The first thing people think about when they hear about a car accident in Tampa, Florida, is whether the driver is okay. Although, the passengers in the car can also be seriously injured, and the fault for the accident very rarely lies with them. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident as a passenger, you too have the right to claim compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and much more. Florida law allows you to seek compensation and file a personal injury claim. The law in Florida can be difficult to navigate, and that is why you should seek the representation of a Tampa car accident attorney.
The Law Place law firm in Tampa, Florida, has a combined experience of over 75 years dealing with auto accident cases similar to the one you have been involved in. Our team of Tampa car accident attorneys is committed to winning their clients the compensation they deserve. A personal injury lawyer will be by your side every step of the way and fight for your case and the justice that you are entitled to as the innocent victim of a car accident. Call us today on 941-444-4444 for a free consultation if you have sustained injuries as a passenger in an auto accident.
Who Do I File a Claim Against in Tampa?
If you or someone you know has been the victim in a Tampa car accident as a passenger, who you file against for compensation very much depends on the particular circumstance of the car crash. We advise that you always be careful when talking to car insurance companies without an accident lawyer to assist you. This is because car insurance companies are big businesses with profit as their main priority. Therefore they will try to offer you a settlement to pay you as little as they possibly can as a victim in a car accident. Additionally, anything you say to them could be held against you and hinder your claim for compensation. If possible, speak to a car accident lawyer before you answer these insurance companies, but if that is not possible, avoid disclosing the true extent of your injuries to these companies and only state the facts.
Nevertheless, it may be possible for you to file a compensation claim against any of the following:
- The driver of the vehicle of which you were a passenger or that driver’s insurance company. As Florida is a no-fault state, in line with Florida Statute 627.7407, it enables you to make a claim against the driver’s insurance company even if they were not the party at fault. Don’t worry if the driver of the car you were in is not the owner of that vehicle you could still potentially file a claim against the owner or their insurance company.
- If another driver is at fault for the car crash and the car accident was catastrophic, you may be able to file a claim against the other driver of their car insurance company for your injuries.
- If you are the owner of a vehicle yourself, you could potentially be able to claim from your own insurance company.
If you don’t know whether you could be eligible to claim compensation as a passenger in a vehicle involved in an auto accident, contact us today at The Law Place for a chance to talk to one of our accident attorneys in a free consultation.
Florida’s No-Fault Laws
Florida Statute 627.736 states that all drivers must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. This type of insurance will cover and compensate for 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages if you have been involved in a Tampa car accident. The driver of the vehicle you were in will have PIP insurance, which will further cover you as a passenger. However, it is important to note that you can only recover compensation to the limits of the insurance policy. In which case, you may be left with no option but to seek compensation from both of the drivers involved in the Tampa car accident.
In some cases, the insurance company of one of the driver’s may only compensate you for a minor amount of your damages, you will, therefore, be allowed to seek the rest of your damages from the other driver. However, your capabilities to do so will depend on how severe your injuries are and what the insurance limits of each drivers’ insurance policies are. In Florida, the minimum PIP is $10,000, although often medical bills covering your injuries can amount to far greater than that.
These laws can be difficult to understand, so don’t hesitate to contact an accident attorney at The Law Place if you have any questions or queries regarding your Tampa car accident.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Seek Medical Attention After an Accident
If you have been the passenger of a vehicle that was involved in a car accident in Tampa, Florida, you have 14 days once the accident has occurred to seek medical treatment in order for you to make a claim, according to Florida Statute 627.736. Although, at The Law Place, we advise that you seek medical attention as soon after the car accident as possible. This is because we believe that your health is paramount.
