Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

Immediate steps after a crash in Tampa

What happens in the first hours often shapes how easy or hard it is to document a claim later. If you are able to do so safely:

• Call 911 so law enforcement responds and a crash report is created. In Hillsborough County that may be Tampa Police Department, the Sheriff's Office or Florida Highway Patrol depending on where the crash happened.
• Follow the guidance of the paramedics or medical professionals who evaluate you. Only a health care provider can tell you what care you need — we do not give medical advice.
• Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance information and license plate numbers with every driver involved.
• Write down the responding agency and the crash report number so the report can be requested later.
• Tell your own insurance company that a crash occurred, as most policies require prompt notice.
• Be careful with recorded statements to the other driver's insurer before you understand your injuries and your own coverage.

Evidence worth preserving

Insurance companies evaluate documents, not impressions. The records below are frequently the difference between a well-documented claim and a disputed one:

• Photos and video of every vehicle, the roadway, traffic controls, skid marks, debris and visible injuries.
• The crash report and the case or report number.
• Names and phone numbers of witnesses and passengers.
• All medical records, discharge instructions, imaging and bills, plus mileage to appointments.
• Proof of lost income: pay stubs, schedules, or a letter from your employer.
• Repair estimates, towing and storage receipts, and rental car costs.
• Any letter, email or text from an insurance company or adjuster.
• A short written log of symptoms and days of work or school missed, kept as it happens.

Florida PIP and the 14-day rule

Florida is a no-fault state. Under Florida Statute 627.736, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on an auto policy pays a portion of medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, up to the limits in the policy.

The statute also sets a timing requirement that surprises many people: PIP medical benefits are generally available only if the injured person receives initial services and care within 14 days of the motor vehicle accident. Missing that window can affect access to those benefits.

The statute and the Florida Department of Financial Services consumer materials describe the coverage, the categories of benefit and the exceptions in detail. Read them directly — the links are at the bottom of this page — and speak with an attorney about how they apply to your own policy and facts.

• Florida Statute 627.736 (PIP benefits)
• Florida DFS — Personal Automobile Insurance Overview

Uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes

Not every driver who causes a crash can pay for the harm they cause, and some leave the scene entirely. That does not automatically end a claim.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy may respond when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or not enough of it.
• Hit-and-run crashes are often handled through UM and PIP coverage while law enforcement investigates the identity of the driver.
• More than one policy can sometimes apply — a household policy, a resident relative's policy, or coverage held by a vehicle owner who was not driving.
• Rideshare vehicles, delivery drivers and commercial vehicles frequently carry additional layers of coverage.
• Reporting the crash to law enforcement promptly and cooperating with your own insurer are usually conditions of these coverages.

Damages that may be claimed

What can be recovered depends on the facts of the crash, the injuries documented in medical records, the insurance coverage available and the law that applies. Florida law also uses modified comparative negligence, which reduces recovery by a person's share of fault and generally bars recovery for someone found more than 50% at fault. No result can be promised. Categories that Florida law recognizes include:

• Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, therapy and prescriptions.
• Lost wages and, in some cases, reduced future earning capacity.
• Property damage, towing, storage and rental costs.
• Pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life where the legal threshold is met.
• Permanent injury, scarring or disfigurement.
• In a fatal crash, the categories available to survivors under Florida's wrongful death statute.

How a car accident case works

1. 01

   Free consultation

   You describe what happened, in English or Spanish. We explain the process, the deadlines that may apply and what documents to gather. There is no cost and no obligation.

2. 02

   Investigation and documentation

   The crash report, photographs, witness information, medical records and wage information are collected so the claim rests on documents rather than memory.

3. 03

   Insurance claim and negotiation

   Once treatment is documented, the claim is presented to the insurance carriers, and communications with adjusters are handled for you.

4. 04

   Litigation if needed

   If the claim is denied or the parties cannot agree, we discuss whether filing suit is appropriate and what litigation would involve. Many claims resolve before trial; some do not.

Deadlines to keep in mind

Two different clocks matter after a Florida crash. The first is the 14-day initial treatment window in the PIP statute. The second is the statute of limitations for a negligence lawsuit — for most negligence claims that accrued after March 24, 2023, Florida Statute 95.11 provides two years from the date of the incident. Claims involving wrongful death or a government entity follow different rules and notice requirements.

Because these deadlines are strict and fact-dependent, it is worth asking about them early rather than close to the end.

Car accident questions we hear in Tampa

Official sources referenced on this page

• Florida Statute 627.736 — Personal Injury Protection benefits
• Florida Department of Financial Services — Personal Automobile Insurance Overview
• The Florida Bar — attorney profile, Eduardo Jimenez (#674907)

Related pages

• Tampa Slip and Fall Lawyer
• Tampa Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
• Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyer
• Guide: What to Do After a Car Accident in Tampa
• Guide: Florida PIP and the 14-Day Rule
• Home — EJ | LAW, Tampa
• Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer
• Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer
• Tampa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Abogado de Accidentes de Auto en Tampa (español)