You may be entitled to compensation if you sustained injuries or property damage due to someone else’s negligence. A Tampa personal injury lawyer can define your rights and the responsible party’s legal obligations. They can also help you obtain financial compensation by investigating your accident, assessing your recoverable damages, dealing with the insurance company, and filing your lawsuit within the allotted time.
Personal injury law firms in Tampa typically accept cases like yours on a contingency fee basis. They will review your claim at no cost and explain how an attorney can assist with your personal injury case. Having a lawyer handle your case also means you can focus on getting better while knowing your case meets Florida’s required legal parameters.
How A Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Can Investigate Your Accident
The investigation into your accident and any resulting evidence your lawyer collects will depend on the type of accident in which you were involved. Personal injury law firms can bring a pool of resources to your claim, including accident investigators.
Your legal team will:
- Obtain a copy of any official reports related to your claim (police, fire, medical, internal, corporate, etc.)
- Speak to any witnesses who support your claim (eyewitnesses, subject matter experts, accident reconstruction specialists, etc.)
- Gather additional evidence (medical records and bills, photos and videos, proof of income, etc.)
Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of your claim. The investigation begins by listening to your account of events and handling your claim with compassion and dedication.
Types of Cases Personal Injury Lawyers Manage In Tampa
Personal injury law firms represent clients injured in negligence-based accidents, including the following:
- Boating accidents
- Bus accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Defective products
- Elevator accidents
- Jet ski accidents
- Mass tort claims
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability
- School bus accidents
- Truck and big rig accidents
- Uninsured motorist accidents
- Wrongful deaths
Your attorney will identify the type of claim you can file. They can also help you navigate Florida’s comparative fault laws and understand how they impact your potential financial recovery.
Recoverable Damages Available For Accident Victims In A Personal Injury Claim
If you suffered injuries in a car crash, your initial compensation may come from personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. Its benefits begin immediately and will cover your medical bills (up to 80%) and lost wages (up to 60%).
Additional compensation your attorney will request from the at-fault driver includes:
- Economic damages: These damages include past and future medical, rehabilitation, and therapy bills, compensation for medications and medical devices (crutches, canes, wheelchairs, etc.), and hospital admissions. They also include past and future lost wages, loss of future earning ability, and the costs of repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed property.
- Non-economic damages: Temporary and permanent physically disabling impairments, scarring, and other disfiguring injuries. Non-economic damages also include physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional trauma and anxiety, and diminished quality of life.
- Wrongful death damages: Families can recover funeral, burial, and cremation expenses, loss of the decedent’s financial and household contributions to your family, and loss of consortium, companionship, guidance, care, and support.
Your lawyer will assess your potential compensation, gather evidence to substantiate its value, and fight for the maximum financial recovery for you and your family.
How Long Do You Have To File A Personal Injury Lawsuit In Tampa, Florida?
Every civil lawsuit has a statute of limitations imposed by the state. Depending on the type of accident in which you were involved:
- The personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(a)
- The wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(e)
- The medical malpractice statute of limitations is generally two years, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(c)
- The nursing home abuse statute of limitations is generally two years, per Florida Statutes § 400.0236
Your lawyer will evaluate any factors that may affect your filing deadline and ensure your lawsuit is submitted on time.
Tampa Personal Injury Attorneys Know How To Deal With Insurance Companies
You must report an accident to the at-fault party’s insurance provider. They will require proof of their policyholder’s negligence before negotiating a settlement. If you have a lawyer, they will respond to information and evidence requests for you.
Your lawyer will also:
- Handle all verbal, written, and electronic communication
- Create and submit a settlement demand letter on your behalf
- Accompany the insurance adjuster when assessing your property damage
Your lawyer can also help you stay abreast of your legal action by providing information-packed updates as your personal injury claim develops and progresses.
Let Your Lawyer Handle The Settlement Negotiation Process
Negotiating a settlement can take time. In fact, you should avoid a speedy settlement since it might not account for all of the damages you are entitled to recover. An attorney will collect evidence that supports current and future compensation.
Settlement negotiations require careful attention to detail at every stage. Your lawyer will weigh each offer, describe its merits, and guide you toward the best possible financial recovery.
How Contingency Fees Work In A Personal Injury Case
Personal injury law firms represent injured accident victims on a contingency fee basis. They cover all of the costs of preparing your case without requesting a retainer. Instead, their compensation is a percentage of your recovered damages. If you do not get compensation, you will not owe the lawyer or the law firm any fees at all.
Learn More About The Benefits Of Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer For Your Case Today
If someone else’s negligence caused you or a loved one injury, our law firm will fight for your financial recovery. Learn more about how our Tampa personal injury lawyers can help with your case and get responsive, communicative legal representation that goes the extra mile.
Contact our legal team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to get your free personal injury claim evaluation today.
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