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Planning For Safe Thanksgiving Travels

With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, there will be many people who are traveling to see friends and family. If you’re planning to be one of them, there are a few traveling safety tips you should keep in mind.

Take Caution in Planning Your Route

One of the first tips in traveling safely is to use caution in planning your route because you’re more prone to make a driving mistake when you grow frustrated from getting lost. Of course, when you encounter bad traffic you may start to get upset which could cause you to also make mistakes or drive more aggressively. Besides considering the route, also consider things like weather conditions, whether there will be traffic, any road work that may be occurring, or any other possible obstructions you may encounter. Besides programming your route into your GPS, you should also print out a map to take with you.

Think About Letting Someone Else Drive

Remember, driving isn’t the only way to get to your destination. A great way to get there without the stress of the holiday roads and possibly getting into a car accident is to consider taking a bus or a train. If you still plan to drive, consider traveling safely and do so with family or friends who can help with the driving, change the music, and read the map for you.

Use Wisdom in Scheduling Your Trip

Make sure that you’re able to get plenty of sleep before you set out on your trip. You also want to make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Take plenty of breaks along the way. Don’t overlook this traveling safety tip for sake of saving time on the road or you may find yourself in a car accident! By rushing to get to your destination you’re putting unnecessary stress on yourself which could cause you to make a careless mistake. When you give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going you’ll reduce the pressure and be more focused on safety.

Take Your car in for a Tune-Up

Prepare your car for the drive, especially if you’re traveling a long distance. If you plan to drive somewhere that gets snow or ice, make sure you winterize your vehicle (e.g. get winter tires, fill up the antifreeze, make sure you use windshield wiper fluid designed for cold temperatures). Failure to do so makes it much more likely that you’ll get into a car accident. If you’re unfamiliar with driving in these conditions, consider leaving the driving to someone more familiar with them. Icy, snowy roads are dangerous and can easily lead to a crash if you’re unfamiliar with driving in these conditions.

Pack With Traveling Safety in Mind

Packing with traveling safety in mind means bringing certain items with you, including:

● Water and snacks
● First aid kit
● Insurance information
● Sunglasses

Take your time when packing to make sure you have everything you need and you can reach it all with ease. If you’re traveling alone, make sure someone knows the route you plan to take just in case you do get into a car accident.

Cut Down on Driving Dangers

The night before you plan to embark on your trip, make sure that you don’t drink any alcohol and that you get to bed early. When you’re in the car you should do everything possible to cut down on your distractions (e.g. turn your mobile phone off, have a long playlist so you don’t have to search for a radio station).

Plan for What to do if You’re in a Car Accident

Despite all your plans for traveling safely, you may still end up in a car accident. If this happens to you in Tampa, FL this Thanksgiving, contact the Rojas Law Group. They’re there to take good care of you in your time of need.

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Ergonomic Design And Safe Driving

Ergonomics is an aspect of design that may not come to mind when you think of safe driving. Normally, talks around safe driving include avoiding distractions like phones and food while driving. However, ergonomic design, which is a type of design made to help someone function at their most comfortable is also a crucial part of keeping you and your family safe while driving. In this article, we’ll go over how why ergonomic design is important for safe vehicles, as well as some of the ways that you can help improve the ergonomics of your car to make your driving safer and preventing a car accident.

Ergonomics as a Safety Feature

Ergonomics may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of road safety, but it’s important, nonetheless. An ergonomically designed car will be designed to follow your intuitive movements. For example, the seat will be able to be adjusted to the right distance from the peddles, you won’t have to strain to reach any buttons, touchscreens, or switches, and you won’t struggle to reach the gear shift. These simple design factors will help you react quickly and smoothly in the event of an emergency.

How to Set Your Car Up Ergonomically

Because cars are designed for the average person, setting your car up ergonomically will mean making a few adjustments. The first thing to do is adjust your steering wheel. You should be able to adjust it so that it doesn’t hit your knees, while still being close enough that you can comfortably hold it with both hands. This will enable you to have the most control in the event of something like a car accident.

