Road Defect Attorneys in Tampa, Florida
Helping Individuals Injured in Accidents Caused by Poorly Designed or Maintained Roadways
Many accidents result because of careless or reckless drivers who cause collisions because they do not operate their motor vehicles safely. However, defects on the road itself cause other accidents. If you were injured in a car accident, contact The Florida Law Group today for a free consultation.
Common Road Defects
When you pull out of your driveway, you probably expect to find safe roads to travel. Unfortunately, you can find any number defects on a road, and these defects can cause serious injuries. For example, the following common road defects have the potential to result in injury-causing accidents:
- Inadequate lighting
- Improper signs
- Missing traffic signs or lights
- Potholes
- Uneven pavement
- Missing barriers or guardrails
- Dangerous or missing shoulders
- Debris left in the road
- Overgrown vegetation
These defects might cause your car to crash, injuring yourself and others. For example, a deep pothole can jostle the vehicle, causing you to lose control of it and swerve into oncoming traffic. Similarly, a missing stop sign might cause you to fly into the intersection where you collide with another vehicle, causing injuries. And inadequate shoulders can pull your vehicle into a ditch, where it rolls over.
Typical Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can leave victims in a lot of pain and with devastating injuries that require months or longer to properly heal. At The Florida Law Group, we meet with clients every day who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Torn tendons and ligaments
- Crushed limbs
- Cuts, abrasions, and lacerations
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Pinched nerves
- Burns
- Back injuries
Each of these injuries requires prompt medical intervention to help you heal properly. Doctors must treat even relatively minor injuries like cuts and scrapes so that they do not become infected and cause complications.
Once you meet with a doctor, closely monitor your physical condition and remember to follow your doctor’s orders so that you can make a full recovery. If you do not feel like you are improving, then schedule follow-up appointments or consider getting a second opinion.
Who to Sue—and Why It Matters
A key fact in these cases is finding the party responsible for the road defect that led to the crash. In many situations, a government agency has the obligation for maintaining the roads in a safe condition. However, in other situations, construction companies are responsible for the defect, such as when they leave debris on the road.
The party you sue will make a huge difference in how your case proceeds. Generally, the state of Florida and municipalities enjoy immunity from all lawsuits, including personal injury lawsuits caused by road defects. However, Florida may allow you to sue if you jump through some hoops. In particular, you need to send a claim to the government agency identifying your injury and making a request for compensation.
This notice gives the government a chance to settle the claim if it wants. Only after the government declines to settle can you file a lawsuit in court. Furthermore, the amount you can receive if you sue the government is capped at $200,000 per person.
Lawsuits against third-party contractors do not impose these requirements, and they do not limit the amount of compensation you can seek. Instead, you can file immediately in court after your accident.
How a Tampa, Florida, Lawyer Can Help
Car accident injuries cause our clients to lose thousands of dollars, if not more. The person who caused the accident should pay you compensation and make you whole. In Florida, car accident victims can receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses for past and future treatments, if required
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity, if you cannot return to your old job
- Damage to your vehicle and other property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
Each car accident is unique, and we cannot guarantee that you will receive any specific amount of damages. Nevertheless, relying on our experience, an experienced attorney may craft a claim for you and handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Filing a claim with the appropriate insurance company
- Negotiating with an insurance company
- Filing a claim with the applicable government agency
- Collecting evidence in support of your lawsuit
- Filing and pursuing a lawsuit against the appropriate defendant
From start to finish, a car accident lawsuit can take months or even years, requiring multiple hearings in court as the case slowly winds its way through the system. That’s why injured motorists should focus on their health and leave the legal work to us.
Mistakes to Avoid
After an accident, you might feel worried about how to pay your bills and wonder if you will ever fully recover. Fear and worry cause many injury victims to make key mistakes in the days and weeks after an accident, hamstringing their cases and costing them thousands of dollars in compensation.
After an accident:
- Avoid taking responsibility for the accident. Never say, “I’m sorry,” or admit fault.
- Don’t talk to any insurance agents. They will only use your words against you.
- Write down the location of the accident and as much about what happened as you can remember. Your lawyer may need to visit the scene to gather evidence.
- Contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer has your best interests at heart and can protect your rights. An insurance claims adjuster does not.
Call The Florida Law Group Today to Speak With a Tampa Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents leave victims confused and unsure about what to do next. At The Florida Law Group, our attorneys have decades of experience in helping injured motorists get the compensation they deserve. If a road defect caused your crash, we can make a compelling case to that effect, and we will fight for a fair resolution to your case. To begin the process, call 813-463-8880 or send us an email through our online contact form.
