. Comparative negligence is a system of allocating blame between parties when multiple parties share blame for the same accident. In Florida, shared fault laws can have a significant impact on your compensation award if you were partially at fault for the accident.
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence law. If you were more than 50% responsible for your own injuries, you can lose your right to compensation entirely.
If your share of fault was less than 51%, your settlement or verdict is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
For example, if the insurance companies can prove that you were 25% responsible for the crash, you can take home 75% of your compensation. You can also be held responsible for 25% of the damages someone else suffered because of the crash.
Insurance companies often blame victims without strong evidence to back up their claims. If the insurance company is blaming you, you don’t have to back down without a fight. Our lawyers will search for evidence to downplay any allegations that you caused the crash. Just give us a call to learn more about your legal rights if shared fault is an issue in your case.
Will My Car Accident Case Go To Trial?
Many Tampa car accident cases settle before ever going to court. However, taking your car accident case to trial may sometimes be necessary.
There is often an adversarial relationship between car accident victims and insurance companies. Insurance adjusters frequently make low initial offers that do not cover the extent of your damages. If you cannot reach a fair settlement agreement with the insurance company, your car accident case may need to go to trial. When this happens, it is crucial to have an experienced Tampa car accident attorney who will represent your best interests.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Tampa?
Car accident scenes are often chaotic and overwhelming to deal with. However, knowing what to do after a car accident can help you prepare for what’s to come.
The following are steps to take after a Tampa car accident occurs:
- Check for injuries and seek medical attention immediately
- Remain at the accident scene and notify law enforcement
- Use your phone to capture photos and videos of property damage, visible injuries, and the accident scene
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers involved
- Obtain witness statements and their contact information
- Notify the insurance company regarding the accident occurring
- Consult with an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer as soon as possible
It is essential that you do not admit fault at the accident scene or when speaking with an insurance adjuster. It is possible that another party was also at fault for the accident. You should also avoid giving a recorded statement to the insurance company until after speaking with an experienced Tampa car accident attorney.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), car accidents happen every day in Florida. Across the state of Florida, 394,140 motor vehicle accidents were reported in 2023. Of that total, 251,795 people were injured, and 3,401 crash victims were killed.
In Hillsborough County alone, 18,878 people were injured, and another 233 people lost their lives in 2023.
While these accidents all involve motor vehicles, they happen in different ways–and for different reasons. We handle all types of car accident cases, including those involving:
- Rollovers
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end crashes
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Multiple vehicle accidents
- Single-vehicle crashes
- Highway accidents
- Truck accidents
- Accidents at intersections
- Accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Drunk driving accident
- Speeding accidents
- Hit-and-run accident
- Car crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists
- Uber and Lyft accidents
As the victim, it’s important to have a lawyer with experience handling cases similar to yours.
Who Could Be Held Liable for My Injuries?
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. This allows accident victims to recover damages from any at-fault party. Each party is liable for their percentage of fault.
Various parties could be held liable for your car accident injuries, including:
- Drivers
- Pedestrians
- Passengers
- Trucking companies
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
- A driver’s employer
- Car manufacturers
Any party contributing to the car accident can be held liable for your injuries.
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
If you were injured, it’s important to identify all causes of the accident. Multiple parties may share the blame for your crash. It’s important to identify all possible causes so that you can demand fair compensation from all responsible parties.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding and ignoring traffic laws
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Unsafe passing
- Dangerous turns
- Weaving between lanes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drug use
- Congested roadways
- Limited visibility and bad weather
- Vehicle defects and defective safety equipment
- Poorly marked turns and other dangerous road conditions
In the end, most car wrecks happen because someone was negligent. Negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances. When other drivers are careless and cause accidents, they can be held liable for the resulting damage.
Common Injuries after a Car Accident
When car accidents happen in Tampa, FL, life-altering injuries can result.
Common injuries after a Tampa car accident include:
- Broken bones
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Amputation
- Burn injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
If you sustain injuries in a Tampa car accident, seek medical attention immediately. Doing so can improve your quality of life and help your chances of recovering compensation.
How Do I Recover Compensation After a Car Wreck?
Florida is a no-fault insurance state. All drivers are required to carry car insurance. First, you’ll file an insurance claim under your own personal injury protection policy. However, if your injuries were serious, your insurance might not be enough to cover your damages. The at-fault driver can then be held responsible for your additional damages.
As the victim, you’ll have to prove that someone else caused your accident to recover compensation above and beyond your own policy limits. That typically means you must prove the other driver was negligent.
Proving negligence means establishing the following elements:
- The at-fault driver had a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- The breach of duty was the direct cause of your accident
- You suffered damages
Our lawyers are here to gather the evidence you’ll need to prove your case. We’ll interview witnesses, review accident reports, and locate any videos or photos of the crash scene. All you have to do is contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.
What Does PIP Insurance Cover?
Florida requires proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance before a motor vehicle can be registered. PIP provides coverage for 80% of reasonable and necessary medical expenses arising from a car crash. This insurance covers up to $10,000 of medical costs, regardless of who was at fault for the collision.
Car Accident Statistics [2024 Update]
Car accidents are a common occurrence in Tampa, Florida. As of mid-March 2024, there have been 4,672 crashes in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located. Those crashes resulted in 3,052 injuries and 29 fatalities.
The most common factors that lead to Tampa car accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Tailgating
- Road rage
- Improper lane changes
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Lack of experience
- Poor weather and road conditions
Whether due to drivers texting while driving or speeding to get to work on time, Tampa car accidents occur far too often.
Most Dangerous Intersections in Tampa, FL
Car accidents can happen anywhere in Tampa. However, some intersections present more significant dangers than others.
The most dangerous intersections in the Tampa area include the following:
- Sheldon Road and Waters Avenue W
- Anderson Road and Waters Avenue W
- Waters Avenue W and Hanley Road
- Hillsborough Avenue W and Sheldon Road
- 301 HW S and Gibsonton Drive
- Waters Avenue and Himes Avenue N
- 301 HW S and Big Bend Road
- Bruce B Downs Boulevard and Fletcher Avenue E
- Bloomingdale Avenue and Bell Shoals Road
- Bloomingdale Avenue and Providence Road
These intersections are the sites of hundreds of Tampa car accidents that have led to catastrophic injuries and severe property damage.
Contact a Tampa Car Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation Today At (813) 686-7588
If you were involved in a car accident, our team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. We have the experience and resources to help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
To get started, call for a free initial consultation with an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer today.
Visit Our Law Firm in Tampa, FL
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202 Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
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Sunday: Open 24 hours
