Tampa Car Accident Attorneys Whittel & Melton

Tampa Auto Injury Trial Lawyers

Auto accidents happen every single day, in Tampa and across the United States. If you or someone you care about suffers harm in a car accident by another person’s negligence, the Tampa Bay car accident lawyers at Whittel and Melton can help. Most importantly, call us as close to the beginning of the matter as possible so that we can steer you away from many of the common mistakes in handling a Car Accident insurance claim in Tampa.

Our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You

Preliminary estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2019 show that 36,120 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes across the nation. This is a decrease of 1.2% from 2018. The NHTSA saw a 1% increase in fatal crashes involving drivers 65+ as well as fatal car crashes involving large trucks.

Car accidents often happen due to driver error. If a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a drowsy driver, or someone who wasn’t paying attention has injured you, contact our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton for a free consultation. You can call us anytime at 813-221-3200.

What Do I Do If I Am In A Tampa Car Crash?

Being in a car accident can be overwhelming, but taking the right steps can protect your health, legal rights, and financial future. Here’s what you should do:

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

Take a deep breath and try to stay calm. Check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.

2. Seek Medical Attention

Even if you feel fine, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away. Make sure to inform the medical professionals that you were in a car accident, as this impacts both treatment and medical records.

3. Move to a Safe Location

If possible, move your vehicle to a safe area to avoid further collisions. If your car is inoperable, exit the vehicle carefully and move to a secure location away from traffic.

4. Exchange Information

Collect the following from all drivers involved:

• Names and phone numbers
• Insurance details
• License plate numbers
• Driver’s license numbers

Listen carefully to what others say, but avoid unnecessary conversation. Please don’t admit fault or speculate about the accident. Remember to contact our car accident lawyers.

5. Speak to Law Enforcement

When the police arrive, answer honestly. Avoid guessing or making statements about fault. Let the investigation determine what happened.

6. Identify Witnesses and Document the Scene

If there were any witnesses, get their names and contact information. Their statements may be crucial for your claim. Also, don’t forget to take as many photos as possible, including:

• All vehicles involved
• License plates
• The surrounding area, including traffic signals and road conditions
• Any visible injuries

7. Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your insurance provider, but do not provide recorded statements or detailed written accounts before speaking with a lawyer. Simply give them the basic facts, including the crash report number if available.

8. Avoid Quick Settlement Offers

Insurance companies often offer low settlements to close cases quickly. Do not accept any offer before consulting with an experienced car accident attorney.

9. Contact Our Tampa Car Accident Lawyers

At Whittel and Melton, we provide free case reviews and do not charge upfront fees. Our attorneys will fight to recover the full compensation you deserve. Call us today to discuss your case.

10. Follow Medical Advice and Track Your Recovery

Remember to attend all medical appointments and follow your treatment plan. If possible, keep a file with medical records, receipts, and other accident-related documents. If you are into journaling, it is a good idea to keep a daily journal of your pain levels and how injuries impact your life.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Tampa Car Accident Lawyers?

Our Tampa Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton never charge anything for an initial consultation. We also help all of our car accident injury victims on what is called a contingency fee basis. This means that all of your legal fees are contingent upon us recovering a financial award on your behalf. If you never recover a financial settlement or award, then you walk away owing us nothing. If we do secure financial compensation for you, then our payment will be a percentage of the money you receive.

This type of payment arrangement gives all Tampa car accident victims the ability to seek the justice they deserve under Florida law after an unfortunate car accident without the added stress of worrying about paying attorneys’ fees upfront.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover from a Tampa Car Crash?

The types of financial compensation you may be entitled to all depend on the circumstances of your specific case, but our Tampa Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton may be able to pursue the following:

• Compensation for all medical bills both past, present, and future that relate to the accident and your injuries.
• Compensation for repairs to your vehicle or a total replacement of your car.
• If you can no longer work because of your injuries from the car accident, we will pursue lost wages.
• Compensation pain and suffering that have accompanied your injuries related to the car accident.

In cases that involve a severely negligent motorist, we will also pursue punitive damages, which are damages that are awarded to punish the at-fault party for their misconduct.

When Do I Need an Attorney After a Tampa Car Accident?

