When a careless driver crashes into your vehicle on Interstate 4 or an inattentive motorist turns directly into your path along Dale Mabry Highway, your life changes without warning.
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers provides aggressive, dedicated legal representation to help you rebuild. If you suffered harm due to someone else's negligence, hiring a skilled Tampa personal injury lawyer gives you the strong voice you need against insurance companies that try to reduce your payout.
Contact Roman Austin today at (727) 787-2500 for a free case consultation. We’re available 24/7 to offer help and guidance.
Why Choose Roman Austin?
Our founding attorney Mark S. Roman holds the prestigious distinction of being a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, an honor earned by less than two percent of all active attorneys in Florida.
Our firm combines deep trial readiness with firsthand insight. Partner John C. Austin is an avid cyclist who brings real-world understanding to complex roadway cases.
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, our record speaks clearly. We have secured notable recoveries, including a $4,356,000 settlement for a severe rear-end crash and a $2.7 million court verdict for a couple who sustained serious physical trauma.
Why Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Tampa?
Insurance adjusters work to protect their company's bottom line, which means they rarely offer full compensation without a fight. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Tampa handles every detail of your legal claim so you can focus entirely on physical healing.
Adjusters often contact injured victims quickly after a collision, offering fast settlements before the full cost of medical treatment is known. Accepting an early settlement releases the negligent party from all future liability, leaving you to pay out of pocket for ongoing therapy, missed workdays, and future medical procedures.
We step in to manage all communications with insurance adjusters, calculate your total lifetime losses, gather vital evidence from the crash scene, and prepare your case as if it is heading straight to trial.
What Should You Expect During a Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Filing a civil claim follows a structured path designed to establish liability and document your financial losses accurately. Every case begins with an independent investigation into your accident.
Our team gathers police crash reports, downloads event data recorder records from vehicles, reviews traffic camera footage from Tampa intersections, and interviews witnesses. We consult medical professionals to document the long-term impact of your injuries.
Once we calculate your complete damages, we send a formal demand letter to the insurance company. If the insurer refuses to pay a fair settlement, we file a formal complaint in the Hillsborough County Circuit Court and begin the litigation process.
What Are the Legal Deadlines for Filing a Case in Florida?
Florida law sets strict timelines for taking legal action after an accident, and missing these deadlines forever bars you from recovering compensation.
For most personal injury cases based on negligence, Florida law gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit in court. The timeline drops sharply if your injury involved a government entity, such as a city bus collision or a crash caused by a poorly maintained road.
When bringing a claim against the City of Tampa or Hillsborough County, you must provide a formal written notice within three years, and you must wait through a mandatory investigation period before filing a lawsuit.
Because evidence disappears quickly and witnesses forget details, starting your legal process early protects your rights.
What Personal Injury Cases Do We Handle in Tampa, FL?
Our legal team represents victims across a broad spectrum of motor vehicle crashes and personal injury events throughout the Tampa Bay region:
- Car Accidents: We represent individuals injured in head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, T-bone broadsides, and multi-vehicle highway pileups.
- Bicycle Accidents: Using partner John C. Austin's deep personal involvement in the cycling community, we represent bicyclists struck by distracted, speeding, or reckless drivers.
- Pedestrian Injuries: We fight for people struck while walking in crosswalks, parking lots, or along city streets, including high-impact collisions like our $3 million settlement for a pedestrian struck by a bus.
- Trucking Accidents: We investigate complex commercial vehicle crashes involving tractor-trailers, delivery vans, and large cargo trucks operating on major shipping routes.
- Motorcycle Collisions: We defend the rights of riders who suffer severe physical trauma due to drivers failing to yield the right-of-way.
What Past Clients Say About Working with Our Team
Client feedback reflects our commitment to clear communication, honest guidance, and focused advocacy during difficult times.
"From the first moment I spoke with the people at Roman Austin, I knew that I was in good hands! My injury was severe and it was scary, but every step of this journey has been easier because of the guidance I have received from them. They have managed my case with professionalism and thoroughly explained any and all questions that have come up for me. Because of their hard work and dedication to my case, we were able to reach a settlement in my case! I highly recommend them to anyone in need of an injury attorney!" - K.S.
"After my accident, I didn't know where to start. Roman Austin made the whole process feel manageable and honestly took a huge weight off my shoulders. The team was kind, responsive, and truly cared about what I was going through. I always felt heard and supported. I'm so thankful I found them and would absolutely recommend them to anyone who needs help." - S.S.
"Once again Roman & Austin and their team has been a helping hand through hard times after being rear ended by a driver not paying attention. The same day I was set up with community care to make sure I had to physical and emotional support I needed and they checked on me with updates every week. They got me the full compensation I deserved for my injuries and are the best at what they do." - J.K.
