Hurricane Damage and Personal Injury Attorneys in Tampa
Residents of Tampa have the right to safety and security, including the assumption that they should be able to walk down a sidewalk, drive, shop and live without undue physical risk. Properly insured homeowners in Tampa also have a right to peace of mind knowing that if disaster strikes and their home is damaged by elements their insurance covers, that their claim should be honored.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work out as planned. People get in auto accidents through no fault of their own. Pedestrians legally crossing the street or walking on the sidewalk sometimes become the victims of negligent drivers. Shoppers may be injured on the unsafe premises of a retailer or by the unsafe, defective products they unsuspectingly purchase. And homeowners affected by hurricanes sometimes have their claims denied even though the damage their home suffered should be covered by their policy.
In situations like these, it’s the Tampa property damage and personal injury attorneys at law firms like Kanner & Pintaluga that step in to fight for the victims of these injustices. We understand how angry and powerless people in these situations can feel, and what they often need the most is an advocate in their corner who is willing to fight for what is right. Our attorneys are ready to be that advocate for you.
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Hurricane Damage Attorneys in Tampa
If you’re a Tampa area homeowner who has dutifully paid your homeowners insurance over the many years you’ve owned your home, then you should be able to rest easy knowing that if hurricane-force winds ravage your home that your insurance company will foot the bill for repairs. That, unfortunately, isn’t always how things turn out.
There are some types of damage that are explicitly excluded from your insurance policy, such as certain types of flood damage. But as we know in Tampa, storm surge isn’t the only damaging aspect of a hurricane, and there are many potential home damages that can occur during a hurricane that should absolutely be covered by your policy.
When your insurance company tries to deny a legitimate claim for hurricane damages that should be covered, you deserve an advocate who is going to aggressively pursue the settlement your need to repair. The hurricane damage and property damage attorneys at Kanner & Pintaluga’s Tampa office are ready to be that advocate.
We will conduct a detailed investigation of your situation, the damage, your insurance policy and the insurance company’s action in your case. We’ll even work with third-party independent claims adjusters to make sure we have the evidence we need to go back to the insurance company and effectively argue that the damage to your home should be covered under your policy.
Auto Accidents, Workers’ Comp and Other Types of Personal Injury in Tampa
When someone acts negligently, ignoring the duty they have to their fellow citizens, and someone else is hurt because of their actions, the negligent person or company should be responsible for paying the costs of the resulting injuries. Getting the responsible party, or their insurance company, to pay for medical costs and lost wages isn’t always an easy matter.
- The first thing we do after we’ve been contacted by someone who has suffered a personal injury or wrongful death in their family is begin collecting evidence and investigating the case. We compile medical records, police report, interviews with witness, accident scene photos and any video that may be available.
- We work with our clients to develop an accurate narrative of the event, the consequences of their injury and the totality of what it cost them – from lost wages, medical costs and the cost of rehabilitation to the struggles they now face due to their injury, like no longer being able to care for their family, find gainful employment or pursue the hobbies they enjoyed prior to their injury.
- We take the evidence and the costs and consequences of the injury into negotiation with the opposition’s insurance company and lawyers. At this point, when faced with the extensive evidence and information our investigation has uncovered, many insurance companies decide it’s going to be more affordable to simply settle and pay you what you need to recover.
- If the insurance company would rather go to court, we’ll vigorously prepare for trial. Our attorneys will make your case before a judge and jury and fight for the verdict you deserve and need to recover.
Our personal injury law firm in Tampa is experienced with all types of personal injury cases, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Examples Of Cases Our Personal Injury Lawyers In Tampa Handle
In addition to hiring our experienced attorneys for property damage claims, contacting a Kanner & Pintaluga personal injury lawyer in Tampa for any variety of damages sustained by someone else’s negligent behavior is often advised. Here are a few of the main circumstances when you should call a Tampa injury lawyer to seek legal support that will fight on your behalf.