Next up is adjusting your seat to the correct position and headrest. Your seat should be moved forward enough that you can comfortably reach the wheel, controls, and pedals. It’s also important for the seat to be high enough for you to easily see over the hood of the car. This will enable you to see what’s going on on the road in front of you, as well as speed up your reaction time in an accident. If you’re on the shorter side, it may be worth investing in a height-increasing cushion. For the headrest, make sure that it is around three inches above the top of your head while being lower than your crown. One of the main dangers of an incorrectly placed headrest is that it can obstruct your vision, potentially causing a car accident.

If you struggle to adjust your car on your own, there’s a chance you’ll be able to get it adjusted by your dealership. This is especially true if you have a significant physical difference (like height) from the general population. If your manufacturer or dealership does not modify your car for you and you are in a car accident as a result of their negligence, you may be able to get compensation. If you were injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence in Tampa, FL, contact the Rojas Law Group for a free consultation.

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Car Accident Risk Factors For Teenage Drivers

Car accidents are one of the leading reasons for deaths among teenagers in the US. However, teenage car crashes can be prevented and there are proven strategies available that can prove the safety of these young drivers on the roads. The risk of injuries sustained during car crashes is higher in the case of teenagers aged between 16 and 19 than compared to other age groups. As a matter of fact per mile on the road, the teenage drivers belonging to this age group are 3 times more likely to get involved in fatal crashes than those aged more than 20. The teenagers more at risk of sustaining injuries are males, teenage drivers riding with other teenage passengers, and newly licensed drivers.

Factors putting the teenage drivers at risk on the roads

1. Inexperience: Teenage drivers are more likely to underestimate dangerous situations while driving than older drivers. They are also susceptible to erroneous decisions than compared to the adults leading to serious car crashes.

2. Speeding: Teenage drivers are more likely to speed their motor vehicle than compared to older drivers. They are many times also guilty of allowing shorter headways (this is the distance between the fronts of one car to the front of the one ahead.)

3. Using seat belts: Compared to other age groups these young adults use the seat belts less often. It was found in a survey that in the year 2017 just 58% of the high school students made sure that they were always wearing seat belts while riding as passengers. Out of the drivers between the age group 15 to 20 that died in car accidents in 2017, half were unrestrained at the time of the car accident and they were aware that the restraint was required.

4. Drunk driving: Although the young drivers have a lower rate of accidents than their older generation in terms of drunk driving, they are less likely to appreciate the need to consume less alcohol if any car driving is expected later. This holds true even when they are staying within the legal speed limits for the road. If the teenage driver has been a part of underage drinking he or she is at the risk of getting their driving license revoked.

5. Number of passengers in the car: The passengers riding in a car are a risk to the teenagers as surveys have indicated that the more the passengers in the car, the greater the risk of car accidents for the teenagers. If you are a teenager you are facing additional risk at these times due to the fact that other members in the enclosed spaces of a car can transmit coronavirus. Try to limit the number of passengers the teenager can carry in his car so that he can concentrate more on the road.

6. Distracted car driving: The distractions arrive in various forms. They can occur due to cell phones, dashboards, and other passengers of the vehicle. Encourage the teenage drivers to maintain their hands on the steering wheel at all times, eyes focused on the road, and their mind on driving the car. Discuss with them the various ways in which distractions occur while driving a car and help them in finding their own solutions for overcoming these distractions.

If you’re teenaged son or daughter is injured due to dangerous driving on someone else’s part due to negligence you can get in touch with a car accident lawyer at the Rojas Law Group if you stay in Tampa, FL area. You can discuss the matter with a car collision attorney to find out the various alternatives available to you.

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Benefits Of Hiring A Car Accident Attorney When You’re Not At Fault

After you’ve been injured in a car accident you may find yourself wondering whether you should hire an attorney. Although you’re under no obligation to do so, it is in your best interest to schedule a consultation with a lawyer so you can learn about your legal rights. This is especially true when the accident wasn’t your fault. Then you may need to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for the damages you’ve sustained.