"They did a great job and even advised what to do if there was no insurance for the at-fault driver and I had to self represent. Ended up being able to get me the fullest payout possible, team was easy to keep in touch with, and Miles was clear in his explanations and helpful with his advice. I still use some of the doctors I connected with through their firm. Would recommend Roman Austin and would use them again." - J.P.
How Does Florida's Modified Comparative Negligence Law Affect You?
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system that links your financial recovery directly to your level of fault in an accident.
Under current state law, as long as you carry 50 percent or less of the responsibility for an accident, you can recover damages from the other negligent parties. However, your total financial award decreases by your exact percentage of fault.
If a jury awards you $100,000 for medical bills and lost income but finds you 20 percent at fault for speeding, your final recovery equals $80,000. If an insurance company successfully shifts more than 50 percent of the blame onto you, Florida law prevents you from recovering any money from the other driver.
Insurance companies frequently try to assign unfair blame to injured victims to lower their own payout responsibilities, which makes strong legal advocacy vital.
What Types of Financial Compensation Can You Recover?
A serious motor vehicle crash creates immediate economic costs along with long-term personal disruption.
- Emergency Room and Hospital Bills: Direct costs for ambulance rides, emergency care, surgical procedures, and hospital stays.
- Ongoing Medical Expenses: Costs for physical therapy sessions, prescription medications, specialist consultations, and future surgeries.
- Lost Wages: Financial reimbursement for income you lost while missed work during your initial recovery phase.
- Lost Earning Capacity: Money to compensate for your reduced ability to earn a living if your injuries cause permanent workplace limitations.
- Physical Pain and Suffering: Financial compensation for bodily discomfort, physical limitations, and reduced daily physical activity.
- Emotional Distress: Recovery for trauma, anxiety, and sleep disruptions triggered by a violent collision.
How Do You Handle Medical Bills While Your Case Is Pending?
Managing healthcare costs after an injury causes constant stress, but several payment avenues exist while your legal claim progresses.
First, your own Personal Injury Protection insurance covers up to $10,000 in emergency medical costs regardless of who caused the crash, provided you seek medical care within 14 days of the accident.
Second, private health insurance policies or Medicare can cover ongoing medical treatments, though these providers maintain subrogation liens that must be satisfied from your final settlement.
Third, medical providers often agree to treat patients on a letter of protection, which pauses collection efforts in exchange for an agreement to pay the provider directly out of your final settlement or court award.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Tampa
What should I do immediately after a crash in Tampa?
First, check everyone involved for injuries and call 911 immediately so law enforcement and medical crews respond to the scene. Take detailed photographs of vehicle positions, skid marks, property damage, and visible body injuries.
Exchange insurance and contact information with all drivers, but do not apologize or accept blame for the incident. Seek medical evaluation right away, even if you feel fine, because underlying injuries like internal bleeding or neck trauma often show symptoms hours later.
How much does it cost to hire a Tampa personal injury attorney?
Our firm works on a contingency fee framework, which means you pay no money upfront to hire us. We cover all upfront costs for investigation, court filings, and medical expert reviews. You only pay legal fees if we win a financial recovery for you through a negotiated settlement or jury verdict. If we do not win compensation for your claim, you owe us no legal fees at all.
What if the driver who hit me does not have automobile insurance?
You can file a claim under your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage if you carried that option on your policy before the crash. This coverage steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver to pay for your medical care, lost wages, and pain.
If you do not have this coverage, our team investigates whether other liable parties exist, such as the driver's employer or vehicle owner.
How long will it take to resolve my injury claim?
Simple insurance claims with clear liability and settled medical treatment can finalize in a few months. Claims involving permanent physical disability, disputed liability, or multi-vehicle crashes often take a year or longer to reach a trial or settlement.
We move your case forward as quickly as possible without sacrificing the full value of your claim.
Will my personal injury case have to go to court?
Most personal injury claims settle out of court through negotiated agreements with insurance providers. However, if an insurance carrier refuses to offer a settlement that fully covers your physical and financial losses, taking your case to trial becomes necessary.
Our lawyers prepare every file with the detail and structure needed for trial, which gives insurance companies a strong reason to settle fairly.
Contact Roman Austin Today
If you suffered injuries in an accident caused by someone else's negligence in Tampa, FL, do not face the insurance companies alone. Don't be fooled by billboards and radio ads; choose a firm with local roots.
Contact Roman Austin today at (727) 787-2500 to speak with a Tampa personal injury lawyer during a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 to take your call.