Search
Free Consultation
(813) 639-8111
How to Win Your Tampa Car Accident Case
How to Win Your Tampa Car Accident Case

How to Win Your Tampa Car Accident Case

  • Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers has over six decades of experience helping injured people. We have a proven track record of success for our clients. Our law firm has been around for a long time because we get great results and donโ€™t take advantage of people.
  • Our lawyers are featured in The Best Lawyers of America 2024 Edition for Personal Injury, it is an honor that reflects our excellence in the field. This recognition is based on a rigorous peer-review survey, where leading attorneys evaluate the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. Other lawyers in the field confirm our reputation for delivering outstanding legal representation to our clients.
  • Our personal injury lawyers have achieved a 10.0 AVVO rating, the highest possible score, this signifies our attorneys’ substantial experience and successful track record. This rating considers various factors, including years of practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements, and peer endorsements. Attorneys with a history of winning complex, high-stakes cases are more likely to achieve this rating, which serves as a benchmark of excellence and reliability in the legal profession.
  • Our Personal Injury lawyers have been selected to be on the Florida Super Lawyers 2024 list. Super Lawyers is an exclusive list that honors less than 5 percent of attorneys in the entire state of Florida. Super Lawyers is a research-driven and peer-conducted rating system that is part of Thomson Reuters. Only the most outstanding lawyers with substantial professional achievements are chosen by their peers to represent Super Lawyers. With their patented multiphase selection process, this honor reinforces our lawyers’ high standings both with the clients we work with and the legal community as a whole.
  • Our attorneys are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum which is one of the most prestigious acknowledgments a trial attorney can receive. Less than 1% of attorneys in the United States are members of this elite group, which is reserved for those who have won million-dollar or multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. This exclusive membership demonstrates our lawyers’ exceptional skill and success in handling significant personal injury cases.
  • Our firm has been recognized as โ€˜Best Law Firmโ€™ and โ€˜Best in Personal Injury Lawโ€™ by the Tampa Bay Timesโ€™ Best of the Best Peopleโ€™s Choice Award. Our firm has been the recipient of the Tampa Bay Timesโ€™ Best of the Best Peopleโ€™s Choice Award consecutively over the last five years. This award is a community voting based contest that chooses the best businesses, companies and services in Tampa Bay. Every year, the Tampa community members cast over 135,000 votes to choose the top businesses in the area. We are honored to have our efforts in Personal Injury law be recognized by the people of Tampa Bay.
  • Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers stands out due to our commitment to client success and our extensive expertise in personal injury law. Our attorneys have consistently secured favorable outcomes for clients, earning reputations for diligence, compassion, and legal acumen. Simply put, they are the toughest around, but also fair. Our firm is dedicated to providing personalized service, ensuring that each client receives the attention and support they deserve throughout their legal journey. You can count on Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers to have your back.

Were you injured in a car accident case that was not your fault? If so, you have the right to file a claim for damages. You can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages (like pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.). But in order to win a car accident case, you need a good strategy.

More importantly, you need an expert Tampa car accident lawyer who has a winning track record. Theyโ€™ll know the ins and outs of best practices and how to win your car accident case. Not just win, but get you the fair and full amount you deserve.

Here are some tips from experienced lawyers on how to win your Tampa accident case.

Call the Police Right Away

If youโ€™re reading this article, youโ€™ve probably been in a car accident already. The great news for you is that it’s not too late to file a police report, or an official accident report. You can even do it online.

Just because you didnโ€™t call the police at the scene of the accident, it doesnโ€™t mean your case is a lost cause. That said, you do want to call them as soon as you can after the accident, even better if you call them at the scene.

The police will come to the accident scene and file the report there, rather than having to do it later. They include all accident details such as

  • If any parties received a traffic violation citation
  • Crash details
  • The officerโ€™s statement about the accident (usually their subjective opinion)

Youโ€™ll need this report as evidence for your case so make sure to call the police to the scene, or file a report yourself. You can obtain a police report online here.

Make Sure to Get Medical Attention As Soon as You Can

The best practice for medical care regarding car accident injuries is getting it ASAP. While you donโ€™t need to take an ambulance to the hospital, you do need to make sure you donโ€™t have any serious injuries that could worsen without medical intervention.

Something important to understand is that a chaotic and unexpected event like a car accident invokes adrenaline and shock. That state of shock can โ€œmaskโ€ your pain, and you may not know how badly youโ€™re injured until that adrenaline wears off.

You could also have an injury that doesnโ€™t seem extreme at first, but worsens over time. You can prevent problems in your case arising later by getting a medical examination right away. Even if you think you only have a minor injury, itโ€™s best to get a medical professional assess your injuries to give you a correct diagnosis.

