Accidents can happen at any time, upending your life and resulting in severe bodily and emotional distress. This is a very unpleasant reality. The decision after that is yours regarding whether you want to file a lawsuit for personal injury.
The legal route can be laborious and time-consuming, but if you persevere through it, you’ll obtain the best compensation for the personal injury portion of the procedure. As a car driver, you must be better aware of the regulations to obtain compensation appropriately and lawfully. Given the prominence of cars as a widespread mode of transportation, accidents also happen frequently. So, what do you do if you’re based out of Tampa, Florida, and have been involved in a car accident? We’ll discuss this below.
Car Accidents in Tampa, Florida
It is a well-known fact that car accidents cause most avoidable injuries in Tampa. Highway and city street collisions can leave victims with significant trauma, high costs, and permanent disabilities.
Those hurt in car accidents in the Tampa region frequently have the option of pursuing compensation to assist with medical bills and enable them to resume their everyday lives. They can do that by consulting the right attorney in the city. Car accident victims can claim damages after a motor accident independently.
According to Florida law, you must claim for an automobile accident within four years of the incident. This only applies if you meet the state’s qualifications for permanent residency. The four-year statute of limitations applies every day of the year. You cannot file a case in any state court after the rule has run out because the law prohibits you from doing so.
You can submit a claim independently or seek the assistance of a Tampa car accident lawyer to receive the utmost compensation.
Car Accident Laws in Tampa, Florida
Florida law only gives you a brief window of opportunity to file a lawsuit following an automobile accident in Tampa. You typically have four years from the accident date to claim damages against the people at fault and their insurance providers. But, in other circumstances, such as when a government agency is responsible for your injuries, that window may be reduced to a few months.
However, you risk losing your rights and getting nothing if you miss a deadline for pursuing a claim.
An attorney or legal firm will strongly urge you not to miss the chance to avail your legal rights. Connecting with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after getting hurt protects you from making a costly and needless mistake. So, what legal steps do you need to take when you meet with an accident in Tampa, Florida.
Appropriate Steps after a car accident in Tampa, Florida
- Seek Medical Help
The worst error you can make following a car accident in Tampa is disregarding your pains and discomfort or believing you were unharmed because you feel fine. Many injuries from auto accidents are not as evident as others. Medical experts have frequently found through years of expertise that crash victims cannot accurately diagnose their ailments due to abject trauma.
Hence, even if you feel fine, request a medical examination from a skilled specialist as soon as possible after a collision. Your injuries can be found and treated before they worsen with a quick trip to your primary care physician. This urgent care facility accepts walk-in patients or the emergency department. Creating a solid proof of your injuries and how they occurred can also defend your legal rights.
- Never Agree on a settlement
As a victim of a vehicle accident in Tampa, insurance providers know that you may experience considerable financial hardship due to medical expenses and lost wages. They can directly offer to settle your claim quickly and cheaply to take advantage of your difficulty. Though it might seem alluring, taking the money is almost always a bad idea for a victim.
A settlement is a legally binding agreement that ends your auto accident claim. Agreeing to a settlement that pays you too little for your injuries can leave you without the funds you need to pay for the costs of your damage and lets the insurer and at-fault party off the hook for a fraction of what they should pay for the harm you suffered. Contact a car accident attorney in Tampa to get appropriate information about your insurance claims.
- Hire a car accident lawyer
You should contact a car accident lawyer in Tampa immediately if you’ve been in one. Just a few days remain until you may submit an insurance claim. Moreover, you have only four years to launch a lawsuit. Your prospects of recovering and getting appropriate compensation are better when you hire a car accident lawyer.
Any attorney you hire must sue if your insurance claim is rejected. To do this, he will need specific information. Bring the following items to your initial consultation with your Tampa auto accident lawyer.
- A duplicate of the police or accident report
- Images showing the scene of the collision
- Information on how to reach any witnesses
- Insurance and contact information for the other driver
- A copy of your medical records
- Receipts
- Claim damages
Once you’ve been part of an accident, don’t forget to make a claim for your damages. Legal attorneys in Tampa use their expertise to assess the losses the victim has endured. Their goal is to demonstrate the highest sum of money that their client is legally entitled to demand from those responsible for a collision and from insurance companies.
However, every case is different, but when you are visiting an attorney, don’t forget to demand the following:
- Past and future medical costs
- Expenditures you must pay out of pocket for injuries you sustained in the collision or other expenses like repairs or replacement services for your car.
- Lot wages because of missing work while in the hospital or recovering at home.
- Using sick and/or vacation days while off the job
- Lost earning potential if injuries prevent you from working for a period or forever.
Conclusion
After the accident it’s important to seek justice and compensation so that your financial and injury problems are taken. So, if you live in Tampa hire a lawyer. With the right Tampa car accident lawyer, seeking legal compensation becomes easy.