The value of a Tampa car accident case depends on several factors. These include your damages, the severity of your injuries, and your profession. More severe injuries generally result in higher costs, and if you held a high-paying job at the time of the accident, you might recover a greater amount for lost wages.
Your ability to return to work also plays a role; if your injuries prevent you from working or force you to take a lower-paying job, the difference in earnings can be compensable. Additionally, the pain and suffering you experience is taken into account, with more painful injuries often leading to higher compensation.
A Tampa personal injury lawyer can explore the types of losses that can be recovered in a personal injury lawsuit and how to build a strong case to maximize your compensation.
Determining Compensation for a Tampa Car Accident Case
Car accidents can upend your life. In addition to the trauma of the accident and the physical pain of injuries, medical bills and lost wages can quickly lead to financial instability. Compensation for your losses can help you recover financially, so you can focus on recovery rather than worrying about bills. Recoverable damages could include:
- Medical Expenses: This includes costs like a visit to the emergency room, follow-up appointments with your doctor, surgeries, diagnostics like x-rays and MRIs, prescriptions for pain management, and more.
- Lost Wages: If you have to miss work due to your injuries and medical appointments, then this may be included in compensation.
- Lowered Earning Potential: Some injuries may mean that you can no longer perform your job, and may either have to leave work or take on a lesser-paying role.
- Pain and Suffering: The trauma of a car accident and its aftermath can have a huge effect on your life going forward. Pain and suffering covers the non-economic damages of your accident.
To receive compensation, you will also have to prove that someone else was liable for your accident. A Tampa car accident lawyer from our team can gather evidence to prove liability for your case.
Florida’s No Fault Insurance Laws and How They Impact You
Florida is a “no-fault” state which means that every driver is required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) if they register a vehicle in the state. PIP is the first layer of financial protection that you have after an accident as it will cover your injuries no matter who was at-fault in your accident, but it only covers a portion of your bills.
Florida law requires drivers to have a minimum of $10,000 in PIP. However, there are stipulations over what it covers and how much it covers. For example, PIP covers up to 80% of your medical expenses (up to the $10,000 limit). However, if your injuries are not considered a “medical emergency,” your PIP policy will only cover up to $2,500.
If another party caused or contributed to your accident, you can hold them liable through an injury claim or lawsuit. This would allow you to recover compensation for all of your financial and non-financial losses.
Economic and Non-Economic Losses
While your economic losses are somewhat more straightforward, such as medical costs, recovering compensation for your non-economic losses is also important. Two types of losses that you may receive compensation for are:
- Economic: These are financial losses and can include aspects like medical bills, lost wages, future expected medical bills (such as recurring physical therapy appointments as part of your treatment plan), and even mileage to and from appointments.
- Non-Economic: These are losses that are not financial, but are tied to your emotional and mental well-being after the accident. Included here are aspects such as scarring or disfigurement, depression, anxiety, PTSD, loss of the ability to take part in hobbies you once enjoyed, and more.
A lawyer from our firm will examine all aspects of your losses to account for a complete picture of your post-accident life and offer you guidance on any settlement offer that you receive.
Building the Strongest Case for Fair Compensation
To receive a full and fair settlement, it’s essential to prove that someone else was the cause of your accident. Our Tampa car accident lawyers will do this by gathering evidence that shows liability.
Your lawyer may look for:
- Surveillance Footage: Both traffic cameras and security cameras on businesses can prove extremely helpful. Video footage is an unbiased witness to the accident and can show exactly what happened.
- Eyewitness Statements: Drivers or passengers in non-involved cars or bystanders near the accident can offer an unbiased account of what occurred.
- Accident Scene Evidence: In addition to photographs of the accident, and the area where it took place, there may also be physical evidence present that can be helpful for analyzing how the crash happened.
- Expert Witnesses: Accident reconstructionists and highway safety experts are two types of expert witnesses that are sometimes used in car accident cases. They can help explain how an accident probably occurred through their analysis of the evidence.
- Medical Records: Medical records can help point to the potential causes of a vehicle, such as impact location, as well as to help prove the severity of an accident.
It’s crucial to get started as soon as possible to gather evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
Another reason to act fast is the Florida statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. In Florida, you typically only have two years from the date of your accident to pursue a lawsuit. A car accident lawyer can ensure that you meet all deadlines, and that any paperwork has been filed correctly.
What Should You Do After an Accident to Help Make the Strongest Case?
After an accident, focusing on your recovery is key. However, there are a few things you can do and avoid doing to help make a strong case for compensation.
Seek medical care. Documenting your injuries is essential for receiving compensation for those injuries.
Contact a car accident lawyer. A car accident lawyer will gather evidence to build a strong case, ensure that you file within any deadlines, communicate with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you at trial.
Learn More About What Your Tampa Car Accident Case Could Be Worth By Working With Our Team
The Tampa car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine are here to help you recover compensation after your car accident. If the financial pressures of your accident are weighing on you, you may be worried about how you will afford legal help. Our lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you will owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
We Can Help.