Car Accidents
A recent study on the worst cities for U.S. drivers showed that Tampa ranked tenth among the 50 most populated metro areas in the country. The city ranked eighth in the total number of fatal accidents, including the ninth highest number of people killed as a result of these crashes. Hiring a proven Tampa car accident lawyer who’s worked on cases involving distracted or reckless driving, rear-end collisions, dealing with uninsured motorists, and more will help you build your case against the responsible party.
Truck Accidents
Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, has witnessed an average of about 28,000 traffic incidents from 2021-2023. During this period, around 3,000 of these accidents involved commercial vehicles annually, making these large and heavy vehicles responsible for almost 11% of all crashes in Tampa over the last few years.
An average of 900 drivers, or one-third of the total people involved in these accidents, suffer injuries after crashes with eighteen-wheelers or other large trucks, with over 20 of those losing their lives. Having a Tampa auto accident lawyer to help you fight through these unimaginable circumstances will allow you to focus on recovery while we handle securing just compensation.
Motorcycle Accidents
It’s no secret that motorcycles are some of the most dangerous vehicles to operate, with more severe injuries resulting from accidents than any other mode of transportation. Being that riders and passengers are exposed, with little to no protection from the roads apart from their safety gear, it’s easy to see why these motorists are so vulnerable.
Of the almost 10,000 motorcycle crashes that occurred in Florida during 2023, over 50% resulted in injuries, with over 20% of them being incapacitating, and 6% tragically ending with fatalities.
Medical Malpractice
In Florida’s last fiscal year, there were 1,295 medical malpractice claims filed in circuit courts, according to the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator report. While these only make up 0.5% of civil suits filed, the damages that are caused by this sort of traumatizing negligence are life-changing events that the victim will have to endure going forward. That’s why contacting a Tampa personal injury lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice claims can help you get substantial compensation for surgical errors, misdiagnosis, failure to treat, and birthing errors, among other wrongdoings.
Workplace and Construction Accidents
Thousands of employees are injured on the job in the Tampa area each year, and these types of accidents range from fatalities at construction sites to slip-and-fall incidents that occur due to dangerous working conditions. If you’ve been the victim of unsafe labor conditions and suffered a debilitating injury as a result, a reliable injury lawyer in Tampa, FL, will be able to represent you and seek compensation from a neglectful employer.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
One of the most common reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer in Tampa is for slip-and-fall accidents, which involve injuries sustained from improper maintenance of public premises, or insufficient security of property outside of businesses or apartment complexes, including parking lots. In fact, these types of incidents are the top reason for non-fatal hospitalizations in the state. Older individuals are more severely impacted, with nearly 4,000 seniors aged 65 or older having died from slip-and-fall accidents in 2023 alone.
Product Liability
You may need to consult a product liability lawyer in Tampa, FL if you experience an injury due to a faulty consumer product, harmful medications, or even defective medical devices. If you purchase an item that malfunctions or poses a serious risk to your health or safety while in use, an attorney from Kanner & Pintaluga will negotiate on your behalf to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Benefits of Working With the Award-Winning Attorneys at Kanner & Pintaluga
Kanner & Pintaluga’s team of personal injury lawyers in Tampa is dedicated to representing the community no matter which type of unfortunate circumstance they’re going through. With experienced attorneys who specialize in fighting for your rights in all facets of the law, we are ready and willing to represent you and prove liability to the negligent party. We also have a strong familiarity with the local laws, court-affiliated judges, and insurance agencies in Hillsborough County, in addition to our relationships with expert witnesses and medical professionals — all of which come together in helping us build a robust case for you.
With over two decades of fighting aggressively in each personal injury case we handle, we’ve been successful in securing over a billion dollars in settlements, earning us a trusted reputation in the Tampa, FL region. Our lawyers are diligent when it comes to knowledge of the law, gathering evidence, and, if need be, litigating your case in court. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to hear about your situation, so call now for a FREE, no obligation consultation.
How Much Is My Tampa Personal Injury Case Worth?
To understand the compensation you’re eligible to receive as a result of a personal injury case in Tampa, you’ll first need to understand the different types of damages that may be awarded in a settlement.
- Economic Damages – These are the quantifiable monetary losses, including medical costs, current and future lost wages, property damage, and other things that impact you financially. These are the components you can visibly calculate due to their physical nature.
