Car accidents are incredibly common here in the state of Florida. A Tampa car accident lawyer can fight for the compensation you deserve and need if you are someone who’s been injured in a car accident due to no fault of your own. The car accident statistics here in the United States are harrowing.
To start, every year, there are about six million car accidents. Of those six million accidents, roughly three million people are injured. Unfortunately, as you know, most of these accidents were preventable, which means thousands of people are wrongfully injured in car accidents every single year. An even more harrowing statistic regarding car accidents here in the United States is that roughly 6% of all car accidents result in fatalities. This is unacceptable, and if you or a loved one has sustained a serious injury in a car accident, it is critical that you contact Merricks Law Group so we can work to obtain your rightful compensation today.
Why Hire a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, don’t hire just any attorney; hire an attorney who understands that your health and recovery is of paramount importance. Our Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer understands and respects your right to a swift recovery, and our firm is ready to help you through every step of the claims process ahead.
Types of Car Accidents
Unfortunately, there are many different types of car accidents, though most of them are preventable. Some of the most common types of car accidents that our Tampa car accident lawyer sees are as follows:
- Rear-end Collisions: These collisions often occur when one motorist tails the other motorist in front of them. When people are distracted or otherwise do not allot the sufficient amount of time to brake, when the motorist in front stops, the tailing motorist may rear-end the other driver. The rear-ending driver is almost always at-fault.
- Head-on Collisions: These are often the most deadly types of auto accidents, and if you’ve been hurt because a motorist was driving on the wrong side of the road or going the wrong way down a one-way street, you will most likely qualify for compensation.
- T-Bone Crashes: This is when a motorist is driving straight through a yellow light while another motorist moving in the opposite direction makes a left turn and crashes.
What to do After Being Involved in a Car Accident
If you are injured in a car accident, as long as you are physically capable, it is critical that you take several steps to bolster your chances of winning a future personal injury claim. Those steps are as follows:
- Call the police. The police will send an ambulance in your direction, and once the police arrive, they will write up a police report. This will document the facts of your accident.
- Ask the other driver for his or her insurance information.
- Ask anyone who saw your accident happen for their name, phone number, and email address.
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident, including any damage to your car, as well as any damage to the other motorist’s vehicle.
- Once you are treated at the hospital, ensure that your doctor provides you with medical documentation concerning your injuries, as well as a copy of any medical bills you’ve incurred as a result of your injuries.
- Hire a knowledgeable Tampa car accident lawyer who can work to uncover all additional evidence you may need to prove your personal injury claim.
After Filing Your Car Accident Claim
After you file your car accident claim, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that the other party’s insurance company will most likely be monitoring your social media accounts to see if anything you post contradicts your claim. For example, if you post a picture or video of you running a marathon, they may use that picture/video to “prove” that you do not qualify for compensation, even if they have to take the post out of context. Though this may seem unfair, the truth is, insurance companies are businesses, and unfortunately, they often care more about their bottom line than anything else. This is why it is generally best to avoid posting on social media entirely until your personal injury claim is resolved.
Recoverable Damages in a Car Accident
If you have been seriously injured in a Tampa car accident, you may be considering a lawsuit against the negligent party. If your car accident case is successful, you may be able to recover significant compensation for the burdens that you have faced as a result of the accident. Some of the damages that you may be able to recover with the help of a Tampa car accident attorney include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
If you are a car accident victim in Tampa, FL, contact Merricks Law Group today for a free consultation.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in Florida
As you know, there is a statute of limitations in place for filing personal injury claims in the state of Florida. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Florida is, in most cases, two years, meaning that you must file your personal injury claim within two years of the date of your accident. That being said, the sooner you file your claim, the better, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to prove that your injuries truly occurred as a result of your accident. The bottom line is that you should not put off filing your claim–simply speak with an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer with Merricks Law Group today. Our firm is always here to help.
Contact Our Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, do not stand idly by and hope that your injury heals on its own. Our firm has helped countless individuals in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and throughout the state of Florida for years, and we are ready to provide you with the experienced legal assistance you deserve and need as well. If you have any additional questions or you are ready to get started, contact Merricks Law Group to schedule your initial consultation.