Our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton urge you to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after your accident, even if it is just to discuss your legal options in a free consultation. We recommend this because an experienced car accident attorney will be able to thoroughly review your case with you so that you fully understand the types of damages that you may be entitled to.

It is also a good idea to have an attorney on your side from the beginning so that you do not have to worry about the added pressure of communicating with the at-fault party, the insurance companies involved, and even the billing offices of your medical providers. Moreover, our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton will launch an immediate investigation into your car crash before any evidence has time to disappear and we will interview all witnesses before their memories start to fade.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Tampa Car Accident?

The state of Florida gives car accident victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit seeking financial compensation. Regardless of this time frame, we would like to point out that we will start working on your claim right away so that we can build the strongest case on your behalf.

What Does Negligence Mean in My Tampa Car Accident Case?

In Florida and most other states, every motorist owes other drivers a duty of care every time they get behind the wheel. When a driver breaches this duty and the result is a crash that injures or kills another person, the negligent driver can then be held liable for damages.

Examples of Negligent Driving

• Driving while Intoxicated or Driving while Impaired (DUI, DWI, Drugs or Alcohol)
• Speeding
• Distracted driving (Cell Phone, Texting, Radio, Children, Eating, Fighting)
• Road rage or tailgating
• Failing to yield, Right of Way
• Drowsy driving
• Wrong-way drivers

How Do I Pay My Medical Bills After a Tampa Car Crash if I Cannot Go Back to Work?

Contacting a car accident lawyer such as Whittel and Melton to represent your needs after an accident means that we will communicate with your healthcare providers to let them know that a claim is pending. We will explain to your medical providers that any questions regarding payments can be referred to us, which means you can dodge this added stress and focus on healing and recovering. Specifically, many competent healthcare providers will engage in what is called a Letter of Protection with our office, essentially holding your bill until the case is resolved. Other Medical Professionals will take Health Insurance when applicable.

What If the Driver Who Caused My Tampa Car Crash Does Not Have Insurance? Can I Still File a Claim?

All vehicles registered in Florida must have at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL). However, unlike other states, Bodily Injury (BI) coverage is not required.

Until lawmakers in Tallahassee take action to limit the influence of insurance companies, this coverage gap will persist. As a result, many car accidents in Tampa involve at-fault drivers who lack insurance to cover injuries, leaving victims without proper compensation.

If you are hit by a motorist who does not have insurance, then you may still be able to pursue financial relief through your own insurance policy as long as you have uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM or UIM) coverage. We are happy to answer any and all questions pertaining UM or UIM coverage.

What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Offers Me a Settlement?

We cannot stress this enough – do not sign any documents from the insurance company before speaking with your personal injury lawyer. The negotiation process can be a lengthy one, so the odds are that your first offer will be way lower than what you are actually entitled to. If you are suffering from major injuries, a settlement may seem enticing, but remember, you may not yet know the true extent of your injuries, so we recommend making sure to contact our car accident lawyers in Tampa before agreeing to a set amount of money. We can fully assess your damages, document the full scope of your injuries, and build you a strong case for a full and fair settlement.

What Types of Car Accidents Do Our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys Handle?

We handle all types of car accident cases, including head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, T-bone accidents, intersection crashes, accidents that happen on the interstate, accidents involving wrong-way drivers, drunk driving crashes, drugged driving collisions, distracted driving crashes, drowsy driving accidents, accidents involving speeding drivers, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, Uber Lyft and rideshare accidents, and more. We welcome you to contact us and share your Tampa car accident story.

Common Car Accident Injuries

All car accidents are different, but the most common injuries our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton see are:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): These happen from piercing objects to the brain, jolts to the brain, and blows to the head.
• Neck and Back Injuries: This includes whiplash, spinal cord injuries, disc injuries, vertebrae damage, etc.
• Head and Facial Injuries
• Ear, Jaw, Eye, TMJ and Dental Injuries
• Leg and Knee Injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Broken Bones and Fractures
• Foot and Ankle Injuries
• Tinnitus and other auditory and neurological deficits

We Serve Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and all of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties

Contact our Car Accident lawyers at Whittel & Melton, who are dedicated to helping auto accident victims recover for their suffering. When you choose to work with us you can expect us to immediately begin investigating your case and start filing an injury claim to pursue the financial compensation you deserve.

Call us today at 813-221-3200 so that we can get started in your case.