Were you or a loved one injured in an accident involving a recreational vehicle in Tampa, FL? An experienced Tampa recreational vehicle accident lawyer at Catania & Catania, P.A. can protect your legal right to compensation. You may be able to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our lawyers have fought hard to protect accident victims in the Tampa Bay area for nearly 30 years. We’ve already recovered more than $500 million in compensation to help countless clients get back on their feet.
We would be proud to stand up for your family. Call our law offices in Tampa, Florida at (813) 222-8656 to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
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How Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Recreational Vehicle Accident in Tampa
You certainly didn’t expect your RV trip to end in an accident. Now, you’re left struggling with injuries and property damage. If you didn’t cause the accident, you shouldn’t have to cover the costs. After all, that is the law.
Florida personal injury laws are designed to protect accident victims from unexpected costs. However, that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to get the money you deserve. Insurance companies will fight you every step of the way.
They might even try to blame you for causing the damage. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers can help. Collectively, we have over 28 years of experience handling cases like yours.
Hiring us means your lawyer will:
- Conduct an independent investigation to determine the cause of your crash
- Find out who is legally responsible for paying your damages
- Assess the fair value of your personal injury claim
- Consult experts and specialists as needed
We’ll handle all negotiations with the insurance company with one goal: maximizing your compensation award. To learn more, call a Tampa personal injury attorney who can help today.
How Common Are Recreational Vehicle Accidents in Tampa, FL?
RVs have always been popular in the state of Florida. After all, there are hundreds of RV parks and campgrounds in Florida. However, the popularity of recreational vehicles spiked even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. RV accidents and injuries are also on the rise.
An NHTSA report found that 117 recreational vehicles were involved in fatal accidents in 2019. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), another 75,000 people were injured in recreational vehicle accidents in a single year.
At Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of RV accident cases in Tampa, including those involving:
- Campers
- Motor homes
- Travel trailers
- Pop-up vans
- Fifth-wheel trailers
- Motorcoaches
- And more
According to FEMA, a “recreational vehicle” is any vehicle that provides temporary lodging. That’s true whether self-propelled or towed by another truck or vehicle.
Latest Tampa auto accident statistics show that car crashes are on the rise in the Tampa Bay Area. The most common types of car accidents include:
- Airbag and seatbelt injuries,
- Head-on crashes,
- Highway crashes,
- Lane change accidents,
- Left-turn accidents,
- Rear-end collisions,
- Red and yellow light accidents,
- Rollover accidents,
- And more.
What is My Tampa Recreational Vehicle Accident Case Worth?
Accident victims in Florida aren’t responsible for damage caused by someone else’s careless acts. As the injured party, your goal is to recover compensation to make you whole again.
In other words, it should be as though the accident never happened–at least from a financial perspective. If you settle for less than your case is worth, you may be left struggling with expenses in the future.
You’ll have to know how much your personal injury case is worth before accepting a settlement to recover full compensation.
Many factors can play a role in that calculation, including:
- The circumstances of the accident
- How serious your injuries are
- The cost of your medical treatment and other out-of-pocket costs
- Whether you’ve sustained a permanent or life-changing disability
- Any emotional suffering you’ve experienced
The insurance company wants to resolve your case quickly–and for as little as possible. It’s up to you to prove how much you deserve.
Insurance companies take Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers seriously. Our car accident attorneys in Tampa also have relationships with experts who can help. We can offer more details about how much your case is worth in a free consultation, so call our law firm today to schedule yours.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims in Tampa, FL?
Compensatory damages are divided into two categories: economic and non-economic. Your economic damages are your out-of-pocket costs.
Common examples of economic damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages, income, and future earning potential
- Specialized care
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
Putting a dollar value on non-economic damages can be more difficult. However, they can help you put your life back together after an accident.
Common examples of your non-financial losses include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical impairment, scarring, or disfigurement
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are a third category of damages. However, courts only award punitive damages to punish a defendant. If your accident was caused by someone’s willful or malicious wrongdoing, you may be entitled to punitive damages.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Recreational Vehicle Accident in Florida?
Florida follows pure comparative fault laws. If you’re injured and partly responsible, you can seek damages from other responsible parties.
However, you won’t be able to take home your full compensation award. If the insurance company can prove you were partly to blame, your damages will be reduced according to your percentage of liability.
For example, assume the insurance company awards you $100,000. They also present evidence to show that you were 40% responsible for the accident. You’ll walk away with only $60,000–or 60% of your damages.
Contributory fault laws in Florida give insurance companies an incentive to blame the victim. As you can see, you might end up with significantly less money if you’re partly responsible for your injuries. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help if you’re being blamed for an accident. Call Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers today for a free case review.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Recreational Vehicle Accident Injuries
Regular car seat laws and car inspection requirements might not apply to a recreational vehicle. Also, passengers often don’t wear a seatbelt–even while the vehicle is in motion. This increases the risk of serious injury in a crash.
At Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, our Tampa recreational vehicle accident attorneys handle all types of personal injury cases, including cases involving:
- Whiplash injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Chest injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Did you lose a family member in a fatal RV accident? Our wrongful death attorneys can also help you fight and recover damages for wrongful death.
What Causes Most Recreational Vehicle Accidents in Tampa, Florida?
RVs aren’t a new type of motor vehicle. However, many drivers don’t have experience operating these large and heavy machines. Because of that, many accidents are caused by a lack of experience.
Most accidents involve some type of negligent driving, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Windy conditions
- Excessive speeds for road conditions
- Dangerous turns
- RVs that are overloaded
- Failure to check blind spots when passing or changing lanes
- Failure to properly secure the RV before towing
- Rollovers caused by a high center of gravity
- Unbalanced loads
- Failure to account for increased stopping times
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles
- Failure to properly inspect and maintain the vehicle
In some cases, RV crashes can happen because of design defects, defective brakes, or worn tires. In these cases, the manufacturer may be liable for your damages.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Recreational Vehicle Accident in Florida?
RV accident cases can be complicated. Most are based on negligence theories.
Negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. To recover damages, the victim must prove that:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach caused the accident
- The accident caused some type of damages
Sometimes the RV driver is responsible for your injuries. Other times, multiple parties may share the blame.
Those parties could include:
- A trucking company
- The RV manufacturer
- RV rental companies
- Manufacturers of defective safety equipment
- Third-party motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists
- Government agencies
- Employers of negligent parties
To maximize your compensation, it’s necessary to demand fair compensation from everyone whose acts contributed to your accident. Our car accident lawyers can help you do that. Reach out and schedule a free case evaluation to learn more.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Recreational Vehicle Accident in Florida?
Every state limits the amount of time you have to take legal action after an accident. Under Florida law, the statute of limitations in personal injury cases is four years. To file a personal injury lawsuit, you must act within four years after the accident or risk losing your right to compensation.
Contact our Tampa Car Accident Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Were you injured in a car accident involving an RV? Contact a Tampa recreational vehicle accident lawyer to learn more about your legal rights today. At Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, your initial consultation is always free–so you don’t have to worry about any upfront costs.
