Hurt on a Tampa Bay road? Let a Tampa car accident lawyer take on the insurance company.
A Tampa car accident lawyer handles every insurer after a Florida crash, from your own PIP carrier to the at-fault driver’s company, so you can focus on healing. From our Rocky Point office we represent people hurt across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk, in English or Spanish. The case review is free, and there’s no fee unless we recover.
After a Tampa crash, the clock starts before you’re home
We’re sorry this happened. One minute you’re crossing the Howard Frankland or inching down Dale Mabry, and the next you’re dealing with tow yards, doctor’s visits and phone calls you never asked for. The insurance companies are already working the claim.
The recorded statement
The other driver’s adjuster calls to “get your side.” A guess about your speed or how you feel can be used to argue fault or shrink your injuries.
The fault fight
On I-275 and the bridges, crashes happen fast and in heavy traffic. Insurers fill the gaps with a version that blames you.
The quick lowball offer
A fast check, before you know whether that sore neck needs an MRI, injections or surgery.
What waiting can cost you
The 14-day window
Miss it, and your PIP may not cover your treatment at all.
The two-year deadline
Most Florida crash claims must be filed within two years, or the claim can be lost.
Over 50% at fault
If the insurer makes that stick, Florida law bars your recovery.
PIP runs out fast
$10,000 covers a few visits and scans. Surgery and therapy can cost far more.
The insurance company has a team. Now you do too.
Get my free case reviewFlorida law, in plain words
Who pays after a Tampa car crash
Florida is a no-fault state, so your own insurance pays first, no matter who caused the crash. But no-fault only goes so far. A serious crash in Tampa Bay usually involves several policies, and each insurer looks out for itself.
Your PIP pays first
Personal injury protection covers 80% of reasonable medical bills and 60% of lost income, up to $10,000, as long as you get care within 14 days.
The at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage
It pays for medical bills beyond PIP, lost wages and pain and suffering, once your injury meets Florida’s permanent-injury threshold.
Your uninsured motorist coverage
Florida doesn’t require most drivers to carry bodily injury coverage. If you bought uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, it can fill the gap.
Pain and suffering needs a permanent injury
To claim it against the at-fault driver, your doctors have to document a permanent injury, significant scarring or a significant loss of a bodily function.
Shared fault
Your recovery drops by your share of the fault, and if you’re found more than 50% at fault, it’s gone. Evidence gathered early is what keeps that number down.
Fault, since 2023
51%
Florida now uses modified comparative negligence. Found 51% or more at fault, and you recover nothing from the other driver.
Tampa car accident attorneys
Tampa Bay crashes have their own patterns
Tampa Bay packs commuters, bridge traffic, MacDill and port traffic, and a steady stream of visitors into four counties connected by a few long spans of road. Where your crash happened shapes the evidence we go after first: traffic camera and dashcam video, the crash report from the Tampa Police, the Hillsborough County Sheriff or the Florida Highway Patrol, and witnesses.
I-275, I-4 and the downtown interchange
Merges, sudden slowdowns and lane changes where I-275 meets I-4 downtown and around the Westshore interchange lead to rear-end and sideswipe crashes.
Dale Mabry, Hillsborough Avenue and US 19
Busy commercial corridors with constant turns in and out of driveways. Left-turn and T-bone crashes here often come down to who had the light.
Visitors and rental cars
Tampa International, Busch Gardens, Raymond James Stadium and the Pinellas beaches bring out-of-state drivers. Coverage can come from a policy back home or the rental company, and we sort out which pays.
Uninsured and hit-and-run drivers
When the other driver flees or carries no bodily injury coverage, your own uninsured motorist coverage is often the path to a fair recovery.
What you can recover after a Tampa crash
PIP is only the start. When another driver is at fault, a claim against their insurance, or your own uninsured motorist coverage, can cover what PIP never will. We don’t send a demand until your doctors can tell us what your recovery will really cost.
- Medical bills PIP didn’t cover, now and in the future
- Lost wages, and lost earning power if you can’t do the same work
- Pain, suffering and the life you couldn’t live while healing
- Your car repaired or replaced, plus a rental while you wait
- Scarring, disfigurement and permanent limits on what you can do
- For families after a fatal crash: funeral costs, lost support and lost companionship
Free checklist
After a Florida crash: the first 14 days
Not ready to call? That’s okay. This checklist covers what to do now so you don’t lose benefits you’re owed.
- The doctor visit that protects your PIP benefits (the 14-day window)
- The photos and records to collect right away
- What not to say to the other driver’s insurer
No sign-up. Check it off on your phone, or print it for your glovebox.