There are some relatively heavy financial burdens that are oftentimes associated with car accidents. Therefore, it’s crucial for you to maximize your compensation value. Remember, the insurance company isn’t on your side. They want to minimize the amount they must pay on your claim. This is why you’ll want to work with an experienced car accident attorney to ensure that your settlement will adequately cover all the damages you’ve sustained.

Determining Your Percentage of Fault and Compensation

In Tampa, FL the doctrine of comparative negligence is used to determine how much money you’re entitled to receive for your damages. Under the comparative negligence laws, you’ll have your damages reduced based upon how much you’re at fault. For instance, when it’s been determined that you’re 30% at fault for the car accident then you’ll only be able to recover 70% of the total amount of damages that you’ve suffered.

Working with an experienced car accident attorney will help you to avoid a situation whereby your compensation is unfairly reduced. It’s in the insurance company’s best interest to prove that your actions played a significant role in the accident and so they’ll do their best to prove this. Therefore, it’s important for you to hire a lawyer who’s able to build a strong case for you. In doing so they’ll be able to minimize the amount of fault that’s attributed to your actions.

Call on a Lawyer for Help Maximizing Your Compensation

Determining the total extent of your damages is something that’s best left up to an experienced attorney. Of course, you may find that some of your financial losses are easy to document (e.g. vehicle repairs, medical bills). Unfortunately, this is only part of your losses. You could also be able to recover damages for:

· Any medical bills in the future that are related to your car accident
· Lost wages including diminished earning potential if you’re unable to perform your job’s duties in the future
· Pain and suffering

By working with an experienced attorney, you can rest assured that all these factors will be taken into consideration when determining the extent of your damages. This ensures that the value of your compensation is maximized.

Call on a Lawyer to Handle Your Negotiations with the Insurance Company

Insurance companies oftentimes make initial settlement offers that are lower than your case’s actual worth. They’ll also have you sign a waiver stating that you won’t pursue additional compensation in the future. This is meant to help minimize the amount of money being paid out. When you have an attorney, they’ll negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement from the insurance company. Sometimes this means fighting for compensation in court because an insurance company won’t give you a settlement that’s in your best interests. Contact the Rojas Law Group in Tampa, FL to schedule a consultation and ensure you get what you deserve.

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Getting A Brain Injury From A Car Accident

The second leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States today is car accidents. This affects about 280,000 people each year, accounting for about 20% of all brain injury cases that occur annually.

How you’ll know you have a traumatic brain injury after a car accident

While you may think that you’d have to hit your head or been in a severe impact to develop a TBI, this isn’t the case at all. You can develop a brain injury without any impact. In fact, any uncontrolled or violent movement to your head can harm your brain. It can result in bruising or tearing.

Some of the symptoms you should be watching for here include:

· Clear fluid may start to leak out of your ears or your nose
· Your eyes’ pupils may be different from one another in shape
· Your pupils may also dilate irregularly, meaning that they’re different in size from one another – sometimes you can tell this because it’ll be hard to focus on something but at other times only a doctor’s exam will be able to diagnose this
· You may experience memory loss or simply be confused by the simple things that shouldn’t otherwise confuse you

In severe cases of traumatic brain injury, you may lose consciousness. However, it’s important to understand that these signs and symptoms aren’t always immediately apparent. This is just one of the many reasons why it’s so important for you to seek medical attention after you’ve been in a car accident. This way you’ll be able to know for sure what the extent of your injuries.

Determining whether you need to hire an attorney

Throughout the course of a person’s lifetime, a traumatic brain injury can cost millions of dollars. In fact, there are studies that show that from the time of the accident to the time of the person’s death a TBI can cost $3 million. It’s important to understand that they can result in even higher costs too. Anyone who’s faced with immense expenses like this should seek legal counsel.

When you suffer a traumatic brain injury because you’ve been in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence there are several forms of compensation you may be eligible for, including payment for your:

· Medical bills
· Continued care and therapy
· Wages you’ve lost either because you can no longer work or because you can no longer maintain the same job as you had before
· Pain and suffering

Seek professional legal help

When you’ve been injured in a car accident (whether you’ve developed a TBI or another type of injury) you’ll want a team of experienced attorneys on your side. If you’re living in Tampa, FL the Rojas Law Group is who you need. During your initial, free, no-obligation consultation you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your case. Attorneys will assess your case’s merits and inform you of your legal options. They’ll help you get the justice and compensation the law says are rightfully yours so contact them today.

