What Can I Recover After a Car Accident in Tampa?

What you can recover after a car accident in Tampa will depend on the circumstances of your accident. Drivers receive varying amounts of compensation depending upon the facts of their case, their injuries, property damage and other losses.

A car accident lawyer can explain the possibilities for compensation available to you.

What Types of Economic Damages are Recoverable for Car Accidents?

Drivers throughout Florida have the chance to secure economic damages following a collision. The state of Florida also uses the term “special” damages to refer to economic losses. Economic damages cover the direct monetary losses you sustained due to a car accident.

Healthcare Expenses

Healthcare expenses represent the most significant concern for many drivers after an accident. A motor vehicle collision could quickly leave you dealing with expenses for:

  • Emergency medical care
  • Surgeries and other procedures
  • A stay in the hospital
  • Physical therapy and medications

Medical care often costs a significant amount throughout the state, leading to very high healthcare bills, even with insurance.

Property Damage Expenses

Motor vehicle collisions often cause damage to your vehicle. You may need to pay the repair shop to fix the damage. In other situations, your car could end up totaled in a rear-end, head-on, or side-impact collision.

Lost Wages or Earning Potential

Many drivers need to take time off work after a car accident to recover from their injuries. Unfortunately, in some cases, accidents leave you with lasting disabilities that make it impossible to return to your previous job. In this situation, you could get compensation for your lost earning potential.

What Do Non-Economic Damages Include?

Drivers can also receive non-economic damages following a car accident in Tampa. Non-economic damages do not have a set dollar value. Instead, they provide you with compensation for things like your:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish (including feelings of fear or depression)
  • Inconvenience

You may also receive non-economic damages if you experience a disfigurement or disability resulting from the accident. A car accident attorney can discuss the details of your situation with you. We focus on reviewing how the collision affected your health and wellbeing.

Can I Pursue Punitive Damages Against the At-fault Driver?

Some drivers receive punitive damages after a collision in Florida. The court system uses these damages to punish the driver who caused the accident. Generally, judges only award punitive damages if the other driver acted in a malicious way.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

To get compensation for your losses after a car accident in Tampa, it’s essential to take the proper steps. First, in the immediate aftermath of the collision, make sure that you:

  • Contact the police and report the accident
  • Get pictures of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle
  • Collect contact information from the other driver and any witnesses

If you suffered an injury in the collision, make sure that you get medical attention right away. You may need to contact an ambulance in some situations. In other cases, you can drive yourself to the hospital for help.

Furthermore, you may want to reach out to a car accident lawyer for help. Lawyers provide you with immediate support, answer your questions, and help you deal with insurance agents.

Additionally, you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim before the statute of limitations expires in Florida. According to Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), you must file your personal injury claim within two years of the accident.

How Will a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me with My Case?

Getting compensation after an accident may require your lawyer to show that someone else caused your accident. According to the Florida Crash Dashboard, there were over 340,000 accidents in Florida in 2020. Someone caused each of these collisions.

A car accident attorney can review your situation to go over the causes of the accident. For example, drivers often cause accidents when they:

  • Drive while fatigued
  • Drink alcohol or do drugs before driving
  • Get distracted by their phone or another electronic device

Drivers may swerve between lanes, run red lights, or ignore stop signs, leading to significant collisions. We also see rollover accidents when drivers operate their vehicles at a speed unsafe for conditions.

A lawyer can review the facts about your case to determine who caused the collision. They may go over police reports, interview witnesses, or work with accident reconstruction experts to better understand what happened.

Get Help Recovering Compensation After a Car Accident in Tampa

What can you recover after a car accident in Tampa? Your exact compensation often depends on the facts about your collision and the losses incurred. Distasio Law Firm can provide you with legal representation and personal support after your accident.

You can reach out to us to learn more by calling (813) 259-0022.

OUR OFFICES

Our main office is here in Downtown Tampa, Florida in the Channelside neighborhood. Office in Wesley Chapel and Largo are available by appointment only.

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