Personal Injury Law in Tampa, FL

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Tampa? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Tampa, FL can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Tampa relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Tampa, FL

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

  • Car Accidents
  • Slip and Fall
  • Dog Bites
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Tampa 

The Florida Department of Health reports that falls caused the most injuries in Hillsborough County in 2019. In fact, unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death for all Floridians between the ages of 1 to 44. This includes the greater Tampa area. The Department of Health also has data that shows anyone living in the state suffered injuries 12.57% more often than the rest of the country.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Tampa, FL

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Florida

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

Most cases that arrive in front of a judge in Tampa will settle instead of going to trial. Depending on your attorney’s advice, an unsuccessful mediation process could result in a judge and jury having the final word.

Florida Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

The damages awarded are based on the case, but you can set some expectations by understanding the expenses. The National Safety Council places the average economic cost of a disabling motor vehicle crash as $98,400 in 2019. Your lawsuit in Tampa may include punitive damages or compensation for pain and suffering as well, but that depends on the situation.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in FL, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Florida

If your Florida personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Florida law sets the maximum amount for punitive awards at $500,000 for personal injury cases. With that established, it’s also crucial to know that compensatory damages do not have limitations in a Tampa courtroom.

Statute of Limitations in Tampa, FL Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

The Florida Legislature passed statutes that give Tampa locals up to four years to sue for a personal injury. While that’s the general rule, exceptions do apply that an attorney can help determine.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Tampa, FL Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Tampa against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Florida state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

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