Proof, not promises
Real people, real results
Sunshine by the numbers
- Recovered in auto accident cases
- $3M+
- 255+ Google reviews
- 5.0
- Florida offices
- 3
Every case is different. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
“I want to thank and highly recommend Sunshine State Law Firm. After my car accident, they handled the entire process, from coordinating my medical care to guiding me through the legal proceedings. They were always very professional, attentive, and available to answer all my questions. Thanks to their support, I was able to focus on my recovery without worrying about the legal process. I am very grateful to the entire team and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who needs help after an accident. Excellent service!”
Three simple steps
Your Tampa car accident case, in three steps
- 1
Tell us what happened
A free call with an attorney, in English or Spanish. We’ll explain your PIP, your deadlines and what your claim may involve.
- 2
We take over the insurance companies
We notify every insurer, get the crash report, video and medical records, and handle the calls, so no one pressures you for a recorded statement.
- 3
You heal, we push for a fair recovery
When your treatment is clear, we send a demand and negotiate hard. If the insurer won’t be fair, we’re ready to file in a Tampa Bay court.
Where you end up: back on the road in Tampa Bay
Before
- Overwhelmed and in pain
- Alone against the insurance company
- Treated like a claim number
With Sunshine
- Informed at every step
- Protected by a team that fights for you
- Back on your feet
The right doctors
Treatment close to home that actually helps you heal, with second opinions when they matter.
Bills and lost wages recovered
Medical bills covered and the paychecks you missed made up.
Your car repaired or replaced
A fair value for your vehicle, and a rental while you wait.
Peace of mind
No more calls from adjusters. You always know what’s next.
Every case is different. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
Our promise
We treat your case as if it were our own.
What it costs, and why Sunshine
Car accident attorneys with an office in Tampa
After a crash in Tampa Bay, most people end up fighting the insurance company alone. Sunshine State Law Firm takes on that fight from our Rocky Point office and keeps you informed every step of the way, so you can heal and get back on the road. No fee unless we recover for you.
- No fee unless we recover for you. The percentage is in writing before you sign, along with the Statement of Client’s Rights Florida requires.
- You’ll always know who’s handling your case, with updates by text, email and phone.
- Hablamos español, from the first call to the final check.
- No question is a dumb question. We explain every step in plain words.
Car accident guides
How medical bills are paid after a car accident in Florida
How medical bills are paid after a Florida car accident: PIP first, then MedPay, health insurance and the at-fault driver, plus how liens work.
Read the guide
Should I accept the first car accident settlement offer?
Got a first settlement offer after a car accident? Why early offers run low in Florida, what signing a release means, and how to respond.
Read the guide
Should I go to the hospital after a car accident?
Should you go to the hospital after a car accident? Why you should get checked even if you feel fine, where to go, and Florida’s 14-day PIP rule.
Read the guide
Statewide
Serving clients across all of Florida
Our offices are in Winter Park, Tampa and Jacksonville, and we take cases from the Panhandle to Miami. Most clients never need to visit: we meet by phone or video, or come to your home or hospital bed.
- Orlando631 S Orlando Ave., Suite 400
Winter Park, FL 32789 - Tampa2502 N Rocky Point Dr., Suite 920
Tampa, FL 33607 - Jacksonville1534 Oak St., Suite 302
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Also serving
- Kissimmee
- Daytona Beach
- St. Petersburg
- Sarasota
- Fort Myers
- Naples
- Tallahassee
- Miami
- Fort Lauderdale
- West Palm Beach
Tampa car accident questions we hear every day
No question is a dumb question. Here are the ones we hear most.
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee: our fee is a percentage of what we recover, and you owe no attorney’s fee if we don’t recover. The percentage and how case costs are handled are in a written agreement you see before you sign.
Yes. Our Tampa office represents people hurt in car accidents across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey and Lakeland. We can meet at the office, by video or at your home.
Your own PIP pays first, covering 80% of reasonable medical bills up to $10,000, as long as you get treatment within 14 days. After that, health insurance, MedPay, the at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage and your uninsured motorist coverage can each play a part.
How medical bills are paid after a crashUsually in the county where the crash happened or where the at-fault driver lives. Hillsborough cases go to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in downtown Tampa, Pinellas and Pasco cases to the Sixth Circuit, and Polk cases to the Tenth Circuit in Bartow. Most claims settle without a trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go to court.
For crashes since March 24, 2023, Florida generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. The 14-day window to start treatment for PIP comes much sooner, and claims involving a government vehicle have their own notice rules.
Florida injury deadlines, explainedUsually not before you know the full cost of your injuries. Once you accept, you typically sign a release that ends the claim, even if you later need surgery. Have an attorney review the offer first.
Should you accept the first settlement offer?Tell us your story. We’ll take it from here.
A free, personal conversation with an attorney. No pressure, no fee unless we recover for you.
Hablamos español · Consulta gratis