Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer
Insurance companies recognize Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. as formidable advocates who consistently deliver results. Over the past 55 years, our Tampa personal injury lawyers have guided thousands of clients and recovered more than $1 billion in compensation and benefits for injury damages.
When serious accidents shatter lives, we fight back, preparing every case for trial, not just settlement, earning our reputation in Tampa courtrooms.
Call (863) 688-7766 to see why injured families trust our experienced personal injury attorneys in Tampa, FL.
Understanding Personal Injury Law in Tampa
Personal injury law protects people harmed by another’s negligence. It allows victims to hold the at-fault party accountable and seek compensation for their losses.
In Florida, a successful claim must prove:
- Duty of care: The party had a legal obligation to act safely.
- Breach of duty: They failed to meet that obligation.
- Causation: Their actions directly caused your injury.
- Damages: You suffered losses such as medical bills or lost income.
Knowing these elements can help you know if you have a valid case. If negligence caused your injury, a personal injury lawyer can explain your options and fight for your recovery.
Types of Tampa Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Personal injury law covers many situations where negligence leads to harm. Below are some of the most common case types we handle.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, we handle car crashes, truck collisions, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian injuries caused by negligent drivers. These cases often involve complicated insurance issues and require careful investigation to prove fault.
Premises Liability
In premises liability situations, property owners must maintain safe conditions. Slip and falls, inadequate security, swimming pool accidents, and other hazards can lead to serious injuries. We help victims hold negligent property owners accountable.
Medical Malpractice
When doctors, hospitals, or other medical providers fail to meet professional standards, patients can suffer severe harm. Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, hospital negligence, and medication mistakes can all be grounds for a malpractice claim.
Product Liability
Product liability injuries happen when defective or dangerous products harm unsuspecting consumers. Faulty manufacturing, unsafe design, or dangerous prescription drugs require experienced legal guidance. We fight to protect victims and secure compensation.
Workplace Injuries
While workers’ compensation covers many job-related injuries, some cases involve negligent third parties. Construction accidents and industrial incidents often require separate personal injury claims to recover full compensation.
Each case type requires different legal strategies and evidence. At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., our experienced team understands Florida personal injury law and how to build winning cases across all practice areas.
The Reality of Tampa’s High-Risk Traffic Areas
Tampa faces one of Florida’s worst accident records, with 27,468 crashes last year in Hillsborough County alone, causing 233 deaths and over 17,000 injuries. Interstate 4 is America’s most dangerous highway, while Brandon Boulevard and Waters Avenue see frequent, often deadly collisions. These crashes leave families facing lifelong medical needs and financial hardship. We are a local firm that knows Tampa’s unique dangers and fights relentlessly against insurance companies to secure justice for accident victims.
Our Trial-First Approach Changes Everything
Most personal injury firms focus on high volume and quick settlements. At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., our personal injury lawyers take the opposite approach, preparing every case as if it is going to trial because insurance companies only respect attorneys they know will fight. Paving the way with innovative strategies to strengthen and increase the value of your claim, we build leverage from the very start.
When adjusters see our name, they know we have thoroughly prepared the case and are committed to maximum recovery. Our proven history of verdicts makes lowball offers a waste of time.
Florida Injury Law Changes Every Accident Victim Must Know
Florida’s legal environment has shifted dramatically, creating new challenges and opportunities for injury victims. Understanding these changes can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional compensation.
The 2023 Statute Revolution
On March 24, 2023, Florida amended Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), reducing the statute of limitations for most negligence-based personal injury claims from four years to two years. This new deadline applies to causes of action that accrue on or after March 24, 2023. Any accidents before that date generally still follow the previous four-year deadline, but victims of newer cases must act quickly to protect their rights.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Under the same legislative reforms (House Bill 837), Florida replaced pure comparative negligence with modified comparative negligence (Fla. Stat. § 768.81). If an injured party is found more than 50% at fault, they are barred from recovering damages. This shift makes a detailed investigation and strong advocacy from the very beginning of a case essential.
No-Fault Insurance Complexities
Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law requires accident victims to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash to qualify for PIP benefits. Missing this window can drastically reduce or eliminate coverage, causing victims to lose thousands of dollars in available benefits.
