Local Roots. Million Dollar Results
Florida Personal Injury Protection coverage pays the first $10,000 of medical bills regardless of fault, but you must recover compensation for pain and suffering directly from the negligent driver.
Partnering with a skilled Tampa car accident lawyer ensures you meet state thresholds, preserve critical crash evidence, and pursue full financial recovery after a collision.
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers stands ready to protect your interests against aggressive insurance carriers. If a vehicle collision left you injured in Hillsborough County, contact our team today at (727) 787-2500 for a free, 24/7 legal evaluation.
Why Roman Austin?
Our founding attorney Mark S. Roman holds board certification from the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, a status achieved by fewer than two percent of attorneys across the state.
Our partner John C. Austin brings a distinct perspective to roadway safety cases as an active cyclist, offering real insights into traffic flow and collision mechanics.
Recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation and holding an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Roman Austin maintains a track record of meaningful results.
Our firm secured $4,356,000 for a client injured in a rear-end collision, along with $4 million for wrongful death resulting from a car crash.
Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer in Tampa?
If your injuries exceed the $10,000 PIP limit or cause permanent physical limitations, hiring a lawyer becomes necessary to secure recovery beyond basic insurance benefits.
Insurance adjusters evaluate claims with a main objective to minimize payout figures and protect corporate profits. When you attempt to handle a severe injury claim on your own, adjusters often take advantage of your lack of litigation experience by delaying payments, disputing medical necessity, or making lowball settlement offers.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Tampa levels the playing field by thoroughly investigating your crash, calculating future care costs, and preparing every case for courtroom litigation. Roman Austin handles all conversations with insurance representatives so you do not make statements that could accidentally damage your financial recovery.
How Does Florida No-Fault Insurance Pay Medical Care After a Tampa Crash?
Florida drivers carry mandatory Personal Injury Protection insurance, which covers 80 percent of reasonable medical costs and 60 percent of lost wages up to $10,000 regardless of who caused the collision.
To unlock these statutory benefits, you must seek initial medical care within 14 days of the collision. If a doctor determines you did not suffer an emergency medical condition, your accessible PIP benefits drop automatically to $2,500. While PIP covers initial treatments, severe collisions often generate medical expenses far higher than this basic coverage limit.
Once treatment costs pass your PIP coverage, you must file a claim against the at-fault driver to pay for remaining care, lost income, and physical suffering. For detailed guidance on navigating this structure, read about Florida's no-fault system to understand your legal rights.
What Local Traffic Hazards Contribute to Severe Collisions Across Hillsborough County?
Heavy commuter traffic and high-speed corridors create hazardous conditions throughout Tampa, leading to frequent and severe motor vehicle crashes.
Merging traffic on Interstate 275 near the Howard Frankland Bridge generates frequent rear-end collisions and chain-reaction pileups during morning and evening rush hours.
The heavy congestion on Interstate 4 near the Downtown Interchange produces dangerous high-speed side-swipe impacts as drivers switch lanes abruptly.
Along Dale Mabry Highway, commercial entrances and frequent turn lanes lead to angle crashes and broadside collisions caused by drivers failing to yield the right-of-way.
Sharp curves and high speeds along Bayshore Boulevard increase risks for severe head-on collisions and vehicle rollovers.
Our team uses thorough knowledge of these local corridors to re-construct crash scenes accurately.
What Steps Should You Take Immediately After a Crash on Tampa Roads?
Taking decisive action right after a vehicle collision preserves essential evidence and strengthens your future insurance claim:
- Call emergency responders immediately so police officers can draft an official crash report and emergency medical personnel can evaluate physical injuries.
- Take clear photographs of vehicle damage, physical injuries, lane markings, traffic signals, weather conditions, and road debris before tow trucks clear the scene.
- Exchange driver names, phone numbers, driver license details, vehicle registration data, and insurance policy numbers with everyone involved in the crash.
- Seek immediate evaluation at a hospital emergency room or urgent care center, even if symptoms seem minor right after the event.
- Report the incident to your insurance carrier, but decline to give recorded statements to the other driver's insurer until you consult a lawyer.
How Do Insurance Carriers Try to Limit Motor Vehicle Claims?
Insurance adjusters use proven tactics to lower claim payouts or deny liability entirely after a serious vehicle crash occurs.
Adjusters often call injured parties shortly after a crash to offer quick, low settlements before doctors determine the full scope of long-term medical needs. Accepting these initial settlement offers requires signing a full release that forever closes your case, leaving you responsible for future medical bills.
Representatives also review your social media accounts looking for photos or posts they can use out of context to argue that your injuries are exaggerated. Sometimes, adjusters intentionally delay processing claims to place financial pressure on injured victims who face growing stack of unpaid bills. Working with a skilled attorney prevents insurers from taking advantage of your situation.
Many accident victims worry about how filing an insurance claim impacts their ongoing coverage and monthly premiums. Drivers often ask will my rates go up after reporting a crash caused by someone else, and Florida law generally prohibits insurers from raising rates for non-fault accidents.
What Types of Compensation Can You Pursue in a Collision Claim?
A successful motor vehicle accident claim compensates you for both concrete financial losses and personal physical impact caused by another driver's negligence:
- Medical Care Costs: Past, current, and future doctor visits, surgical procedures, hospital stays, prescription medicines, and physical therapy sessions.
- Lost Wages and Income: Direct reimbursement for paychecks missed during your recovery time away from your job.
- Diminished Earning Capacity: Compensation for long-term reduction in earning ability if physical limitations prevent you from returning to your line of work.
- Property Loss: Money to repair your damaged automobile or replace your vehicle if the insurance carrier declares it a total loss.