If you wait too long to get medical attention, this could harm your case. Medical records that reflect a temporal connection to the accident will make your evidence more credible. This could look like an instance where the insurance company counters your claim by arguing that your injuries arenโ€™t related to the accident because the medical record timestamp is disconnected to the accident date.

To build a strong case and maximize your odds of winning, do not delay medical care. And be sure to keep a record of all medical documentation related to the accident.

See Related: Getting Medical Attention After an Auto Accident Injury in Tampa

Speak to Your Attorney Before any Communications with Insurance Companies

Most insurance companies require policyholders to report accidents immediately. While you need to notify them immediately, this doesnโ€™t mean you need to speak with them right away. Or at least until after speaking to a knowledgeable Tampa car accident lawyer.

Insurance companies arenโ€™t really on your side. While they may insure you with a policy, after an accident, their main objective is to preserve their assets. What does that mean for you? you โ€˜ll be dealing with insurance adjusters.

Insurance adjusters are company representatives who get assigned to evaluate your case. Their job is to investigate the case and come up with an offer or deny your claim. They may come off as friendly, but what they really want is to find information to discredit you or lessen your claim value. If you speak to them right after the accident, youโ€™ll still be in a state of alarm or shock. This could lead to accidentally saying things you wouldnโ€™t normally say or oversharing. You might also not know the full extent of your injuries yet.

Tips for Dealing with Insurance Adjusters

  • Never admit fault or say anything that might insinuate guilty feelings (donโ€™t apologize or say you feel bad for what happened)
  • Stick to the facts
  • Donโ€™t sign anything – you have no legal obligation
  • Donโ€™t give a recorded statement

Key takeaway: report the accident to your insurance company immediately, but talk to a lawyer before any communications with insurance. You donโ€™t have any legal obligation to notify the other partyโ€™s insurance company, so donโ€™t. They will do more to find evidence that works against your case. Let your attorney handle communications with the other partyโ€™s insurance for you.

Find a Good Lawyer with a Proven Track Record

This might be the single most important step in working strategically to win your case. The legal quality of representation you hire can make or break your case. If you want a great outcome, you need a great lawyer.

Insurance companies also regard lawyers with more prestige and respect, since they know the process. They will treat an attorney differently than they will treat you. Having a good lawyer will make your life easier by giving you time to focus on recovering and remove the stress of talking to insurance companies.

Once you find a good lawyer, they will handle communications on your behalf. Then, they will act as a liaison and keep you informed, explain your options, investigate your case, and give smart legal advice. Lawyers who really care about their clients will fight relentlessly to win a desirable settlement.

Bottom line: hire an expert attorney who can handle the legal process for you so you have less stress and a better chance at winning your case.

The Initial Settlement Offer Is Usually Too Low. Donโ€™t Accept it Right Off the Bat

Insurance companies want to keep their money. That means they have an inherent incentive to pay you the least amount possible. They use tactics like knowingly offering an initial settlement that is too low. Donโ€™t accept it. Theyโ€™ll make a quick offer on purpose so they can try to pull at your emotional strings rather than giving you time to explore options and build a strong case.

Be patient and donโ€™t rush or get jaded by the โ€œinstant gratificationโ€ they offer you. While a quick payout seems like exactly what you need, why take it when a lawyer can get you a better offer?

If you want to really work strategically and win your case, know that it can be a timely process for your attorney to negotiate a fair settlement.

If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, your attorney may suggest taking your case to court. In this case, you could potentially win much more in damage compensation than from an insurance settlement.

Try to Limit Social Media Posts While your Case is Pending

This one can be hard for some to stick to, but itโ€™s a very important one. The other party and their lawyers can easily see whatever you post on social media. They will then use whatever you post or share and manipulate it to work for their defense strategy.

They will actively look for anything you share that suggests your injuries arenโ€™t as bad as you claim. Or they might even try to claim that your injury is an outright lie. If you claim that you have a serious injury but then go and post a picture of yourself on a camping trip, theyโ€™ll question the validity and extent of your injury claim.

Key takeaway: try to limit social media posts, or stop using them for the duration of your legal claims process.

A Last Note: There is a Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Claim

In Tampa, there is a โ€œstatute of limitationsโ€ that gives you a limited amount of time to file and resolve your claim. Hence, donโ€™t wait to hire an attorney, or at least schedule consultation. Most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation.

Contact a Skilled Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Today if you Want to Win Your Car Accident Case

If you want to win your Tampa car accident case, you need to take it seriously and follow the necessary steps. Hiring a skilled lawyer can be the best thing you do to strengthen your odds of winning.

Call us today for a free initial consultation.

Sharing is Caring....
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email
Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers
Free Consultation