Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

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Have you or a loved one been involved in a car accident in Tampa recently? As an experienced Tampa car accident attorney, we know that car accidents can occur at any time and cause serious injuries. They are among the leading causes of injury and death in Florida, and although a car accident may be an inconvenience for some, for others, they result in serious injuries, lost wages, disability, and mounting debt.

If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident, an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer can help. We have dedicated our practice to assisting victims to recover the compensation they need to move forward from serious car accidents. We provide free and confidential case evaluations, and there are no fees unless we successfully resolve your case, from the help of our Tampa car accident attorney.

A Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You With Car Insurance Policies

During 2022, there were just over 48,000 motor vehicle accidents in Tampa. Out of these accidents, just over 33,000 drivers and passengers were injured, and close to 600 fatalities. With a population of only 387,050, that means around 12% of Tampa residents get into an accident each year, 8.5% of those involved are injured, and 0.155% are killed as a result of someone’s negligence.

Car insurance plays a pivotal role in car accidents that take place in Tampa and the rest of Florida. Florida is one of the handfuls of states that not only requires you to have car insurance but also to carry personal injury protection. You may know this as PIP on your insurance policy.

After an accident, you should first report the accident to your own insurance company. Florida law requires that you carry at least $10,000 in PIP. Because our state is a “no-fault” state for car accidents, proving negligence is not a priority, and your own insurance policy will cover most of your expenses up to your policy limits.

PIP pays 80% of your medical expenses up to your PIP limit. If you only purchased the minimum $10,000, that is the policy limit. It also pays 60% of your lost wages if you cannot work, and may also provide funds to help you with certain tasks as well. For example, if you’re not able to drive, it may cover hiring someone to take you to and from your appointments.

One unique fact about PIP is that you need to seek medical care within 14 days of the car accident (you should seek it as soon as possible). Otherwise, you can lose your PIP benefits.

The Insurance Company and You: Should You Sign on the Dotted Line?

Since you must call your own insurance company to report the claim first, you may be concerned about whether you should accept any offer from your own insurance company. Aren’t they looking out for your best interest?

Although your insurance company should look out for your best interest, they are still a for-profit entity. Their ultimate goal is to continue to keep their profit margins high. One way they do this is by paying out as little as possible on claims that are filed. Keeping that in mind, should you sign anything that the insurance company gives you?

We recommend not signing anything or accepting compensation until you’ve first talked it over with a Tampa personal injury attorney. By signing a settlement agreement from the insurance company, you could be settling for far less than your claim is worth. You may also be losing valuable legal rights by signing their agreement.

What Does Florida Law Say About Filing Deadlines?

You do have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are legal deadlines. Failure to comply with the deadlines could result in your claim being dismissed. This is a crucial reason why hiring an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer is essential to improving the likelihood of success for your claim.

The statute of limitations in Florida for car accidents is four years from the date of your injury. While there are some exceptions to this, it is better to file as soon as possible with the help of a Tampa car accident attorney to have a better chance of locating witnesses and accessing evidence to be examined.

Receiving Compensation for Your Injuries and Property Damage

There are two types of compensation available for car accident victims. The amount of compensation you may receive depends on several factors. The types of compensation are:

  1. Economic damages – Financial damage that occurred because of the car accident. For example, medical expenses, medications, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, and other occurrences that hold monetary value.
  2. Non-economic damages – These damages are caused by car accidents, but are intangible and thus, difficult to put a monetary value on. Examples of non-economic damages include pain, suffering, loss of companionship, emotional distress, trauma, and scarring.

Some of the factors that determine the amount of compensation include, and may not be limited to:

Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation with a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

As a car accident victim in Tampa, you do not have to face the insurance company and the legal system alone. You have experienced and aggressive car accident lawyers ready to help you get the compensation that you deserve. Don’t wait – call a Tampa car accident lawyer today at (813)-800-4LAW. If we don’t recover on your behalf, you don’t pay.