At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., our deep understanding of Florida’s evolving personal injury laws ensures your case is handled correctly from the start. If you need an experienced Tampa, FL personal injury lawyer, we are ready to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
What You Should Do After a Tampa Accident
What you do in the days after an accident can make or break your personal injury case. Insurance companies count on mistakes; our personal injury attorneys ensure your rights are protected.
- Document injuries with photos and a daily pain journal
- Preserve all evidence and avoid repairing vehicles before attorney review
- Keep every medical record and follow all doctors’ instructions
- Never give recorded statements to insurance adjusters
- Do not sign any documents without legal review
- Avoid posting about your accident or injuries on social media
- Reject quick settlement offers before understanding the full impact of your injuries
Our personal injury lawyers will fight to protect your rights and maximize your recovery. With our guidance, you can focus on healing while we handle the legal battle.
Why Insurance Companies Fear High-Value Injury Cases Like Yours
When catastrophic injuries shatter lives, insurance companies deploy their most aggressive tactics. They know serious injuries mean serious money, so they fight hardest against the cases that matter most. At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., we’ve seen every trick they use to deny, delay, and minimize devastating injury claims.
Catastrophic Personal Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries: First-year care can top $1.1 million, yet insurers dangle $50,000 before you know the real costs.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: They claim you’re “fine” while cognitive damage ends your career and creates decades of hidden losses.
- Severe Burns: Years of surgeries and counseling were ignored in lowball settlement offers.
- Amputations: Prosthetics costing $50K–$100K get reduced to “basic” devices in insurer calculations.
Common Motor Vehicle Injuries
- Whiplash & Soft Tissue Damage: Brushed off as “minor” while chronic pain wrecks your work and sleep.
- Fractures & Broken Bones: Settled quickly before long-term complications emerge.
- Internal Injuries: Hidden organ damage is ignored until it’s too late.
Premises Liability Injuries
- Slip & Fall Injuries: Hip fractures, head trauma, and spinal injuries are swept under the rug.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: Property owners lawyer up to dodge brain injury liability.
This is why insurance companies respect our proven track record. They know we’ll expose every consequence of their insured’s negligence and fight for complete compensation, not convenient settlements.
What Your Tampa Personal Injury Case Is Really Worth
Insurance companies profit by convincing injury victims to accept pennies on the dollar. They’ll rush you into settlements before you understand your case’s true value. At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., we fight for every dollar you deserve by exposing what insurance companies don’t want you to know.
Economic Damages
- Medical Expenses: All treatment costs, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and future medical needs
- Lost Wages: Income lost during recovery, including salary, overtime, and employment benefits
- Future Earnings: Reduced earning capacity due to permanent injuries or disabilities
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: Physical discomfort, emotional distress, and mental anguish
- Loss of Enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed
- Loss of Consortium: Impact on marriage and family relationships
Punitive Damages
Florida limits punitive damages to three times compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater. These apply in drunk driving cases, corporate negligence, and intentional misconduct situations.
Insurance companies know our trial-ready reputation. They’d rather settle fairly than face our case before a Tampa jury. Don’t let them decide your case’s value; our personal injury attorney will ensure you know what you’re truly owed before you settle.
How Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. Builds Winning Cases
Success in personal injury litigation requires more than legal knowledge; it demands strategic thinking, thorough preparation, and relentless advocacy.
Immediate Response Team
When serious accidents occur, evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage gets deleted, witness memories fade, and accident scenes change. Our rapid response protocol preserves valuable evidence before it vanishes.
Digital Forensics Advantage
Modern accident reconstruction relies heavily on electronic evidence. Vehicle computers record speed, braking, and steering data. Cell phone records reveal texting or calling at impact. Our team knows how to locate, preserve, and analyze this digital evidence.
Medical Documentation Strategy
Insurance companies attack injury claims by questioning medical necessity and treatment relationships. We work directly with your healthcare providers to ensure proper documentation of your injuries and their connection to the accident.
Expert Witness Network
Complicated cases require expert testimony to explain technical concepts to juries. We maintain relationships with respected professionals across accident reconstruction, biomechanics, economics, and medicine.
With decades of courtroom experience, our attorneys know how to present compelling evidence and persuasive arguments that hold negligent parties accountable. If you’ve been injured, our dedicated personal injury lawyers will fight for the full compensation you deserve, starting from the moment you contact us.
