Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
There are over 28,000 car accidents each year in Tampa and the rest of Hillsborough County, according to official statistics published by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). That averages out to nearly 77 accidents each day. While many of these accidents yield no injuries or only minor injuries, there are still far too many crashes where that is not the case.
In fact, FLHSMV’s figures show that around 19,000 people are injured in Tampa-area car accidents each year. If you are among those victims, you have the right to seek compensation from the driver or other parties responsible for your injuries. The Tampa car accident lawyer at Anderson & Anderson can represent you in pursuing a personal injury claim, dealing with insurance companies, and when necessary asserting your rights before a judge or jury. Our firm has a proven track record of obtaining results for our clients, and we pride ourselves on providing personalized attention to each of our car accident clients.
Was Negligence Responsible for Your Tampa Car Accident?
Florida has a “no-fault” insurance system to compensate individuals injured in a car accident. Essentially, if you own or operate a motor vehicle in this state, you must carry a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which will cover some of your medical bills and lost wages following a car accident, regardless of who was actually at fault. If you sustained a serious injury, however, you can step outside of the no-fault system and seek compensation directly from the negligent driver who caused the accident.
Some of the more common examples of negligence in Tampa car accidents include:
- Distracted Driving
- Drunk Driving (DUI)
- Rear-End Accidents (Tailgating)
- Running a Red Light
- Speeding
- Texting & Driving
Additionally, if your car accident was the result of some fault with your vehicle, such as a defective airbag, you can pursue damages against the manufacturer under Florida’s product liability laws.
Florida Car Accident Laws Have Recently Changed
In 2023, the Florida legislature adopted significant changes to the state’s laws governing personal injury claims arising from auto accidents. Among these changes were the standard for determining comparative fault and the deadline for filing a lawsuit. “Comparative fault” is a common defense in car accident lawsuits where the defendant attempts to shift blame to the plaintiff for causing a crash. Under the new Florida law, if a plaintiff is found 51 percent or more responsible for a car accident, they cannot recover any compensation from the defendant.
As for the statute of limitations, it is now just 2 years from the date of a car accident (as opposed to the previous 4 years). You may think this is still enough time to file a lawsuit. But it often takes several months to investigate a car accident and negotiate a possible settlement with an insurance company. So any delay initiating a personal injury claim can easily lead to a victim unintentionally “running out the clock.”
So if you have recently been involved in an accident, do not delay. The Tampa car accident lawyers at Anderson & Anderson are happy to sit down with you and discuss your situation. Call us today at 813-251-0072 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.
