Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident is not just a small inconvenience—it can leave you facing challenging injuries and mounting bills and expenses that jeopardize your finances and livelihood. When you suffer a loss or injury because of the actions of another party, you may seek compensation against the party at fault.

A Tampa car accident lawyer at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys can prepare a claim or lawsuit for the best possible chance of successfully getting the compensation you need to cover the impact an accident has on your health and your ability to work and live. Contact a seasoned personal injury attorney at our firm today to discuss your case.

If You Are a Victim in a Tampa Car Accident, Hire Perenich Law Injury Attorneys

When you become a victim in a car accident, you need someone to advocate for you against the insurance companies, at-fault party, and any other parties in your case. Insurers and the parties responsible for your injuries just want the problem to go away as quickly as possible. If they can find a reason to deny you payment for damages or to lower the amount of money for compensation, they will use it.

A diligent Tampa car accident attorney working on your behalf will make certain that the other parties do not overlook or shortchange you in car accident settlement negotiations. You may deal with injuries, loss of work hours, and challenges in your daily life because of an accident. You need someone who understands what you face and how to get the best possible outcome for you. Perenich Law Injury Attorneys is here to help.

Table of Contents

Car Accident Causes
Proving Negligence
Common Injuries
Liability Laws
Is a Lawyer Necessary

Results for Car Accident Clients of Perenich Law Injury Attorneys

Our team of seasoned car crash lawyers at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys works hard to fight for justice on behalf of our community and clients in the Tampa area. We strive to get our clients the compensation they deserve after car accidents caused by other people’s negligence.

Positive outcomes for clients of our firm include:

A $1.2 million verdict for a client that sought damages through their uninsured motorist coverage after a DUI accident
A $750,000 settlement for a victim that suffered multiple injuries in a motor vehicle accident when another driver ran a red light

While we cannot guarantee specific results, contact us today to see how we can help you in your case.

Your Risk of a Car Crash in Tampa

Tampa is a growing metropolitan area in Florida, part of the fourth largest county in terms of population within the state. Hillsborough County is home to close to 1.5 million residents. Beyond the year-round residents, Tampa also attracts visitors and tourists. Attractions and landmarks such as the beautiful weather, Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay beaches, and nearby colleges and universities are just a few of the many reasons people choose to visit the area and, in some cases, live here seasonally.

Due to the increase in population, there are inevitably more cars on the road. Several studies identify the Tampa area as one of the most congested and heavy traffic areas in the country. With more traffic comes more accidents. In one year, Hillsborough county will report over 24,000 motor vehicle crashes, with over 16,000 victims with injuries and over 200 victims that suffer a fatality.

What Is the Cause of Most Tampa Car Wrecks?

Negligence. Although the events leading up to each car accident are different. No two accidents will end the same. The injuries and the damage to a property in each accident are unique to each situation. However, there is one common thread amongst most motor vehicle accidents and that is negligence.

Negligence of one or various parties is the cause of many car accidents. Any driver that fails to uphold the duty of care to others while on the roadway can cause an accident with one or multiple vehicles. Victims of a car accident can be the drivers of other vehicles, passengers in a vehicle, workers along the road, pedestrians, bicyclists, or other bystanders near a roadway that suffer some kind of impact from the accident.

In many instances, a driver that causes an accident is not only negligent but also breaks traffic and safety laws.

Common negligent driving behaviors can include:

Driving under the influence
Drug-impaired driving
Driving while drowsy
Distracted driving
Speeding
Failure to follow traffic laws and signals
Reckless driving
Tailgating or aggressive driving

Proving Negligence After a Tampa Car Collision

It is not enough to claim that another driver was negligent. As part of an insurance claim or lawsuit for damages against an at-fault party, a victim must show that a driver acted negligently resulting in the injuries to them. Under personal injury law, to establish the liability of a party, a victim must show that all elements of the law of negligence are present in their case.

We can show the negligence of a defendant through evidence from the scene, police reports, their statements, witness statements, damage to the vehicles, location of impact and the perspective, and testimony of a victim.

The elements used to establish negligence in a car accident case in Tampa are:

The party allegedly at fault has a duty of care under the law. This element is easily met in that every driver behind the wheel does so with the understanding that they will follow the laws of the road and prevent causing harm to others.
The party at fault in the form of an act or failure to act violates the duty of care owed to you. The behavior of the party at fault was not in line with the duty of care. This can be through a violation of the law or just a failure to exercise care during the operation of their vehicle.
There was some kind of loss or damage to you. You cannot sue for negligence if no harm occurred. Whether it is a physical injury or damage to your vehicle and property, you must show as a victim that you sustained a loss in some manner.
The other party’s violation of their duty of care resulted in your injuries. This element is causation, where you must show that the actions of the at-fault party cause your injuries and damages.

