A sudden car accident can be devastating. It could leave you with unpaid medical bills, needed car repairs, and ongoing injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, our experienced Tampa auto accident attorneys can help. We work with victims of car crashes to fight for the compensation they deserve for their injuries and suffering.
How an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help You
Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing car accident victims throughout Tampa and the surrounding areas. We will be by your side every step of the way during the claims process, offering our legal advocacy and services, including:
- Handling all steps necessary for you to get compensation
- Experience with different types of car accident claims
- Talking to the insurance companies and making an insurance claim on your behalf
- Settlement negotiations and sharing honest advice about whether to accept an offer
- Preparing legal documents and filing your claim
- In-depth knowledge of Florida car accident laws to ensure your claim is complete
- Building evidence and pursuing your claim aggressively
- Working to settle your case for the maximum settlement or present it at trial
- Helping you understand your damages and what your claim is worth
- Compassionate support for you and your family throughout the process
Our founder, Jack Bernstein, brings a wealth of legal experience to his practice. He served as a clerk to a circuit court judge and is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar Association and the Cuban American Bar Association. With decades of personal injury litigation practice in both state and federal courts in Florida, Jack Bernstein has the knowledge and skills to maximize your compensation.
What To Look For in a Car Accident Lawyer
Not all car accident attorneys are the same. The outcome of your case rests on working with an attorney who is skilled in their craft, knows the right questions to ask, and can fight for your rights — especially when negotiating with insurance companies and the legal teams of other parties involved.
When looking for the right car accident lawyer, there are certain factors you should be aware of. The following are some things to consider:
- Look for someone who has a proven track record
- Work with an attorney who has experience working with car accidents similar to the one you have experienced
- Work with a team that has a sizable staff. This ensures you will have access to other legal professionals who can add their expertise to your case.
- Responsiveness and willingness to keep an open line of communication. Ask questions a personal injury lawyer should answer during your initial meeting.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Car accident lawyers have different fee structures depending on their practice operations. Some lawyers charge on an hourly basis, work on a retainer, or charge a flat fee for services rendered. Learn more about how much a car accident attorney costs.
No Fee Until We Win
At Jack Bernstein Injury Attorneys, our lawyers work on contingency, meaning we don’t get paid until we win your case. This allows you to focus fully on recovery without having to deal with the financial obstacles of filing a personal injury claim. No legal fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you.
Free Case Evaluations
Our law offices are committed to serving all victims of car accidents in the greater Tampa area. As such, our team offers free case consultation that will allow us to determine the strength of your case. We can help you understand your legal rights and evaluate the possible outcomes of your case, what damages you may be able to recover, and more. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation and get one step closer to recovering the compensation you deserve after a car accident injury.
Who Pays for My Medical Bills and Damages After a Car Accident?
So, who pays for medical bills and other damages after a car accident in Tampa? The first avenue will always be your car insurance provider. If you have to turn to your health insurance to cover additional medical expenses, you may be able to recover those costs by filing a claim through the car insurance company of the other driver.
Our Tampa car accident lawyers represent you throughout the entire claims process. Let us negotiate directly with the insurance company and file a legal claim if it is necessary for you to receive the compensation that you deserve.
Florida’s Insurance Requirements
Florida’s car accident laws, found in Florida Statutes § 627.737, require anyone registering a four-wheeled vehicle in Florida to show proof of personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Under § 627.737(2), drivers with PIP coverage gain a tort exemption but may still be sued for non-economic damages if the injured party suffered a significant and permanent injury.
All drivers are required to carry:
- A minimum of $10,000 per accident in personal injury protection (PIP)
- A minimum of $10,000 per accident in property damage liability (PDL)
Drivers have the option to purchase additional insurance coverage, including higher PIP and PDL coverage, gap insurance, and uninsured motorist coverage.
The 14-day PIP treatment window
Under Fla. Stat. § 627.736 (2025), PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical and disability benefits, paying 80% of all reasonable medical expenses. There is one deadline many accident victims miss: you must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the crash. If you do not get medical care within that 14-day window, your PIP insurer can deny the entire claim. This makes it essential to seek prompt medical attention after any motor vehicle accident, even if your injuries seem minor at first.
The Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) outlines the following:
- Vehicles that are registered as taxis must carry bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage of $125,000 per person, $250,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 for (PDL) coverage
- Drivers must have continuous coverage even if their vehicle is not being driven or is inoperable. If a driver needs to cancel their insurance, they must surrender the license plate or tags before they do so.
- All insurance coverage must be purchased from an insurance provider that is licensed to do business in the state of Florida. Drivers who have just moved to the state may be able to transfer their insurance coverage. Speak with your auto insurance provider to learn more.
File a Civil Lawsuit Against the At-Fault Driver
If your injuries are severe, cause permanent damage, or exceed your insurance coverage, you may be able to pursue additional compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, their employers, or other negligent parties that could be held responsible for the accident.
About Jack G. Bernstein Esq.
