Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

Auto Accident Lawyers in Tampa, FL

Car accidents are a leading cause of preventable injury in Tampa. Auto accidents on highways and city streets can leave victims struggling with severe trauma, exorbitant medical expenses, and lifelong disability. In many cases, people injured in Tampa-area car accidents can seek compensation to help them pay for medical care and return to living their lives. 

If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a Tampa car accident someone else caused, reach out to a Tampa car accident lawyer as soon as possible. The Holliday Karatinos Law Firm represents Tampa car accident victims in securing that compensation. We have years of experience fighting to get our clients the maximum payment from insurance companies and at-fault parties. Let us help you explore your options after a Tampa crash harms you or someone you love. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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About Our Experienced Car Accident Team

At the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, we have more than 65 years of combined experience securing compensation for Florida car accident victims. Since 2006, our award-winning trial lawyers have obtained more than $125 million in recoveries for injured clients. Many of those settlements and court victories came in car accident cases.

Clients of the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm give our team high marks for our compassion, professionalism, and total commitment to serving their interests. They know from working with us that we have the resources and know-how to get results no matter how big their case or complex their car accident claim.

We are a seasoned team of car accident lawyers that has the resources and ability to handle even the most complicated cases. But we’re also a tight-knit group of legal professionals who put a premium on providing personalized, compassionate client service. We want our clients to know we have their backs through the entire process of physically, emotionally, and financially recovering from a Tampa car accident.

The steps to get our clients the compensation they need to rebound after an accident can vary.

In any given case, we may:

  • Quickly evaluate a new client’s rights and take action to preserve them;
  • Investigate the evidence of a car accident with the help of forensic experts when necessary;
  • Evaluate the scope of our client’s damages, with the assistance of medical and financial experts if appropriate;
  • Take over all communications with insurance companies and accident investigators on our client’s behalf;
  • Promptly answer our client’s questions and patiently explain their options in clear, simple terms;
  • Submit claims to insurance companies that may have liability for our client’s damages;
  • Prepare and file lawsuits against at-fault parties and their insurers;
  • Negotiate settlements of our client’s claims with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers;
  • Take our client’s case to trial in a Tampa-area courtroom;
  • Collect and distribute the funds owed to our client under the terms of a settlement, judgment, or insurance policy.

Clients of the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm do not need to lose sleep over how they will pay for our services. We virtually always take car accident cases on contingency. That means we do not charge upfront or hourly fees. Instead, we collect our fee only from any money we secure for our client. If we don't get results, our client owes us nothing.

Protecting Your Rights After a Tampa Car Accident

We encourage you to contact the Holliday Karatinos team immediately after a Tampa-area car accident. Our team is standing by to help you understand your rights. But until we can connect in a free consultation, following these tips can protect your rights.

Always Seek Medical Attention After a Crash

The worst mistake you can make after a Tampa car accident is to ignore your aches and pains or assume you escaped a crash without injury simply because you feel okay. Some car accident injuries are obvious, but many aren't. Our years of experience have repeatedly confirmed that crash victims cannot reliably diagnose their conditions.

So, ask a qualified medical professional to examine you as soon as possible after getting into a crash, even if you feel okay. A quick visit to your primary care doctor, a walk-in urgent care center, or the emergency room can identify your injuries and treat them before they worsen. It can also protect your legal rights by generating ironclad evidence of your injuries and how they happened.

Never Agree to a Quick Settlement Offer Made Directly to You

Insurance companies know that as a Tampa car accident victim, you may face significant financial strain from medical bills and missing time at work. They may try to take advantage of your difficulty by directly offering you a quick but low-value settlement of your claim. It may feel tempting to take the money, but it’s virtually always a mistake.

A settlement is a binding contract to resolve your car accident claim. Agreeing to a settlement that pays you too little for your injuries can leave you without the funds you need to pay for the costs of your injury and lets the insurer and at-fault party off the hook for a fraction of what they should pay for the harm you suffered.

Do not gamble with your future by agreeing to a quick settlement of your claim. Instead, let a skilled Tampa car accident attorney negotiate with insurers and defense lawyers on your behalf. At the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, we can virtually always secure a better result for our client than the amount of any quick settlement an insurer offers.

Do Not Wait to Pursue Your Rights

Florida law affords you only a limited amount of time to take legal action for a Tampa car accident. In most cases, you have at most two years from the date of your crash to file a claim for damages against at-fault parties and their insurance companies. However, that window can shrink to just a few weeks in some cases, such as if a government entity has liability for your injuries.

If you miss a deadline for pursuing a claim, you could lose your rights and end up with nothing.

