Losing someone in a fatal car accident in Tampa brings your entire world to a halt. Administrative tasks and insurance companies are the last things you will want to deal with right now. But they are required to gain the settlement your family is entitled to.
Our compassionate Tampa fatal car accident lawyers are extremely sorry for your loss and provide free consultations, to see how we can help and allow you to breathe.
Notify the Insurance Company
- The first administrative task to complete is to notify the at-fault driver’s insurance company of the death and your intentions to file a claim.
You should have been given the details of their insurance company via the police’s drivers’ exchange or police report. If not, you should request it or contact a Tampa car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Any other parties included should also be informed, such as an employer if the driver was working at the time of the accident (such as a taxi driver or delivery driver).
If you do not feel comfortable doing this, our Tampa personal injury attorneys can do so on your behalf.
Talking to the Insurance Company
Communications with the insurance company can be used as evidence in your family’s claim. They will likely ask you questions that seem innocent but are often intended to lower your potential settlement fee. You are not required to answer these questions and you can state that you want your Tampa personal injury lawyer to communicate on your behalf.
Pay Outstanding Bills
- It seems absurd, but your loved one may still get charged for bills. Any outstanding medical bills or funeral or burial expenses may be required to be paid.
Health insurance, term life benefits or Personal Injury Protection coverage can often pay these bills.
Your Tampa personal injury lawyer can help guide you through this often stressful process. We often reach agreements with medical providers, so that you can hold off paying bills until a settlement has been reached or a court verdict has been received.
Hospitals tend to agree to a lien on any future settlement award which can significantly reduce the burden placed on your family when facing expensive medical costs.
Consider a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
- The personal representative of the estate of a deceased person is eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit (on behalf of the estates’ beneficiaries) if they were killed in an accident.
A personal representative is the person legally appointed to administer the estate of a deceased person. This person is usually selected by the deceased person in their will; if there wasn’t one, then the personal representative will be court-appointed.
A Tampa wrongful death lawsuit can help your family recover damages related to the death of your loved one, including:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost income
- Lost future inheritance
- Loss of consortium
Collect and Preserve Evidence
- Evidence is critical to any insurance claim, but is especially important in the world of injury insurance or wrongful death claims.
The insurance company you’re filing against will try to pay the minimum settlement fee possible. They may even outright deny your claim.
Evidence for Damages
- Having supporting evidence can prove the true value of your family’s damage.
We highly advise that you therefore create a paper trail linking the accident to any expenses your family may have suffered, such as:
- Any medical bills or receipts
- Doctors’ or coroner’s notes
- Police reports
- Funeral or burial bills and receipts
- Tax returns and proof of investments belonging to your loved one to prove loss of earnings.
- Statements of all accounts of your loved one and all sources of income, to prove the true cost of loss of income.
- Proof of time off work you may have had to take
- Any doctor’s notes relating to your own suffering, such as PTSD, depression or anxiety.
Cause of the Accident
- You may also be required to prove the accident’s true cause and at-fault party. The insurance company may even blame your loved one.
This can be extremely stressful, but our Tampa personal injury lawyers can do the job for you. Using our extensive resources, we can collect accident scene evidence, and CCTV footage or use accident reconstruction experts to reveal the true cause.
This can then be used to ensure your family gets the maximum possible settlement and is not left to face a denied claim.
Time is of the essence, as evidence often gets lost. We urge you to act fast.
Evidence may reveal:
- What vehicles were involved in the crash and how those physical factors played a role in the crash?
- What cause initiated the crash?
- What were the drivers doing at the time of the crash and before?
- What speeds the vehicles were doing?
- How and when were brakes applied?
- Were seat belts worn?
- What the road and traffic conditions were
- What the weather was at the exact moment of the crash and before.
- If the vehicle was for employment, was it properly maintained?
- Was cargo secured properly?
- What injuries were suffered?
- Was the other driver intoxicated?
- Statements made by all parties
Can Our Family Sue for a Fatal Car Accident in Tampa?
- If your family has lost someone in a car accident in Tampa that wasn’t their fault, then you can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
This must be made by the personal representative of your loved one’s estate. Those who can claim damages include:
- Spouse: for loss of income, emotional and mental suffering and loss of consortium.
- Child: For the loss of a parent and security.
- Parents of a deceased child: For the mental and emotional suffering.
Hire a Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Tampa, FL
Free Consultations
If you’ve lost a loved one due to a fatal car accident in Tampa, Florida, please contact our compassionate Tampa personal injury lawyers for a free consultation. We have decades of experience helping the families of accident victims who deserve compensation for their suffering and expenses.
Sean McQuaid and Jonathon Douglas are award-winning Personal Injury Lawyers with vast experience, a proven track record, a strong reputation and impressive resources. We believe we provide the strongest chance of winning the maximum possible settlement to help you move forward.