The Most Common Injuries From Motor Vehicle Accidents

Your injuries can be serious after a car crash. Injuries that you may initially believe are minor might develop into more serious conditions, and injuries that are severe from the outset may result in permanent disabilities for you. There is no way to know what the severity of injuries will be because of the type of accident that occurs or the extent of property damage. Even a fender bender can cause severe injuries to a driver or passenger. Many factors can determine the type of injuries a victim may suffer in a crash as well as the severity of those injuries. A victim’s health before the accident, the location of impact on the vehicle, where the victim is sitting inside the vehicle, the speed of the other vehicle, the weather and road conditions, whether there was a secondary collision, the size of all the vehicles involved are all things that can play a hand in the injuries a victim sustains during a car accident.

Common auto accident injuries include:

Head injuries including traumatic brain injuries
Neck or back injuries including spinal cord damage
Burns due to fire or chemical exposure
Broken bones or dislocations
Injuries to internal organs
Cuts
Loss of a limb or amputation
Soft tissue injuries such as to the tendons, ligaments, or muscles

What Are the Liability Laws for Car Accidents in Tampa

One driver in an accident is generally at fault for the damages in a motor vehicle accident. In most situations when a driver is at fault for an accident, accident victims can then go on to pursue compensation against them personally or more commonly, through their insurance company.

Most states, including Florida, impose regulations on drivers making it mandatory for all vehicle owners to maintain liability insurance coverage on their cars in case they cause an accident. Unfortunately, Florida ranks sixth in the country of the states with the highest percentage of uninsured motorists. Motorists that cause an accident and do not have insurance are a serious concern for victims who need compensation for their losses. In these situations, or when a hit and run occurs and the at-fault driver flees, a victim might pursue compensation from their own insurance coverage if their policy allows.

Liability for a car accident is complex, as the at-fault driver is not always the only one to bear responsibility to the victim for their losses. Some various parties and organizations can owe you payment for your losses after a motor vehicle accident that you didn’t cause. In addition, multiple parties can bear simultaneous liability to a victim. In these circumstances, a court may need to apportion fault and decide how much each party must pay the victim.

Responsibility for damages from a car accident can include one or more of the following parties:

The driver at-fault
The employer of the driver
A rideshare company
The owner of the vehicle
The insurance company of the at-fault driver
Your insurance company

What Will a Tampa Auto Accident Claim Cover?

Car accidents can be costly to your health and your finances. The damages from a car accident are often more than a victim anticipates. The impact of a crash can affect your body, mind, emotions, ability to work, and enjoyment of life. The rising costs for treatment, therapy, vehicle repairs, and other expenses can leave you facing financial uncertainties and you may be unsure of how you will pay for all of these costs.

Under the law, you are eligible to seek compensation for your damages from the person responsible for the accident and your losses. In most situations, the at-fault party will have insurance to cover the accident damages, but if they do not have insurance or the insurance is not enough to cover the extent of the losses you can seek compensation from them personally.

The damages you can seek recovery for in a car accident claim or lawsuit include:

Medical treatment expenses
Costs of physical therapy and rehabilitation
Any medical equipment you may need
Transportation costs to and from medical procedures and appointments
Current and future loss of income
Pain and suffering such as emotional distress
Property damage including your vehicle
Rental expenses while your vehicle undergoes repairs

Is a Tampa Car Accident Attorney Necessary If You Are Seeking Compensation for a Motor Vehicle Collision?

Yes.

You may not know whether you need a lawyer after a car accident and you might be considering resolving the insurance claim on your own. However, if you are in an accident in which injuries or significant damage to your vehicle occur, you may be taking a big risk by going forward without a dedicated attorney to represent your legal interests and manage the dealings with the insurance company and other parties.

Insurers know the ins and outs of car accident claims and you are likely at a clear disadvantage without a lawyer. They may use your lack of knowledge of the insurance industry and processes to try to offer you significantly less than what you are eligible for under the law. After a car accident, your first step is to get help for your injuries, and your next must be to contact a Tampa car accident attorney for a free case evaluation.