We strongly urge you not to let the grass grow under your legal rights. Connecting with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after getting hurt protects you from making a costly and needless mistake.

What Are Common Types of Tampa Car Accidents?

Car accidents can occur in various ways, and the specific circumstances of each accident can impact the injuries sustained and the legal implications. In Tampa, Florida, common types of car accidents include:

  • Rear-End Collisions: These occur when one vehicle strikes the rear of another. They often happen in situations where one vehicle is following too closely or fails to stop in time.
  • T-Bone or Side-Impact Collisions: These accidents happen when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another, forming a "T" shape. Intersections are common locations for T-bone accidents.
  • Head-On Collisions: These accidents occur when the front ends of two vehicles collide. They can be particularly severe, especially at high speeds, and often result in serious injuries or fatalities.
  • Single-Vehicle Accidents: These accidents involve only one vehicle and can include collisions with fixed objects like trees, poles, or barriers. Single-vehicle accidents can result from factors such as driver error, weather conditions, or mechanical failures.
  • Multi-Vehicle Pileups: These accidents involve three or more vehicles and often occur on highways or busy roadways. Chain reactions can be triggered by one initial collision, leading to a complex and dangerous situation.
  • Intersection Accidents: Accidents that occur at intersections can involve various scenarios, including failure to yield, running red lights or stop signs, and confusion over right-of-way.
  • Distracted Driving Accidents: With the increasing use of smartphones and other electronic devices, accidents caused by distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone, have become more prevalent.
  • Drunk Driving Accidents: Accidents involving impaired drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs can lead to serious consequences. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a significant factor in many accidents.
  • Speeding Accidents: Excessive speeding can contribute to accidents by reducing the driver's reaction time and increasing the severity of collisions.
  • Weather-Related Accidents: In Florida, adverse weather conditions like heavy rain, thunderstorms, or hurricanes can contribute to accidents, especially if drivers fail to adjust their driving behavior accordingly.

If you're involved in a car accident in Tampa, it's crucial to seek medical attention promptly and consult a legal professional to understand your rights and options for seeking compensation.

Seeking Compensation for a Tampa Car Accident

Tampa car accident

Florida law generally entitles victims of Tampa car accidents to seek damages from anyone whose wrongful actions caused the crash. The Holliday Karatinos Law Firm team puts its years of experience to work in making sure our injured car accident clients take full advantage of their rights to compensation. We identify all parties who may owe money for our clients’ injuries and strive to secure every last dollar available to help them pay their bills and move on with their lives.

What Damages Can You Obtain for Tampa Car Accident Injuries?

At the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, we also put our know-how to work in evaluating the damages our client has suffered. Our mission is to be able to prove the maximum amount of money our client has the legal right to demand from the parties at-fault for a crash (and their insurance companies).

With our help, you could recover compensation such as:

  • Medical Expenses: This includes compensation for past and future medical bills related to injuries sustained in the accident. It may cover hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and other necessary medical treatments.
  • Lost Wages: If you miss work due to injuries sustained in the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. This can include both current and future earnings that you would have earned if not for the accident.
  • Property Damage: Compensation for damage to your vehicle or other property as a result of the accident. This can cover repair costs or the fair market value of your vehicle if it is deemed a total loss.
  • Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages that compensate you for the physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by the accident. It's more challenging to quantify but takes into account the impact of the injuries on your overall well-being.
  • Emotional Distress: In some cases, you may be eligible for compensation for emotional distress resulting from the accident, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Loss of Consortium: This type of compensation is intended to compensate a spouse for the loss of companionship, assistance, and intimacy due to the injuries suffered by the other spouse in the accident.
  • Wrongful Death Damages: If the accident resulted in a fatality, the family or dependents of the deceased may be eligible for compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and other related damages.
  • Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence or intentional misconduct, the court may award punitive damages to punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior in the future.

Keep in mind that compensation may come from various sources, including the at-fault driver's insurance, your own insurance (depending on your coverage), or through a legal claim or lawsuit. The specific laws and regulations governing compensation can vary by jurisdiction, so it's essential to consult with a car accident lawyer from our firm to understand your rights and options.

Who Owes Damages for a Tampa Car Crash?

Our seasoned attorneys know it's not always obvious who caused a Tampa car accident. That's why we always dig into the details of a crash that injured our client. We aim to identify every party whose poor decisions or dangerous actions contributed to what happened.

