Florida’s no-fault system gives all drivers, regardless of fault, the ability to recover injury compensation from their insurers. While this system provides universal benefits to those who buy policies, these benefits are not generous. When victims suffer serious injuries, the no-fault system has exceptions that allow accident victims to pursue claims against at-fault drivers.
After a car accident in Tampa, FL, you could face expenses for medical treatment, physical therapy, and medication. You may also lose significant income due to missed work days. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers helps you by analyzing common car accident causes & determining fault for your injury claim. Contact us today at (813) 223-6200.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover Damages After a Car Accident in Tampa, FL
Founded in 2001, Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping injured people in Tampa, Florida, seek just compensation after someone else injures them. A Tampa car crash accident lawyer have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our injured clients.
When you suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, our personal injury law firm provides the following services:
- A free consultation to analyze your case and outline your legal options
- Preparation of your insurance claim and negotiation with the insurer for a settlement
- Litigation against at-fault drivers and insurers that refuse to offer fair settlement terms
A car accident can cause long-term disabilities that leave you unable to earn a living to pay for necessary medical treatment and therapy. Contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your car accident injuries and the compensation we can seek for them.
How Many People Are Injured or Killed in Collisions?
The state does not provide crash statistics for individual cities on the Florida Crash Dashboard. Since the Tampa metropolitan area covers Hillsborough County, you can use these statistics to estimate the number of collisions for the entire metro. In 2022, Hillsborough County had 28,360 traffic crashes. These included:
- 657 pedestrian accidents
- 476 bicycle accidents
- 27,227 car accidents
Car accidents in the Tampa metro area caused:
- 149 fatal injuries
- 18,273 non-fatal injuries
These numbers give only a partial picture. The 27,227 car accidents in 2023 include both single-vehicle accidents and multi-vehicle collisions. Using data from the Florida Crash Facts report, you can calculate the following numbers for 2022:
- 47% of the fatalities in 2023 involved multi-vehicle collisions
- 83% of the injuries in 2023 occurred in multi-vehicle crashes
Using these numbers, you can estimate multi-vehicle collisions in the Tampa metro area caused approximately:
- 70 fatalities
- 15,100 injuries
Not all of these crash victims had a fault-based claim. Many of those injured had only minor injuries that did not result in more than $10,000 in losses or meet the definition of a significant, permanent injury. As a result, lawyers and insurers never examined the fault for these crashes.
Common Crash Scenarios in Tampa
Fault usually depends on negligence law. Negligence requires proof of four elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Damages
- Causation
All drivers owe a duty of care to other road users. They breach this duty when they fail to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. This breach can happen when drivers violate traffic laws. For example, a driver who runs a stop sign bears the liability for any resulting crash.
Breaches also occur when drivers do something legal but unreasonably hazardous. Thus, Florida does not specifically prohibit putting on makeup while driving, but a reasonably prudent person would probably find it unreasonably risky to do so.
There are some common crash scenarios, and negligence law applies to each differently.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes happen when drivers slam into the back bumpers of the vehicles in front of them. In the front car, the occupants whip backward into their seats, then rebound forward. In the rear car, the occupants jerk forward into their seat belts and fall back into their seats.
Rear-end collisions have a variety of causes, including:
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Brake-checking
- Cutting off another vehicle
The liability for these crashes almost always falls on the driver of the rear vehicle. They have a legal duty to follow at a safe distance. When they do not, they bear the fault. The liability can also fall on the driver of the front vehicle, particularly if they leave too little space when changing lanes.
Left-Turn Crashes
One of the most common crash scenarios happens when a driver making a left turn crosses the path of an approaching vehicle. Some causes of these crashes include:
- Distractions
- Impatience
- Misjudging the speed or distance of the approaching vehicle
The fault for these crashes typically falls on the driver making the turn. They must yield the right of way until traffic in the intersection clears.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Tampa Car Accident Lawyers
Liability depends on fault. Contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss the liability for your crash and how we can help you pursue financial compensation under Florida law for the accident-related injuries you suffered.
