Road Defects in Tampa, FL

Were you or a loved one hurt in a car accident due to road defects in Tampa, Florida? Call Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for legal assistance today. You may be entitled to compensation to offset the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. 

It’s not always easy to get money in your pocket after a car wreck–especially when a government agency is involved. Our Tampa car accident attorneys have been handling cases like yours since 1996–and we’ve recovered more than $100 million in compensation for our clients to date.

We’re ready to help you fight to secure the compensation you deserve. All you have to do is call our law offices in Tampa, Florida at (813) 686-7588 to schedule a free initial consultation.

How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Road Defects Claim in Tampa, FL

Improper road maintenance in Tampa, FL, creates a huge risk for drivers in Southern Florida. You expect roadways to be reasonably safe. You should be able to rely on government transportation authorities to keep them safe.

When they fail and you’re injured, you’ll have to take legal action to recover compensation. Going up against the government can be daunting–especially when you’re hurt. That’s understandable. One misstep and your case could be thrown out entirely.

An experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer can ease the burden.

When you hire Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, you’ll have a lawyer who:

  • Understands the complex and detailed procedural rules that apply in cases involving the government
  • Will work to identify the exact cause of your accident and hold at-fault parties accountable
  • Isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with big government agencies and insurance companies
  • Will hire experts and specialists to strengthen your claim

Collectively, we have over 75 years of experience. We know what it takes to negotiate a meaningful settlement to help you get back on your feet again. If you were hurt, call a Tampa personal injury attorney to arrange a free case review.

How Common Are Accidents Caused by Road Defects in Tampa, FL?

How Common Are Accidents Caused by Road Defects in Tampa, FL?

Road defects cause more accidents in Florida than you might think. According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety, road-related circumstances contributed to over 70,000 injury-causing car accidents in Florida in a single year.

Potholes alone caused more than 100 crashes–and hundreds more Floridians were hurt because of unidentified road defects.

What is My Tampa Road Defects Case Worth?

The value of a road defect case depends on a number of factors. 

Some important questions we’ll ask when assessing the fair value of your injury claim include:

  • How severe were your injuries? 
  • Did you lose money because you couldn’t work?
  • How did the injury impact your life?
  • How expensive were your medical bills? 
  • What types of pain and suffering did you endure?

Insurance companies won’t simply hand over the money because we ask for it. We’ll work with your doctors and other specialists as needed to support your claim.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Road Defect Accident Victims?

Accident victims in Tampa are entitled to recover both their economic damages and non-economic damages. That holds true even if a government agency is a defendant in your case.

Economic damages make up for your financial losses, including:

Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional and physical pain of an injury, providing the victim with money for:

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, our Florida car accident lawyers put in the hard work to make sure our clients get the full compensation they deserve. If you were hurt or lost a loved one, reach out to our law firm for legal advice today.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Road Defects Accident in Florida?

Transportation authorities and other responsible parties will probably try to argue that you caused the accident. They’ll point to some other factor, such as your speed or driver distraction, and claim that the road defect played little to no role in the crash.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re off the hook. Florida law allows accident victims to recover compensation as long as their assigned share of blame is 50% or less. Under this modified comparative fault law, however, your damages award will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. 

For example, if you’re apportioned 40% of the blame, you can recover 60% of your awarded compensation. If you’re assigned 51% fault, you can’t recover any money.

Road Defects Can Cause Serious Injuries: We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries

Road defects can cause serious injuries. You could be facing a long–and expensive–road to recovery after the accident. 

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight to recover fair compensation for all of your injuries, which might include:

Do you suspect road defects caused your motor vehicle accident in Tampa? Call today to learn more about filing a personal injury lawsuit today.

Examples of Road Defects That Commonly Cause Accidents in Florida

A road defect is something on the roadway that creates a risk for drivers. 

Some examples of road defects that often lead to accidents in Tampa include:

  • Damaged or defective guardrails
  • Malfunctioning traffic signals
  • Potholes and crumbling pavement
  • Narrow road shoulders
  • Improper drainage
  • Lack of sufficient lane dividers
  • Missing reflective paint
  • Vegetation that obstructs a driver’s view of the roads
  • Missing warning signs and signals
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Sharp turns, dips, or drop-offs
  • Bridge and tunnel defects
  • Missing construction zone signs
  • Poor road design
  • Poorly designed intersections
  • Improper road resurfacing

Any type of dangerous road design can pose a risk to drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and even pedestrians. Typically, state, city, and municipal governments are responsible for maintaining the roads in Tampa. However, other parties might share responsibility. 

Responsible parties might include:

  • Road construction companies
  • The manufacturer of a defective railing, guardrail, or traffic signal
  • Private contractors
  • At-fault drivers
  • Employers of negligent drivers
  • Road construction workers
  • Pavement management companies

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll work to identify everyone who played a role in your accident–and fight to recover the maximum compensation available.

How Do I Prove Negligence in a Florida Road Defect Injury Case?

You need strong evidence to win a case against the government. Most cases involving road defects are based on negligence. You’ll have the burden of proving that government authorities were negligent in maintaining the roads. 

To win, your lawyer will have to prove four key elements, including:

  • The at-fault party owed you a duty of care that included maintaining the road in safe condition
  • The at-fault party breached their duty of care
  • The breach of duty caused your accident and injuries
  • You suffered damages

To establish your negligence claim, you’ll likely have to prove:

  • A reasonable person would have foreseen the hazards of the dangerous road condition
  • You didn’t know about the hazard–in other words, you couldn’t have avoided the accident
  • The government authority knew, or should have known, about the road defect and failed to fix it
  • The government agency didn’t provide adequate warning to help you avoid the dangerous condition

Getting the evidence to support your claim can be an uphill battle. At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re up for the challenge. We’ll interview witnesses, locate video footage, and even hire accident reconstruction specialists to strengthen your claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Road Defects Lawsuit in Florida?

Normally, car accident victims have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Crash victims used to have four years to file a civil lawsuit, but the law was updated on March 24, 2023. Therefore, if your Tampa road defect accident happened after that date, you have two years to file your lawsuit.

Claims against state and city transportation authorities are subject to a different statute of limitations. Before taking legal action, you’ll have to file a notice of claim with the City of Tampa within three years of the accident. If the state of Florida was responsible for maintaining the road, you’ll have three years to file a notice of claim with the Florida Department of Transportation.

If you fail to file the initial notice of claim with the government, you’ll forfeit your right to sue.

The government transportation authorities will require detailed evidence to support your claim. They also have the right to request additional evidence after your original notice is submitted. It’s always a good idea to get started as quickly as possible in these accident cases. 

Our experienced car accident attorneys in Tampa can ensure you satisfy the complex procedural requirements that apply to a road defects claim. Just give us a call today for a free case evaluation.

Contact A Tampa Auto Accident Attorney if You Were Injured by Road Defects in Tampa, FL

Road defects can cause serious injuries. If you’re struggling after an accident caused by road defects in Tampa, FL, call an experienced car accident lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers today. We’ll set up a free consultation so that you can learn more about the benefits of establishing an attorney-client relationship.

Other Car Accident Cases We Handle

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of car accident claims in Tampa, including:

Additional Car Accident Resources