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Auto Accident

How an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing car accident victims throughout Tampa and the surrounding areas. We will be by your side every step of the way during the claims process, offering our legal advocacy and services, including:

Handling all steps necessary for you to get compensation
Experience with different types of car accident claims
Talking to the insurance companies and making an insurance claim on your behalf
Settlement negotiations and sharing honest advice about whether to accept an offer
Preparing legal documents and filing your claim
In-depth knowledge of Florida car accident laws to ensure your claim is complete
Building evidence and pursuing your claim aggressively
Working to settle your case for the maximum settlement or present it at trial
Helping you understand your damages and what your claim is worth
Compassionate support for you and your family throughout the process

What To Look For in a Car Accident Lawyer

Not all car accident attorneys are the same. The outcome of your case rests on working with an attorney who is skilled in their craft, knows the right questions to ask, and can fight for your rights; especially when negotiating with insurance companies and the legal teams of other parties involved.

When looking for the right car accident lawyer, there are certain factors you should consider:

Look for an attorney who has a proven track record
Work with an attorney who has experience working with car accidents similar to the one you have experienced
Responsiveness and willingness to keep an open line of communication

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

No Fee Until We Win

At Hughes Law Group, our lawyers work on contingency, meaning we don’t get paid until we win your case. This allows you to focus fully on recovery without having to deal with the financial obstacles of filing a personal injury claim.

Who Pays for My Medical Bills and Damages After a Car Accident?

The first avenue will always be your car insurance provider. If you have to turn to your health insurance to cover additional medical expenses, you may be able to recover those costs by filing a claim through the car insurance company of the other driver.

Our Tampa car accident lawyers represent you throughout the entire claims process. Let us negotiate directly with the insurance company and file a legal claim if it is necessary for you to receive the compensation that you deserve.

Florida’s Insurance Requirements

Florida’s car accident laws, found in Florida Statutes § 627.737, require anyone registering a four-wheeled vehicle in Florida to show proof of personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance.

All drivers are required to carry:

A minimum of $10,000 per accident in personal injury protection (PIP)
A minimum of $10,000 per accident in property damage liability (PDL)

Drivers have the option to purchase additional insurance coverage, including higher PIP and PDL coverage, gap insurance, and uninsured motorist coverage.

Additionally, Florida’sDepartment of Highway Safety and Motor vehicles (FLHSMV) outlines the following:

Vehicles that are registered as taxis must carry bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage of $125,000 per person, $250,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 for (PDL) coverage
Drivers must have continuous coverage even if their vehicle is not being driven or is inoperable. If a driver needs to cancel their insurance, they must surrender the license plate or tags before they do so.
All insurance coverage must be purchased from an insurance provider that is licensed to do business in the state of Florida. Drivers who have just moved to the state may be able to transfer their insurance coverage. Speak with your auto insurance provider to learn more.

File a Civil Lawsuit Against the At-Fault Driver

If your injuries are severe, cause permanent damage, or exceed your insurance coverage, you may be able to pursue additional compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, their employers, or other negligent parties that could be held responsible for the accident.

Proving Negligence After a Car Accident in Tampa, Florida

If you were injured in a car accident in Tampa, it is not enough to blame the other driver. To prove your case, you must show that the other driver was negligent in their actions. Negligence is a legal concept that is made up of four elements. For negligence to exist, these four elements must be proven:

Duty of Care: All drivers have a duty to drive safely and reasonably to protect other drivers on the road
Breach of Duty: If a driver violates their duty of care, this is known as a breach of duty
Causation: Causation is the legal concept that a person’s actions are what led to the event that caused the injury. Causation is one of the most difficult elements of negligence to prove.
Damages: Finally, for a victim to pursue legal action, they must show that they suffered damages as a result of another driver’s negligence

Understanding Florida’s Comparative Negligence Law

Florida’s new bill, signed into law in 2023, applies comparative negligence law when determining how liability is divided if both parties are found to be at fault for a car accident Under modified comparative negligence, if a driver is found 40% responsible for causing the accident, they may be able to recover 60% of their total damages.

Under this new bill, if a driver is found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident, they are barred from recovering damages. The only exception to this law is instances of medical malpractice.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Car Accident Injuries?

Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that the law requires all drivers to maintain personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage insurance in minimum amounts. When an accident happens, most car accident claims go through the driver’s own insurance regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

Even though no-fault laws apply in Tampa, third-party claims are still available in cases of serious or permanent injury, also known as catastrophic injury.

Third-party claims can be filed against:

Government agencies — these agencies can be held responsible for poorly designed or maintained roads
Car and auto part manufacturers, if there are vehicle defects or recalls that lead to an accident
Employers can be held responsible if one of their drivers acts negligently
Owners of the vehicles that caused the accident can also be held liable despite the state’s no-fault laws

Can Multiple Parties Be Held Accountable for My Car Accident Injuries?

Yes. There may be multiple parties that can be held accountable for your car accident injury. The circumstances of your case will determine who can be held liable, and an experienced personal injury attorney will help you explore all avenues of liability.

Some of the most common cases where liability is shared include accidents involving semi-trucks and commercial vehicles. The employer and any other third parties, like a driver training school, can be held liable for the car accident. Hughes Law Group can help you explore all your legal options when determining liability.

How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Claim?

A statute of limitations is an individual’s time frame to take legal action against liable parties. In Florida, the statute of limitations for a car accident is two years. This means a victim has two years from the accident date to take legal action against the other driver. Waiting beyond the statute of limitations could bar you from recovering the compensation you may be entitled to.

What To Do After a Car Accident

It’s important to know what to do after a car accident. Not only does this ensure you get the medical attention you need, but taking the right steps after a car accident allows you to collect critical evidence that will help you build your case.

After a car accident in Florida, it’s important to do the following:

Get to safety: Get to safety immediately after the accident. If you can, move your vehicle out of the roadway to keep other drivers safe as well.
Call for help: You should always call 911 for help, especially if the car accident has resulted in injuries for you or other drivers
Render aid/seek medical attention: If you are able to do so, render medical aid to others injured on the scene. If you are also injured, be sure to accept medical assistance from the responding medical teams.
Document the scene: Take photos of the accident site, the damage, and your injuries. Photos can help you establish credibility and evidence when you pursue a claim against your insurance, the other driver’s insurance, or other parties through a civil lawsuit.
Gather witness information: Collect statements from others who witnessed the car accident. Witnesses can also establish credibility to your claim, strengthening your case.
Follow up on all medical advice appointments: Keep up with your medical appointments and treatment. This allows you to establish a strong case of the injuries you have suffered as a result of the car accident.
Document your expenses: As you go to the doctor and receive medical treatment or therapy for your injuries, keep a running cost of your expenses. An itemized list of the financial toll the accident has taken on you can help you establish a strong claim.
Consult a Tampa car accident lawyer: Finally, seek the guidance of an experienced car accident attorney. An experienced attorney will help you analyze your case, determine liable pirates, and help you recover the damages you may be entitled to.