Another reason why it is crucial to seek medical attention soon after your accident is because it will ultimately make it easier for a car accident lawyer in Tampa to prove that you sustained your injuries as a result of the car accident. When you are involved in an auto accident, it can often lead your adrenaline to rush, which consequently can disguise the true extent of your injuries. We, therefore, advise that you seek medical attention even if you believe you only have suffered minor injuries and feel okay, it is always better to act on the side of caution.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience What to Do After an Accident
If you are a passenger involved in a car crash, the first thing to do is try not to panic. If you are in urgent need of medical attention, immediately call an ambulance. If you seem okay but want immediate advice, attorneys at The Law Place are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and advise you as best as we can in the situation.
After the car accident has occurred, if safe to do so, it is best if you remain on the scene with the driver and other people involved in the accident until a police presence arrives to take a report of the auto accident. Police reports can play a vital role later on when making a claim for compensation for your injuries in Florida as a result of a car accident.
Additionally, check on the other passengers and drivers to see if you could aid them in any way if they are suffering more serious injuries. We also advise that you take photographs or videos of the vehicle wreck scene, capturing the damage to the vehicles, visible injuries, and debris on the road. Any footage that you collect can be used to strengthen your claim for compensation for the injuries you sustained following the car accident.
Furthermore, if you could collect the contact details of potential witnesses that would aid an accident attorney later on when building your case. The Law Place also advises that you don’t post about the accident on any social media platform as anything you say can be held against you and has the potential to majorly devalue your claim.
Our lawyers in Tampa, Florida, are well experienced in dealing with cases involving car accidents similar to yours. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Claiming Compensation
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries after being involved in a car accident as a passenger of the vehicle, you may be entitled to some compensation. Car accidents can leave its victims with serious injuries resulting in an immense amount of medical bills. After suffering injuries following a car accident in Florida, you should focus all of your efforts on recovering, and should not have to have the burden of medical expenses weighing you down. Our accident lawyers at The Law Place frequently achieve compensation to cover the following for our clients:
- Medical expenses.
- Lost wages.
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of future employment.
- Future medical expenses.
- Permanent damage or disability.
- Wrongful death.
Our law firm is well aware that no amount of money will be able to take away the trauma and suffering you have had to experience as a direct result of being implicated in a car accident. However, we will work with you and help you fight insurance companies to ensure that you get the justice that you deserve. You should not have to suffer because of an accident you had no control over. Call one of our team today in Tampa if you think you could be owed compensation.
What Will a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Do for Me?
By hiring a personal injury lawyer at The Law Place in Florida, you will receive a great deal of help to allow you to understand the accident laws in place. A lawyer will not only be by your side every step of the way; they will guide you through the process and be your advocate.
When you contact us at The Law Place, an attorney will offer you a free consultation. In this meeting, we will simply ask you a few questions in regards to the accident to help build an image in our minds of what we would be working with. After we have spoken, we will give you a completely unbiased and honest opinion on what we believe would be your best options.
Following that conversation, if you decide you would like to be legally represented by one of our attorneys, we will call you into our Tampa office for a more lengthy and detailed conversation. Here we will clearly outline our fee structure and explain everything you need to know. After all of this, if you are happy to proceed, you be asked to sign.
Once you have signed for our services, you can relax! From here on out, we will be dealing with all the necessary paperwork and speaking to all parties involved on your behalf. We will begin to thoroughly investigate your case by approaching witnesses, gathering the police report, and gathering statements from the first responders on the team. By hiring one of our Tampa lawyers, you can be assured that you will have a firm case that can put you in a strong position for negotiations with insurance companies.
Talk to a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash as a passenger of the vehicle, you may be entitled to claim compensation for any of the injuries you have suffered as a direct result. The Law Place in Tampa, FL. has over 75 years of combined experience and has a wealth of experience of winning compensation for those involved in car accidents.
The accident law in Florida can be very difficult to navigate if you have no legal experience. Therefore the best chance of you receiving what you deserve from the drivers involved is to seek the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. If you contact our law firm, our team of lawyers will happily be able to answer any questions or queries you may have in regards to your potential case or accident. We are here for you.
Call us today in Tampa, FL, on 941-444-4444 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