Personal Injury Lawyer
For more than 40 years, personal injury lawyer Jack G. Bernstein — a member of the Florida State Bar Association, the Hillsborough Bar Association, and the Clearwater Bar Association — has protected the rights of individuals injured by a negligent party.
Mr. Bernstein has the expertise to handle various injury cases, including, but not limited to, car accidents, medical malpractice cases, cruise ship accidents, accidental drownings, wrongful death lawsuits, along with most injury and catastrophic occurrences, and legal malpractice issues.
With a staff of approximately 40 people, including six lawyers and 34 support personnel, Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, handles every type of personal injury and accident case throughout Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, FL. Our office has the legal resources to get the justice you deserve and the maximum recovery for your losses. Schedule your free consultation today; we are always here to help.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
Many victims considering legal action wonder what their claim is worth. If a victim is injured and suffers after an accident, they may be able to recover damages through a legal claim. Victims may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Types of damages in a Tampa car accident case
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Economic damages |
Non-economic damages |
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While victims can recover economic damages — the tangible and easy-to-calculate losses after a car accident — under Florida law, victims are not eligible for non-economic damages unless they have a qualifying third-party claim. Qualifying injuries are significant disfigurement, bone fractures, permanent limitations, and dysfunction of bodily systems.
When you’re the victim of a car accident, it can affect you physically, emotionally, and financially. Your compensation should reflect all you’ve suffered after the car wreck. Our lawyers are dedicated to ensuring you receive justice and the financial compensation you deserve. Learn more about how pain and suffering is calculated in Florida personal injury cases.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Tampa?
Tampa is one of Florida’s most densely populated areas, and the state as a whole recorded 381,210 crashes in 2024, more than 1,000 crashes every single day, according to the FLHSMV By-the-Numbers 2024. Of those, 2,962 resulted in fatalities statewide. Located in Hillsborough County, Tampa contributed to the county’s approximately 27,000 car accidents in 2024, according to the FLHSMV Crash Dashboard. Of those accidents, 181 resulted in fatalities and approximately 17,354 resulted in injuries, a reduction in fatalities from the 235 recorded in 2023, though injury numbers remain high.
The Tampa Bay area’s nightlife, attractions, and range of drivers have all contributed to the rising number of traffic accidents and injuries.
Common types of car accidents in Tampa
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Accident type |
Description |
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These accidents occur when a car suddenly stops and is hit from behind. The vehicle that hits the first car is usually following too closely or speeding. |
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Most commonly seen in intersections, this type of crash happens when a driver fails to stop or yield and collides with the side of another vehicle. |
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Guilty drivers who cause accidents will sometimes flee the scene. Surveillance or witnesses can help bring the responsible party to justice. |
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Many drivers are distracted by their phones, passengers, pets, or other distractions. According to the NHTSA Distracted Driving report (2023), distracted driving killed 3,275 Americans in 2023 and was a factor in 13% of all injury crashes nationwide. |
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When a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs, the results can be devastating or fatal. According to the FLHSMV Impaired Driving report (2024), Florida recorded over 4,800 alcohol-confirmed crashes in 2024, resulting in 271 deaths. Drug-impaired driving caused an additional 315 fatalities. Talk to your attorney about the possibility of claiming punitive damages against an impaired driver. |
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These accidents typically occur when a driver is going the wrong way on the road. |
At Jack Bernstein, our injury attorneys have experience handling every kind of auto accident case. We will collect evidence and build a strong case to ensure you get the maximum settlement for your claim.
What Roads Are the Most Dangerous in the Tampa Area?
According to city officials, Cleveland Street is one of the most dangerous roadways in Tampa. Part of the reason ties back to a Tampa traffic engineer study that found it poses an elevated risk of danger because of high levels of traffic, merging lanes, and heavy foot traffic due to nearby shopping centers.
The city has plans to make this street safer through initiatives that would help reduce traffic flow and improve visibility and safety when vehicles merge onto Cleveland Street.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Tampa
As with many other high-traffic cities, many factors lead to car accidents in Tampa. Some of the most common causes are due to the behaviors of drivers, including:
Alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 30% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2023 (12,336 deaths) according to the NHTSA Motor Vehicle Crash Overview (2023). Drowsy driving was cited in 633 fatalities nationally that same year.
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Proving Negligence After a Car Accident in Tampa, Florida
If you were injured in a car accident in tampa, it is not enough to blame the other driver. To prove your case, you must show that the other driver was negligent in their actions. Negligence is a legal concept that is made up of four elements. For negligence to exist, these four elements must be proven. The elements of negligence include:
- Duty of care: All drivers have a duty to drive safely and reasonably to protect other drivers on the road
- Breach of duty: If a driver violates their duty of care, this is known as a breach of duty
- Causation: Causation is the legal concept that a person’s actions are what led to the event that caused the injury. Causation is one of the most difficult elements of negligence to prove.
- Damages: Finally, for a victim to pursue legal action, they must show that they suffered damages as a result of another driver’s negligence
An experienced attorney can help gather the evidence you need to build a strong negligence claim, including police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstruction experts who analyze the scene to identify driver negligence.