Why Insurance Companies Settle More When We’re Involved
Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but insurance companies settle faster when Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. is involved. They know we’ve actually taken cases to trial, not just threatened to.
When We Push for Trial:
- Inadequate Offers: Insurance companies are refusing fair compensation
- Corporate Arrogance: When defendants think they’re above accountability
- Punitive Damage Cases: Where Tampa juries can send powerful messages
Insurance companies know the difference between lawyers who threaten trial and lawyers who actually go to trial. That’s why they take our demands seriously from the first phone call.
How We Protect You from Insurance Company Tactics
After decades of fighting insurance companies, we’ve seen every tactic they use to minimize claims.
- Offering inadequate settlements within hours of the accident
- Monitoring claimants’ activities and social media
- Using “independent” medical exams to minimize injuries
- Deliberately delaying claims to pressure victims into accepting less
At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., we’ve spent decades learning how to counter every one of these tactics. While insurance companies prey on unrepresented victims, they respect personal injury attorneys who know their game.
The Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. Difference
What sets our firm apart isn’t just experience, it’s our fundamental approach to practicing law. We’re passionate advocates, not quick settlers, and we’re in it for the long haul. Our experienced staff has spent decades perfecting personal injury litigation with a long-standing history of helping others. This isn’t a practice area we dabble in; it’s our focus and passion.
Unlike high-volume firms that treat clients like case numbers, we provide personal attention where your calls get returned and questions get answered. Insurance companies know we’ll take cases all the way to trial, which gives us more negotiating power and translates directly into better settlements for our clients.
Speak to a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., we understand that personal injury cases are about more than money; they’re about justice, accountability, and protecting your family’s future. With a long-standing history of helping others and decades of experience, our Tampa personal injury attorneys have tried over 3,000 workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, winning hundreds of appellate decisions that influence Florida law. Insurance companies know our reputation and respect the tenacity we bring to every case.
Call (863) 688-7766 or contact us online for a free consultation. No fees unless we win.
Visit Our Tampa Personal Injury Law Office
Smith, Feddeler & Smith, P.A. – Tampa Office
100 S Ashley Drive Suite 600 Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 937-6334
Phone calls were returned timely. I was kept informed of my case and my questions were answered. The staff was professional, courteous, concerned and caring. Overall my experience with this law firm was good and I would recommend them to a friend.
- Rhonda D.
Keep up the good work!
- Thomas B.Everyone who I had the pleasure in talking to or email correspondence has been great and professional. Thank you all for the good service.
- Elixsandra F.Everyone in the office was always helpful and did everything to help up on the case.
- Thomas D.I appreciate all the work you all did. I will recommended Brad Smith and Smith, Feddeler & Smith to anyone who is looking for good legal help.
- Robert S.I would like to thank Mr. Feddeler and the Law Firm for their help in my workers; compensation case. I want to especially thank Julie for being such a special lady and for have such a patient and wonderful personality and manners. She kept me informed of what was going on and answered all my questions when I needed them.
- Stanley E.I am thankful with the firm and staff for always being so courteous and helpful with my case and with me. You guys helped me every step of the way and I am glad I chose your firm to represent me. Thank you for all you do!
- A Montalvo.Everyone that was involved with my case was awesome! No complaints. Hope I never need to get a lawyer again, but if I did I would choose this Law Firm. So thank you!
- Juanita B.I was bit by a Pit Bull in the face in May of 2016. The injuries I suffered was a fractures nose and teeth marks to the nose and under my lip. I chose Smith, Feddeler because they had a great reputation on line. They were very compassionate, very sympathetic and very respectful of the situation I was going through. The attorney was very sincere and staff always responsive and available when I needed. I would definitely recommend Smith, Feddeler & Smith. Kevin Balentine was very helpful and efficient.
- Lauren M.If you ever want a good attorney who is going to fight and advocate for injured workers and knows the law of workers’ comp in the State of Florida, please contact Brad at Smith, Feddeler & Smith. I assure you they will fight for your rights and you will come out victorious, and you will be able to tell somebody else like I’m telling you.
- Ricky B.Contact Us For A Free Consultation With A Qualified Lawyer