- Physical Pain and Suffering: Financial recovery for bodily discomfort, physical restrictions, and loss of life enjoyment resulting from trauma.
- Emotional Trauma: Damages for severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression, or post-traumatic stress induced by a sudden crash.
How Does Florida Comparative Fault Law Affect Your Recovery?
Florida operates under a modified comparative fault standard, which directly impacts the money you can recover if you share partial blame for a crash.
Under this law, you can recover financial compensation from another negligent party as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. However, the court reduces your final cash award by your exact percentage of fault.
For example, if a judge awards $100,000 in damages but finds you 20 percent responsible because you were driving slightly over the speed limit, your final financial recovery totals $80,000.
If an insurance company successfully proves you hold 51 percent or more of the blame, Florida law bars you from receiving any compensation. Our team gathers physical evidence to prevent insurance companies from unfairly shifting blame onto you.
What Are the Legal Time Limits for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida law enforces strict statutory deadlines for bringing a lawsuit after a vehicle collision, and missing these cutoffs ends your right to seek financial recovery.
For standard personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle crashes, Florida law allows two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit in court. The timeline changes significantly if your collision involved a government vehicle, such as a Hillsborough Area Regional Transit bus, or resulted from dangerous road conditions maintained by a public agency.
Claims against government entities require filing a formal administrative notice within three years of the incident, followed by a mandatory waiting period before filing a court complaint. Because physical evidence degrades and witness memories fade quickly, starting your legal claim early protects your right to full recovery.
How Do We Prove Fault and Build a Strong Trial-Ready Case?
Establishing liability in a vehicle crash requires collecting clear physical proof and presenting a logical reconstruction of how the incident occurred.
Our attorneys launch immediate investigations to secure electronic data, including event data recorder information from involved vehicles. EDR devices record key operational data such as driving speed, brake application, throttle position, and steering angles in the seconds leading up to an impact.
We subpoena surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and doorbell systems across local neighborhoods.
Our firm works with accident reconstruction experts and medical specialists to prove how the other driver's actions caused your physical injuries.
By preparing every case as if it will proceed directly to a jury trial, we compel insurance adjusters to take your claim seriously during settlement negotiations.
What Other Types of Roadway Injury Claims Do We Handle in Tampa?
Beyond traditional two-car collisions, our law firm handles a wide variety of personal injury matters across the Tampa Bay area:
- Motorcycle Collisions: Drivers who fail to check blind spots or yield at intersections cause severe physical impacts for riders; if you were hit while riding, a skilled motorcycle accident legal team can help you assert your rights.
- Commercial Vehicle Crashes: Large semi-trucks and delivery vans operating along commercial highways cause massive property damage and severe physical trauma due to driver fatigue or improper maintenance.
- Rideshare Crashes: Collisions involving Uber or Lyft vehicles introduce complex multi-layered insurance policies depending on whether the driver was logged into the mobile app; consulting a rideshare accident professional helps clarify liability rules.
- Pedestrian Accidents: High-speed impacts involving foot traffic near crosswalks and bus stops often result in catastrophic physical injuries requiring extensive medical care.
- Broad Civil Injury Litigation: For comprehensive support across all injury categories beyond traffic crashes, our general Tampa personal injury lawyer practice provides thorough legal representation.
What Does Working with Roman Austin Cost You Upfront?
Our law firm operates entirely on a contingency fee foundation, removing financial barriers for injured crash victims seeking quality legal representation.
You pay zero out-of-pocket costs when you retain our law firm. We cover all expenses associated with investigating your crash, obtaining medical records, filing court documents, and hiring expert witnesses.
Our firm receives legal fees only after successfully securing a financial recovery through a negotiated settlement or courtroom jury award. If we do not recover compensation for your claim, you owe us nothing for our legal services.
This arrangement ensures our goals align completely with your financial interests while giving you access to experienced courtroom litigators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Claims in Tampa
How long does it take to get a settlement after a car crash in Tampa?
Simple insurance claims with clear fault and minor medical care can resolve in three to six months. Claims involving permanent physical injuries, disputed fault, or multiple vehicle collisions often require a year or longer to reach resolution. We move your legal claim forward efficiently while waiting until you finish medical treatment to ensure all future care costs are included in the settlement demand.
What happens if the driver who hit me leaves the scene of the crash?
Hit-and-run crashes require filing a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist coverage if you carry that optional policy. Your UM coverage acts as the insurance policy for the missing driver, paying for your medical care and lost income up to your chosen policy limits. Our team works with law enforcement to track down fleeing drivers while pursuing all alternative insurance sources.
Can I still recover money if I was not wearing a seatbelt during the collision?
Yes, you can still recover financial compensation, but Florida's seatbelt defense allows insurance companies to argue that failing to wear a seatbelt contributed to the severity of your injuries. The court evaluates whether wearing a restraint would have reduced your physical injuries, potentially reducing your final damages under comparative fault rules. An attorney helps counter these arguments with proper medical evidence.
What should I bring to my initial legal consultation with your firm?
Bring any official crash report copies, police exchange slips, photographs of vehicle damage and injuries, medical records, discharge papers, and health insurance information. You should also bring copies of your auto insurance policy declaration page, letters from insurance carriers, and any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses tied to the crash. If you lack complete documentation, our team can gather those records on your behalf.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Roman Austin
If you suffered physical injuries in a collision caused by a careless driver in Tampa, FL, do not let insurance carriers dictate the outcome of your recovery. Don't be fooled by billboards and radio ads; partner with a firm that delivers proven results and dedicated advocacy.
Contact Roman Austin today at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free case review with an experienced Tampa car accident attorney. We’re available 24/7 to take your call.