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Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused By Car Accidents

A traumatic brain injury is caused by an impact or movement so severe that it affects the function of the brain. This can often mean that a patient has a reduced quality of life, may not be able to work, and may even need long term care. Around 280,000 people a year are the victim of a traumatic brain injury because of a car accident. This means that auto crashes are the second leading cause of such injuries, and cause about 20% of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States. If you or a loved one are in an accident that results in a brain injury, there are some important facts you should know about what to do next.

When to Hire a Lawyer

One of the biggest problems that come with dealing with a traumatic brain injury is paying for its treatment. Insurance may cover some treatments but getting the best care possible may come with a significant financial cost. Over the years, one brain injury can cost millions of dollars, the average cost over a lifetime is around three million dollars.

Hiring a lawyer who has experience with brain injury cases is crucial in reducing your financial strain. Assuming the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation to cover medical bills, therapy, lost wages, and reduced ability to work, pain and suffering, and ongoing care if you require it.

To know if you may be eligible for compensation, reach out for a consultation as soon as possible. Consultations are free and there is no obligation to pursue the case. Acting quickly is crucial to make sure you have a full understanding of your legal options.

Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Injury

One major misconception about traumatic brain injuries is that they are caused strictly by an impact. In reality, there doesn’t have to be an impact in an accident, simply a violent or uncontrolled movement. Unfortunately, the signs of a brain injury may not be apparent right away which is why it is crucial that you seek medical attention after a wreck, even if it seems minor. Common signs of a traumatic brain injury include a clear fluid coming out the nose or ears, irregular or asymmetric pupil dilation, confusion and/or memory loss, and losing consciousness. If you notice any of these symptoms after an accident, seek medical help immediately as it may be a sign of a much larger injury. Allowing brain injuries to go undetected or undiagnosed may complicate treatment or lead to a worsening of the condition.

What to do if You Have Been in an Accident

If you or someone you love has been the victim of a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury in or around Tampa, contacting Rojas Law Group is your first step. With over 30 years of experience in personal injury and automobile law, Juan Maria Rojas is ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Consultations are free and have no obligations, they are simply to help you understand the pros and cons of pursuing a legal case and financial compensation.

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Back to School Driving Tips in Florida during Coronavirus Pandemic

The morning commute to the school or the back to school routine can be hectic. More number of car accidents in Florida occur during this morning school driving commute period thanks mainly to a combination of fatigue, distraction, rushing, and the chaos in general during the morning times. This year the back-to-school driving has become even riskier due to the advent of the coronavirus.

Reasons for the risks

1. You may have to drive with several children: A lot of parents are trying to avoid school buses these days and are reverting to carpooling as it decreases the risk of the spread of coronavirus in their children. However, this may cause you to drive several children to their respective schools and having to drop them at multiple locations.

2. Distractions: Everyday life has become difficult during the coronavirus pandemic and it is pretty normal to feel distracted. A lot of people will be worried about their finances, work, health, the latest health adversary, and the general state of the world. Unfortunately, this distraction is closely linked with car accidents across the state of Florida.

3. Having to monitor the symptoms: Apart from everything else you have to take care of in the morning such as getting breakfast for everyone, checking their homework, getting them to the door, you might also be required to monitor symptoms such as their temperatures. It adds more pressure on the available time to you during the day and can make you feel rushed. This can also lead to speeding and that is associated closely with car accidents.

4. Existence of challenges: Apart from the stress and the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic there is the usual pressure of the morning commute that you have to face. Fatigue, traffic congestion, and other pressures involved in the early morning drives is a major factor contributing to car accidents.

Is it possible to have a safe morning school driving commute?

