Tampa Bay Legal Blog

After a car accident in Florida, an insurance adjuster for the other driver’s insurer may ask you for your medical records. You need to understand that insurers have no inherent right to your medical files, and you should never voluntarily release your medical records to another driver’s insurance company. An…

Have you recently suffered an injury for which someone else is to blame? If so, that person could owe you money – but you’ll have to go through the Florida personal injury claims process to get it. This involves gathering evidence, getting medical treatment, and, crucially, getting in touch with…

If you are injured in Florida due to someone else’s intentional misconduct or gross negligence, you may be able to collect punitive damages equal to three times your compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater. In cases where the defendant intended to hurt you, there is no cap on punitive…

A bicycle accident can leave you with significant expenses due to medical treatment, long-term care, and lost wages. Fortunately, you may have the option to file a bicycle car accident insurance claim, even if you caused the accident. Florida has a “no-fault” auto insurance system, which requires insurance providers to…

Punitive damages are available in a Florida car accident case, but they are awarded in very specific circumstances. Unlike compensatory damages, which aim to cover the victim’s actual losses, punitive damages are meant to punish particularly reckless or egregious behavior by the defendant and deter similar conduct. Florida law allows…

Intersections are common hotspots for accidents. According to Florida right-of-way laws, drivers approaching an intersection must yield to any vehicle already in the intersection and pedestrians crossing the street. You should only proceed once the road is clear, ensuring everyone’s safety.  In Florida, right-of-way laws dictate who has the legal…

In a Florida personal injury case, a “third party” could be someone involved in an accident who didn’t directly cause it. A person can file a “third-party claim” against an at-fault party’s insurance company or another liable party after an accident. (A “first-party claim” is a claim someone files with…

There are legal requirements you must meet to sue someone in Florida. Lawyers call these requirements “standing.” The three elements of standing to sue in Florida are “injury in fact,” “causation,” and “redressability.” But what do these terms mean when you strip away the convoluted legalese? At Zervos & Calta,…

Breach of duty of care refers to someone’s failure to meet the applicable standard of care under the circumstances surrounding the accident and your injuries. Someone who breaches a duty of care may be liable for an accident victim’s injuries and losses. In a personal injury claim, you can recover…

While Florida is a beautiful state, its reputation for car accidents is far from pretty. Surveys show that Florida consistently ranks as one of the worst states for traffic crashes. One study based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ranked three Florida cities among the top…