Nobody wants to get older, but unfortunately, age happens to us all. Luckily, getting older does have its benefits, retirement, and an easier way of living being just a few. Getting old also brings some unwanted side effects that can have a serious impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. As we get older, many of us start to notice our eyesight or hearing deteriorating. We don’t want to believe it, but sometimes that can have an effect on our day to day life. Tampa, with its warm climate and a huge population of aged citizens, makes it a perfect place for retirees.
Tampa, FL, however, has some serious problems when it comes to car accident incidents. Florida is one of the worst states in the country in terms of car accidents and DUI charges. Every single year over 400,000 crashes happen in the state alone, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV). 200,000 of these are hit and runs, and over 3,000 people lose their lives because of the accidents.
Many of these accidents are caused by elderly drivers who do not recognize or ignore the fact that their eyesight is deteriorating. This ignorance or stubbornness can lead to accidents that cause terrible injuries and, even occasionally, death.
If you are someone you care about has been in an accident involving an elderly driver, and it wasn’t your fault, you should get in touch with a Tampa personal injury lawyer at The Law Place today on (813) 544-4444. We know how to deal with cases like yours and can give you the best information and advice on your exact situation.
Elderly Driver Accident Attorney in Tampa
When you get into an accident with an elderly driver in Tampa, they can often react in strange and unpredictable ways. This is often because they are embarrassed or stubborn; it could even be down to the medication they are on. Because of this, they will often try and place the blame on you.
Disputes about accidents like this are a regular occurrence in Tampa. Many individuals find it hard to pressure an elderly person into giving them their details or accepting liability.
If they are point blank refusing to accept any fault in the accident, the best thing you can do is to stop talking to them and speak to a personal injury car accident lawyer who will be able to take over. Remember, the other parties’ insurance company is probably trying to lower their liability and maybe giving bad advice to the elderly driver.
This is a very common insurance company behavior. They will most likely try and refuse your claim or devalue it. They will have aggressive legal teams ready to trick you into lowering their liability. This is why we always advise getting a personal injury car accident lawyer to represent you in cases like this. Often, they will try and contact you privately with a low-ball offer to get you to accept quickly. They will do this without liaising with your lawyer.
A good rule of thumb is that no matter how certain you are that the elderly driver was at fault, try and avoid speaking to their insurance company as much as you can. No matter how friendly they seem on the phone or over email, just remember, they are looking out for their own personal interests first.
Common Causes of Car Accidents With Tampa Elderly Drivers
Older drivers are usually much more likely to be dealing with age-related impairments. They might have a lower range of vision or a slightly deaf hearing. Other common afflictions include arthritis and medication that has side effects that they were unaware of. Although these factors may not cause obvious physical symptoms, they can make all the difference in split-second decision incidents.
These are the most common accidents that we see in the State of Florida:
- Turning improperly.
- Failing to yield.
- Driving down a one-way road.
- Driving while distracted.
- Pressing the wrong pedal.
- Speeding.
- Lack of signaling.
- Driving erratically.
- Road rage.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day.
What Will a Reputable Law Firm Do for Me?
After making the decision to hire a car accident lawyer for an accident that has happened in Tampa, FL, you will first take a free consultation from your chosen personal injury lawyer. They will discuss your accident in a calming manner and evaluate where they think you stand in terms of your case and the compensation you might be entitled to. This is no strings attached, you get simple honest and unbiased advice and are free to do whatever you want with it.
If you decide to hire us, we will call you in for a more serious meeting. In this meeting, we will discuss our fee structure in a clear and easy to understand manner. We will also ask some more detailed questions regarding your accident. This is where we will start building your case up. Finally, we will ask you to sign on the dotted line, allowing us to represent you legally.
As soon as you have signed up for representation, your lawyer will take over everything for you. They will liaise with all of the parties involved, including the insurance company, for both parties involved. We will also start investigating. We will get police reports, speak to first responders and witnesses, and we will start to build a case that gives us a position of strength to negotiate from.
With this position of strength and after working out your damages, your Tampa car accident lawyer should have a good idea of what your claim is worth. This will give them a rough figure of what to seek from the other insurance company. They will then ask for this in a settlement demand. If they agree to pay this and you find it agreeable then you get your money, we take our fee, and everybody is happy.
If they do not send a settlement offer that is reasonable and fair and you do not agree with it, then we will take the other party to court via a lawsuit. When we get to court, we will use the case we have built around your car accident to convince a judge and jury that you are deserving of the compensation you are asking for.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience
Contact Us at The Law Place Today
Tampa car accidents happen every single day. When it isn’t your fault, it isn’t fair that you should be out of pocket due to lost wages, medical expenses, or for your pain and suffering.
We have over 75 years of experience collectively dealing with car accident cases just like yours. Call us at The Law Place today for a free consultation on (813) 544-4444.