Despite all these problems it is still possible to make your morning commute that bit safer. You may try to streamline the morning routine by making sure that you are out of the house door at a reasonable time. You may plan the route you will take to avoid congestion and traffic. You can also try and make arrangements with other parents so that you are not required to drive yourself in the morning every day. By exercising a bit more care and caution, the drivers and pedestrians can safely co-exist on the roads and especially in the school zones.

If you or any member of your family has got injured in a car accident that was caused by the negligence of someone else, you can get in touch with professional lawyers at the Rojas Law Group for the Tampa, FL area. They offer a free consultation with experienced attorneys to decide the course of action for your case. These pros have recovered millions of dollars for their plaintiffs over the years.

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Getting A Personal Injury Attorney For Receiving Pain And Suffering Damages In Florida

Nobody sets out to be involved in accidents but there is neglect involved in all kinds of accidents. This neglect could be in the form of a motorist performing texting while driving and ramming into your car as a result of the distraction. The neglect may come from a grocery store as well that hasn’t cleaned up a spill and this has led to you getting a nasty fall. When this neglect is being established it is in your best interest to seek financial compensations. This can be achieved by using an injury attorney for a personal injury lawsuit that will provide for damages such as lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

How do you decide the pain and suffering?

The personal injury attorney will be aware of how to calculate and prove your pain and sufferings by considering many factors that include,

  • How bad was the injury?
  • Is there an ongoing requirement for medical treatment or some other therapy?
  • What was your age at the time of the accident?
  • Did you have any prior medical condition?
  • How much were the overall economic losses?

An experienced personal injury attorney will make use of the multiplier method while deciding the amount for the damages. If the accident victim was out of work for a few months and this led to the loss of wages of $40,000, this number can be multiplied by a factor of three to consider the pain and suffering. The total award for the victim can be around $120,000. The logic behind this is that during the time a person was unavailable at work he was also suffering from emotional distress and pain.

Another way the injury attorney may use is by applying the per diem amount. It is calculated as a per-day dollar amount and will apply to people with broken legs and arms. If your limbs were in casting for 60 days this additional amount will also get calculated as $100 per day with the total amounting to $6,000. Keep in mind that this amount is just for pain and suffering. The other damages such as lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage will be an additional amount.

Limitations on the lawsuit

There are many limitations on the personal injury lawsuits in the state of Florida. The first is time. You will get just 4 years for filing the lawsuit in Florida according to the statute of limitations of Florida and this time begins from the day of the accident. A similar limit applies to the medical malpractice lawsuit. In case you are suing government bodies, you will get 3 years to decide the lawsuit. The wrongful death plaintiffs get only 2 years to decide filing lawsuits in Florida.

There is another major limitation and that is the amount you can sue the party for. Although in normal cases there is no maximum amount of damages that gets awarded for pain and suffering in Florida, if the personal injury lawsuit includes medical malpractice a maximum of $5, 00,000 will get compensated. Florida also has a no-fault rule that impacts the amount of cash you will get as a result of the accident. It applies to auto accidents where the insurance companies are involved and pays for damages regardless of who was responsible for the negligence. Once the insurers are involved in the case it becomes extremely difficult to get compensated for the pain and suffering unless there is an external injury involved.

Sometimes you are forced to go through a difficult recovery process and need support from friends, family, and doctors. In this case, you will also need the support of an experienced personal injury attorney. For the incidents occurring in the Tampa, FL area you may use the services of the Rojas Law Group for the claims.

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School Driving During The Pandemic

Morning commutes have always been hectic, but during the pandemic, they’ve become even more complicated. When everyone was working from home, it wasn’t as bad, but now that offices and schools are reopening, the chaos has returned with a vengeance. Accidents are common during the morning commute hours, so it’s no surprise we’ve been hit with a recent spike. In this article, we’ll go over some of the reasons why chaotic mornings cause more car accidents, as well as what to do if you are in one.

So Many Moving Pieces

Not only are you trying to get your family out the door early in the morning, but so is everyone else. Children have school, parents have work, everyone has somewhere important to be. More cars on the road are bound to lead to more accidents. With the coronavirus pandemic, more parents are driving their kids to school instead of having them take the bus which leads to even more congestion than before. In addition, to more school driving, morning routines now have to start earlier and include more steps. Temperatures and other symptoms have to be checked, and school driving may include multiple schools for different aged children.

