Dedicated Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Assists Auto Accident Victims

Aggressive car accident lawyer in Tampa seeks compensation for clients

Each year in the U.S., there are 6 million car accidents and 3 million car accident injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, back and spinal cord injuries, paralysis, disfigurement or permanent scarring, amputations, and broken or shattered bones. Nearly 100 people are killed in car accidents each day, with 37,461 fatalities occurring in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For almost three decades, the Law Offices of Bill Dickey, P.A. has worked to hold negligent and dangerous drivers accountable for causing devastating car crashes in the Tampa Bay area.

Hardworking attorney in Clearwater handles wide range of car accident cases

Automobile accidents arise from many causes and in varied situations. Some of the most common car accidents we deal with are:

• Rear end collisions —There are about 2.5 million rear-end crashes annually, the NHTSA reports. Since these collisions typically involve one driver failing to stop in time and slamming into the car in front of them, a frequent cause is distracted driving — including texting while driving.
• Parking lot accidents— These crashes can occur in a number of ways, including vehicles striking pedestrians or backing into each other, drivers engaging in reckless or aggressive driving related to parking disputes, cars pulling through parking spaces to different aisles or vehicles turning into each other as they navigate a parking lot. Failure of the parking lot owners to adequately label parking spaces, provide sufficient signage or make sure the parking lot is well-lit can all contribute to parking lot accidents.
• Head-On Collisions — These are some of the most dangerous, and most often fatal, car accidents. Often, they are the result of impaired driving, since a drunk drug-influenced driver’s lowered perception may cause them to drive the wrong way or on the wrong side of the road. Falling asleep at the wheel is another common cause of head-on crashes. Long-haul truck drivers who fail to obey drive-time limits can dose off or and cross the center line, striking an oncoming vehicle.
• DUI accidents—The legal limit for blood alcohol content in Florida is 0.08 percent, but even drivers with lower BAC percentages can be deemed negligent, especially if their faculties were impaired while driving at a lower BAC level. Certain classes of drivers also have lower BAC limits in Florida. Minors under age 21 are restricted to a 0.02 percent BAC, while commercial drivers may not have a BAC of more than 0.04 percent.
• Hit and run accidents— Crashes involving a driver who leaves the scene of the accident can be especially problematic for victims seeking compensation, since the negligent party and their insurer — if they have one — are unknown. We help clients ensure that both their own car insurance and medical insurance companies live up to their policy obligations, with the goal of getting them the care they need without the worry of being saddled with hefty bills. We can also investigate who the hit-and-run driver may be, consulting police investigators, security footage, and witnesses who can possibly shed light on the identity of the negligent party responsible.
• Uber and Lyft accidents — We help drivers and passengers of ride-sharing services as well as third-parties who are injured due to someone’s negligence. The ridesharing company may be liable any time a driver is on the job, even if they have not yet picked up their passenger. Florida law requires ridesharing companies to conduct adequate background screenings on drivers, so that no one with a dangerous driving record is entrusted with transporting passengers who look to the ridesharing company to provide a safe service.

The first step to take after a car accident is to seek any necessary medical treatment, but following that, it is important for victims to preserve evidence of how the crash took place and the damage caused. This includes taking photos of the accident scene and the injuries sustained. At the Law Offices of Bill Dickey, P.A., we can make sure your rights are protected as soon as you contact us after your car accident.

Tenacious car accident attorney in Tampa seeks auto accident damages

Car accident victims may be eligible for compensatory damages to reimburse them for their actual losses as well as punitive damages to punish the wrongdoing party. Compensatory damages can be for monetary costs, like medical bills and lost wages, as well as nonmonetary losses such as pain and suffering. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases of especially egregious wrongful conduct, such when a defendant acted with malice or wanton disregard for human life.

In addition to the drivers involved in a car accident and their insurers, other parties may also bear responsibility for causing or contributing to a car accident, including:

• The parent company of a commercial driver involved in a car accident with another party
• Manufacturers of defective cars or auto parts that cause accidents or injuries, such as makers of faulty brakes or recalled airbags
• Entities responsible for maintaining safe roadways free of hazards. Dangerous road conditions like poor maintenance, roadway debris, faulty signage, unsecured construction and large unfixed potholes can give rise to a liability claim when people are hurt as a result.

We offer personal injury contingency fees, which means we get paid only if our clients recover compensation. Our fees come out of the awards or settlements our clients obtain, and if you don’t receive an award or settlement for damages, you owe us nothing.

Clearwater attorney knowledgeable in Florida’s comparative negligence law

Florida is a pure comparative negligence state, which means that victims may recover compensation for their injuries even if they are more at fault than the other party to an accident. While their claim will be reduced by the portion of liability they bear, at-fault victims’ claims are not barred altogether like they are in some states.

Florida law requires that a plaintiff establish the so-called proximate cause or direct cause of an accident before liability can be determined. This can become complicated when there are multiple negligent parties whose actions contributed to the accident, such as in a multicar accident. Our firm is well-versed in the rigors of establishing proximate cause in car accident cases.

The statute of limitations for most Florida personal injury claims, including car accidents, is four years from the date the accident or injury took place, although there are exceptions. In other instances, a victim may be eligible for an extension of the time limit, if they did not immediately discover their injury, and the court finds the delay in discovery to be reasonable. If a victim of a car accident dies, their family must seek wrongful death compensation within two years.

Consult an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer to schedule a free initial consultation

Regardless of what type of car accident you experienced or the severity of your injuries, our personal injury firm can help. To schedule your free initial consultation at our Tampa or Clearwater office, call the Law Offices of Bill Dickey, P.A. at 813-835-3800 or contact us online.