Understanding Florida’s Comparative Negligence Law
Florida’s tort reform bill, signed into law in March 2023 and codified in Fla. Stat. § 768.81 (2025), changed the state’s system from pure to modified comparative negligence. Under this rule, if a driver is found 40% responsible for causing the accident, they may still recover 60% of their total damages. But if they are found more than 50% responsible, they are completely barred from any recovery. The only exception to this rule is instances of medical malpractice. Learn more about Florida comparative negligence laws.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Car Accident Injuries?
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that the law requires all drivers to maintain personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage insurance in minimum amounts. When an accident happens, most car accident claims go through the driver’s own insurance regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
Even though no-fault laws apply in Tampa, third-party claims are still available in cases of serious or permanent injury, also known as catastrophic injury.
Third-party claims can be filed against:
- Government agencies — these agencies can be held responsible for poorly designed or maintained roads (see premises liability)
- Car and auto part manufacturers, if there are vehicle defects or recalls that lead to an accident
- Employers can be held responsible if one of their drivers acts negligently
- Owners of the vehicles that caused the accident can also be held liable despite the state’s no-fault laws
Can Multiple Parties Be Held Accountable for My Car Accident Injuries?
Yes. There may be multiple parties that can be held accountable for your car accident injury. The circumstances of your case will determine who can be held liable, and an experienced personal injury attorney will help you explore all avenues of liability.
Some of the most common cases where liability is shared include accidents involving semi-trucks and commercial vehicles. The employer and any other third parties, like a driver training school, can be held liable for the car accident. An experienced car accident attorney can help you explore all your legal options when determining liability and negligence.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Claim?
A statute of limitations is an individual’s time frame to take legal action against liable parties. In Florida, the statute of limitations for a car accident is four years. This means a victim has four years from the accident date to take legal action against the other driver. Waiting beyond this four-year time could bar you from recovering the compensation you may be entitled to.
If a death has resulted from a car accident, the statute of limitations is shortened to two years under Florida Statute 95.11. This shorter time limit allows victims’ families to recover compensation quickly while minimizing the chances of a drawn-out legal battle.
What To Do After a Car Accident
Knowing what to do after a car accident with injuries is important. Taking the right steps ensures you get the medical attention you need and allows you to collect evidence that will help you build your case.
After a car accident in Florida, follow these steps:
- Get to safety: Get to safety immediately after the accident. If you can, move your vehicle out of the roadway to keep other drivers safe as well.
- Call for help: You should always call 911 for help, especially if the car accident has resulted in injuries for you or other drivers
- Seek medical attention: If you are able, render medical aid to others injured on the scene. If you are also injured, accept medical assistance from the responding medical teams. Remember the 14-day PIP treatment window.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the accident site, the damage, and your injuries. Learn more about how to collect evidence after a car accident.
- Gather witness information: Collect statements from others who witnessed the car accident. Witnesses can also establish credibility to your claim, strengthening your case.
- Follow up on all medical appointments: Keep up with your medical appointments and treatment. This allows you to establish a strong record of the injuries you suffered, including medical records that document your medical bills and reasonable medical expenses.
- Document your expenses: As you receive medical treatment or therapy, keep a running cost of your expenses. An itemized list of the financial toll the accident has taken on you helps establish a strong claim for financial recovery.
- Consult a Tampa car accident lawyer: Seek the guidance of an experienced attorney. An experienced lawyer will help you analyze your case, determine liable parties, and help you recover the damages you may be entitled to.
Common injuries from car accidents in Tampa
Car accidents in Tampa FL cause a wide range of injuries, from minor soft tissue injuries to severe and life-altering conditions. Some of the most common injuries our law firm handles include:
- Spinal cord injuries, which can result in partial or full paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries from impacts to the head during a collision
- Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, sprains, and muscle strains. Learn about whiplash settlement values
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage from blunt force trauma
- Burns from vehicle fires or chemical exposure
Serious injuries from car accidents often require long-term medical care and rehabilitation, leading to substantial medical bills and lost wages. If you have suffered severe injuries in a Tampa car accident, contact our personal injury lawyers to discuss your options for recovering compensation.
Other vehicle accident cases we handle
Beyond car accidents, our Tampa personal injury attorneys also represent injury victims in cases involving:
- Truck accidents, including semi-truck and commercial vehicle collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft
- Bus accidents
Let Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, Fight for You
At Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, our team of experienced paralegals, investigators, and trial lawyers are ready to help you fight for your rights after a car accident injury in Tampa, Florida.
Turn to our team to get the legal representation you deserve, work with experts who know how to stand up against the insurance companies and insurance adjusters, and get the answers to all your questions and concerns.
We do not take a fee until we win your case and are prepared to go to trial if the other parties cannot agree on a fair settlement. Learn more about your legal rights and options when you contact our team.View our verdicts and settlements and read our client testimonials.
Frequently asked questions about Tampa car accidents
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Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys
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