Fatigue and Distractions

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the biggest causes of car accidents is distracted driving, closely followed by fatigue. With many families having to start their day earlier, fatigue is even more important to pay attention to than before the pandemic. Make sure you’re paying attention to how much sleep you’re getting and try to find a steady school driving routine that works for your family so that the morning feels less hectic.

All the extra steps in post-pandemic morning commutes can also lead to more distractions. Especially if you’re family is a bit disorganized, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Finding a consistent routine is key to keeping things running smoothly.

Steps to Stay Safe

The last thing you want to be in the morning is panicked. Planning out the steps of your morning routine in advance can help reduce this feeling. If possible, have parents alternate taking the kids to school so that everyone feels less overwhelmed. There are some risks of the road that are out of your control, but getting enough sleep, and having a step-by-step morning and school driving plan for your family can go a long way to reducing your likelihood of causing a car accident.

What to do if You are in a Car Accident

Even with the best planning, sometimes accidents do happen. It’s important to have a plan in place in case one that wasn’t your fault happens. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident caused by another party’s negligence in Tampa, you can visit Rojas Law Group for a free case review. There’s no fee unless you win your case, and each and every case is given personal attention, so you have the best chance of winning. Call (813)-879-2223 or visit their website to find out more. A car accident can be a serious thing, and no one should be left alone to deal with one.

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After A Multi-Vehicle Car Accident In Tampa, Florida

If there are many vehicles involved in a car accident there are questions about the liability it is a good idea for the accident victims to get a piece of advice from a qualified attorney to make sure that their rights are protected. In case you have sustained injuries due to carelessness or mistake by other drivers, the Florida law has the provision for you to recover losses and damages. This needs to be done by using a personal injury lawsuit. However, deciding the fault for the settlement of insurance coverage is a complicated process.

Deciding liability of the car accident

The number one area of dispute in case of a multi-vehicle car accident is deciding the liability of the accident. The second query will be, is there sufficient insurance coverage for covering all the sustained injuries or damages to the property? In a recent case in Florida, one of the car drivers was killed while four others were injured in a multi-vehicle car accident. The wreck was collected within seconds. The first car side swapped into the second car then struck a third vehicle head-on. After this, a fourth vehicle slammed into the third car’s rear.

In the case of car accidents such as these, it is tough to decide who was responsible for the accident and to what degree. There will be four drivers with different stories and eyewitnesses with their accounts of the crash. When the liability is not clear an experienced attorney can advise you about deciding who to bring up the claim against.

Facts of the case, deciding liability, and insurance cover

The fault of the car accident is proven by evidence. The process involves investigating the law enforcement reports, road conditions, witness testimonies, damage to the vehicles, skid marks at the accident scene, photographs, weather conditions, and other pertaining evidence. All this can point to the party that is liable and in the process can absolve yourself from the responsibility. The attorney that can investigate and produce the best evidence in the court usually wins the case.

These kinds of car accidents have a greater likelihood of a high insurance payout because of the extensive property/vehicle damage and severe body injuries to the passengers and drivers. Even when there is an unmistakable liability, the insurance coverage for the person responsible may turn out to be insufficient to cover the property damage caused or the sustained injuries.

Hiring a personal injury attorney in Tampa, Florida

When you suffer from injuries due to a multi-vehicle car accident you may wish to scrutinize all the sources of compensation to make sure that you get adequate cover. There are many professional attorneys available in Tampa, Florida that will make sure that your legal rights are protected and presented aggressively. Professionals understand how insurance companies handle liability and multi-vehicle car accidents. They will know the steps needed for achieving the results you get.

If you have any queries regarding the liability in a multi-vehicle car accident in Tampa, Florida you can contact Rojas Law Group to arrange a free consultation. They have a team of experienced accident attorneys that will act quickly to protect you and develop a strong case in your favor. You can also find out about what your case is worth and ask other related questions.

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