Car Accident Attorney in Tampa, FL
A car accident is a terrifying experience that can affect your life for months or years to come. You may be left with a debilitating injury and medical bills that you are unable to pay because you can’t work. This can be incredibly frustrating if another person caused your crash.
Our car accident lawyers in Tampa can help you explore your options for compensation and fight for what you deserve.
See what our personal injury attorneys from Meldon Law can do for you.
What We’ll Do for You After a Car Crash
We Won’t Back Down.
For over 50 years, Meldon Law has fought relentlessly for people injured in car accidents, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. We fight tooth and nail, because to us, this isn’t just a job — it’s our calling.
We Fight Relentlessly for Your Rights
We:
- Take on your fight with the same determination we’d have if it were our own
- Stand up to insurance companies that try to pay you less than you deserve
- Be the force to be reckoned with, both inside and outside the courtroom that your case needs
Put Skill, Experience, and Knowledge to Work
We:
- Leverage over five decades of proven results and legal experience
- Use our in-depth understanding of Florida’s accident laws to prove negligence and determine liability in your case
- Build the strongest case possible, from accident reconstruction to expert testimony
Get the Compensation You Deserve – Talk to a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Now!
Call UsGive You Personal, Compassionate Attention
We:
- Limit our caseload so you get the attention you deserve
- Keep you informed at every stage so you understand the process and feel confident in your case
- Visit you where you need us, whether that’s in your home, the hospital, or one of our offices
Stand Beside You, as Part of the Community
We are dedicated to our Florida community, fighting for our friends and neighbors in Tampa and across the state. We are proud to support what matters in our communities, from local events to the Meldon Law Cares initiative, the Veterans Making a Difference program, and the Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. And this community involvement is what sets us apart throughout Florida. We’re Trusted by the Florida Gators—and Floridians Everywhere.
Serve You in the Language You Prefer
Our bilingual team ensures we can communicate with you in the language you’re most comfortable using.
Live by the MELDON CARES Promise
The Meldon Law team truly CARES about our clients.
C — Compassion
A — Accountability
R — Reliability
E — Excellence
S — Success-Driven
We serve clients with compassion and integrity, never rushing cases for the lowest settlement. Your well-being is at the center of everything we do.
We Simplify Recovering Compensation for a Tampa Car Crash
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that you turn to your own insurance first after an accident in Tampa. Your personal injury protection (PIP) policy covers 80% of your reasonable and necessary medical bills and 60% of your lost wages up to $10,000, per Florida Statute § 627.736.
However, that $10,000 is only available if you have an “emergency medical condition.” If a doctor does not deem your injuries as “emergency medical conditions,” you will only receive $2,500. An emergency medical condition is one that manifests itself by “acute symptoms of sufficient severity, which may include severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in…serious jeopardy to patient health, serious impairment to bodily functions, [or] serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.”
Your PIP policy covers you regardless of fault. To obtain these benefits, you must receive medical attention within 14 days of the accident.
We can help you determine what benefits you can recover as well as determine whether you may have other options.
Can I Hold Another Driver Liable?
You may be able to hold another driver liable if you meet the injury threshold. The threshold is an injury that results in:
- “Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function,
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement,
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement,
- Death”
If your lawyer can demonstrate one of the above (and establish that the other driver’s negligence caused your crash), you can sue the other driver for the entirety of your economic damages as well as your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and inconvenience.
Our Tampa Car Crash Attorneys Are Here to Help
When you’ve been injured in a car crash, you want a team that won’t back down. For over 50 years, Meldon Law has fought for Floridians with skill, compassion, and relentless determination, recovering hundreds of millions for our clients. Let us take on your fight like it’s our own. Call us today for your free consultation and put a force to be reckoned with on your side.
FAQs
How Do I Deal With Insurance Companies After a Tampa Car Accident?
Soon after your accident, the other party’s insurance company will likely call you to get your side of the story. You need to be careful about how you handle this interaction. The insurance adjuster may seem nice and helpful, but they are hoping you will say something they can use against you. This could be something as simple and innocuous as “I’m sorry” or “I’m okay,” as they could use this to claim you admitted fault or said you were uninjured.
We recommend that you politely decline to speak with them and instead direct their questions to us. We also recommend that you do not agree to give a recorded statement.
What Is the Value of My Tampa Car Accident?
We can’t determine the value of your car accident case until we have investigated the circumstances, identified all your damages, and demonstrated the value of these damages.
A few factors that may affect the value of your Tampa car crash case include:
- The severity of your injuries: More severe injuries typically lead to higher medical costs, longer recovery times, and greater impact on your daily life, which can increase the potential settlement or judgment.
- How long these injuries will affect you: Injuries that resolve quickly generally have a smaller financial impact. Chronic conditions, ongoing pain, or permanent impairments often lead to higher settlements.
- Your age: Younger victims may have more years of lost income ahead if they’re unable to return to work, which can raise economic damage estimates.
- Your profession: A high-earning professional may see a larger loss in wages if unable to work, which increases the economic portion of a claim.
- Your percentage of fault: Under Florida law, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
What Do I Do After a Car Accident in Tampa?
There are several things you should do after a car crash to protect yourself:
- Check yourself and passengers for injuries. If safe, move vehicles out of traffic to prevent further accidents. Turn on hazard lights and set up warning triangles/flares if available.
- Get the other driver’s:
- Full name
- Contact information
- Driver’s license number
- License plate number
- Insurance company and policy number
- Note the make, model, and color of the other vehicle.
- Take photos of any vehicle damage (all angles), license plates, road conditions, traffic signs, and any skid marks (or lack thereof) or debris. If possible, record a short video walkthrough of the scene.
- Call 9-1-1. Ask the dispatcher to send paramedics and officers from the Tampa Police Department to the scene.
- Allow the paramedics to examine you and give your statement to the officers. Do not admit fault, apologize for the accident, or speculate about what the other driver was doing. The officers will investigate and create a report. Be sure to get a copy of this report.
- Talk to witnesses. Collect names and contact info from anyone who saw the accident. Ask for brief statements if they’re willing. If you are not up to it, your attorney can take these statements at a later date.
- If you did not receive care at the scene, go to the emergency room, urgent care, or your doctor’s office. Keep an eye out for any pain, soreness, or discomfort, as the symptoms of some injuries don’t appear for hours or days.
- Keep all medical bills and any receipts or invoices related to your accident in a safe place.
- Report the accident to your insurance company. Most insurers have apps that allow you to report it from the scene itself.
Can I Still Recover Damages if I Was Partially At Fault?
Yes, you may be able to recover damages even if you contributed to the crash. However, there are a few conditions:
- You must be less than 51% at fault for the accident.
- Your percentage of fault will decrease what you can recover.
For example, you are rear-ended at a red light. The other driver is deemed 90% at-fault, but since your taillight was out, you received 10% of the fault. If your final damage award is $500,000, you would be entitled to $450,000. This is why it is important to have an attorney represent you.