- Non-Economic Damages – Often referred to as “pain and suffering,” these types of damages are a bit more difficult to quantify. They could include the emotional toll an accident is taking on you, the inability to perform daily activities, or potential injuries that will impact you for the rest of your life. Because there’s no inherent financial value, these damages usually pay out 1.5 – 5x the total economic damages, depending on severity.
- Punitive Damages – You will only receive punitive damages when the negligence of another party is deemed exceptionally reckless or intentionally malicious. These are cases such as DUI car accidents, medical malpractice, or if an employer repeatedly ignores safety measures. While punitive damages are issued in only the most serious of all personal injury cases, an experienced lawyer will be able to determine if you’re eligible.
Even if you were partially at fault, in Florida, the comparative negligence rules state that if you’re found to be less than 50% responsible for the matter, you’re still eligible to receive damages. However, you will only be able to receive the percentage of the damages that you were not at fault for. For example, if it is determined that you are 25% responsible for the accident, you will only be able to procure 75% of the total damages issued to you in the settlement.
What Are Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Tampa?
Florida leads the nation by a wide margin when it comes to the number of personal injury cases that are filed on an annual basis. In fact, these types of lawsuits are so common, they make up over 60% of all civil court cases, according to the Business Observer. In their report, it shows Floridians file these types of claims at 1,237% the rate compared to the national average, with 127.41 cases filed per 100,000 people during a 12-month period from 2022-2023.
The most common reasons to file a personal injury case in Tampa, FL are:
- Vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip-and-falls
- Unsafe property conditions
- Workplace hazards (including heat)
- Construction accidents
- Medical negligence
- Elder abuse
- Defective products
- And more…
It’s impossible to describe what suffering a life-altering injury at the hands of another party’s negligence can do to your psyche. Not only were you not planning on this situation, but now you’re attempting to hold the responsible party liable while also trying to recover from the trauma. Don’t go at it alone. If you’ve been the victim of an injury caused by someone else’s failure to take your safety into account, contact the experienced attorneys at Kanner & Pintaluga.
We offer FREE consultations for many types of personal injury claims, and we’re willing to hear your case no matter what the circumstances are. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t charge you anything until we settle the case in your favor. We know you need to focus on recovery, so our lawyers will fight diligently for you and take on the liable parties to ensure you earn the compensation you deserve. Our reputation in Tampa has been established by representing people just like you. Contact us today — we are always willing to listen to any potential case you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Tampa, FL
Since there are so many personal injury cases filed in the state each year, it’s very common for Floridians to have questions before they file a personal injury case. Here are some of the most asked questions regarding these types of claims.
How do I know if I have a valid case?
If you can prove another party was at fault for your injury, specifically due to negligence, there’s a good chance you have a valid claim. The more substantial evidence there is to prove this, the stronger your case will be.
How long after an accident can I file a personal injury lawsuit?
In Florida, the statute of limitations states that you have up to two years after an accident occurred to file your claim. However, it’s always best to file a case as soon as possible following an incident, as timeliness and accuracy are of the utmost importance.
How quickly will my case be resolved?
No two personal injury cases are the same, so you can expect an individual timeline depending on your particular situation. However, 95% of civil suits are settled outside of court, and negotiations usually take anywhere from six months to two years. The more concrete evidence, witnesses, and professional reports there are to support your claim, the faster it can be resolved.
What if I was partially at fault?
Due to comparative negligence in Florida, if you’re considered less than 50% at-fault after an accident, you’re able to file a personal injury lawsuit. The only stipulation is that you are only eligible to receive the portion of damages you are not found responsible for. If it’s ruled that you’re 40% at fault, you’ll only be able to recoup 60% of the damages issued in the settlement.
How much does hiring an attorney at Kanner & Pintaluga cost?
Kanner & Pintaluga works on a contingency fee, which means you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. We understand the lasting effects of suffering an injury at the expense of someone else’s negligence, so we take care of your case and fight for the compensation that you deserve. Many times, hiring an experienced lawyer can help you earn a much larger settlement than may be proposed by insurance companies hoping to pay out the lowest sum.