Every car accident case differs, but we may find that one or more of the following parties have liability for a Tampa crash:

  • A careless driver who caused an accident by, for example, speeding or failing to yield at an intersection;
  • A driver who crashed while impaired by drugs or alcohol;
  • A party that serves alcohol to an underage or habitually addicted driver who subsequently crashes;
  • A manufacturer of defective automotive parts that contribute to a loss of control behind the wheel; or
  • A government agency or contractor at fault for causing unreasonably hazardous road conditions at the crash site.

These are just a few examples, of course. Your Tampa car accident has unique facts and circumstances. So, to find out who might owe you damages for the injuries you suffered, contact our team today for a free consultation.

Car Accident Wrongful Deaths

Some Tampa car accidents tragically inflict fatal injuries. In those cases, the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm team can often represent a deceased victim’s surviving spouse or family member in pursuing damages against the at-fault party for wrongful death.

We know that money cannot replace a life senselessly cut short. But the funds we can often recover—which may include payment for the loss of the victim’s income, support, guidance, and companionship—can provide a measure of justice and the financial support you and your family need to rebuild after your loss.

We invite you to contact our compassionate lawyers today if you recently lost a loved one in a Tampa-area car accident.

Tampa Car Accidents Take a Heavy Toll

Tens of thousands of car accidents happen in Tampa annually, according to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) data. They occur on major thoroughfares like I-4 and I-275,  in-town intersections, neighborhood streets, and shopping center parking lots. And they happen at all hours, on weekdays and weekends alike.

No matter where and when crashes in Tampa happen, they consistently result in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries every calendar year.

Many crash victims sustain severe or catastrophic trauma that alters the course of their lives, such as:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that cause lasting motor, emotional, or cognitive impairment;
  • Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) that leave victims paralyzed;
  • Facial injuries that result in blindness or disfiguring scars;
  • Crushed or amputated limbs and appendages;
  • Neck, shoulder, and back injuries that cause chronic pain and disability;
  • Painful and debilitating bone fractures or orthopedic injuries;
  • Internal organ damage and life-threatening bleeding;
  • Lacerations, abrasions, burns, and other injuries that risk infection and scarring;
  • The emotional trauma that triggers lasting anxiety, depression, PTSD, or substance abuse.

This isn't even a complete list—at the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, we have represented clients who suffered from various injuries caused by car accidents. We understand that every crash is a unique event that takes a highly personal toll on its victims. Our team listens to our clients and works tirelessly to seek justice and compensation for our clients.

What Should I Do After a Tampa Car Accident?

If you're involved in a car accident in Tampa, it's essential to take certain steps to ensure your safety, the safety of others, and to protect your legal interests. Here's a general guide on what to do after a car accident:

Stay Calm

Take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Avoid getting into arguments or confrontations with other parties involved.

Check for Injuries

Check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately for medical assistance.

Move to a Safe Location

If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road to avoid obstructing traffic and reduce the risk of further accidents.

Call the Police

Regardless of the severity of the accident, it's advisable to call the police. They can document the accident, create an official report, and provide assistance.

Exchange Information

Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, and vehicle details with the other parties involved in the accident.

Document the Scene

Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, license plates, the surrounding area, and any relevant road signs or signals. This documentation can be crucial for insurance claims and legal proceedings.

Get Witness Information

If there are any witnesses, ask for their contact information. Witness statements can be valuable in determining fault.

Do Not Admit Fault

Avoid admitting fault or making statements that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. Stick to the facts when speaking with the other parties, the police, or insurance representatives.

Seek Medical Attention

As mentioned previously, you need to get medical treatment for your injuries, even if you don't think you're seriously injured. Some injuries may not be apparent, and you will need documentation you sustained an injury and received treatment to file a car accident injury claim.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with accurate and detailed information about the incident.

Consult an Attorney

If you're unsure about your rights or if the accident involves significant injuries or damages, consider consulting with a personal injury attorney. They can help guide you through the legal process.Remember that laws and procedures may vary, so it's essential to be aware of local regulations. Following these steps can help ensure a smoother process when dealing with insurance claims and potential legal actions after a car accident.

Contact Our Experienced Tampa Car Accident Lawyers Today

Jim Holliday florida
Jim Holliday, Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

A Tampa car accident can throw your life into disarray. But with the help of our experienced car accident attorneys, you can secure financial support to piece things back together. If, that is, you act quickly to protect your rights.

The experienced car accident lawyers at the Holliday Karatinos law firm want to help you explore your options for pursuing damages after a Tampa car accident. Our team understands your difficulties and knows how to plot a path forward. Contact Holliday Karatinos Law Firm today at (813) 868-1887 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable legal professional who can answer any questions you may have.

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