CrashAidRoads people use to describe a Tampa crash
I-275 runs north-south through Tampa and meets I-4 downtown. Drivers call that interchange Malfunction Junction. It is a tight freeway merge people name when a crash happens near downtown. This page does not cite a current crash rate for it.
I-4 starts at that interchange and runs east through Hillsborough County toward Plant City and Lakeland. Gandy Boulevard and the Gandy Bridge connect South Tampa with St. Petersburg. The Selmon Expressway and the Courtney Campbell Causeway, which is SR 60, are the other bay crossings people name. Those are landmarks, not a crash ranking.
A January 2023 FDOT District 7 corridor plan summarizes a Hillsborough TPO Vision Zero list. The segments named there include Dale Mabry Highway from Hillsborough Avenue to Bearss Avenue, and 50th Street from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Hillsborough Avenue. The report is linked below. Do not treat older counts in that report as today's totals.
Hillsborough courts in Tampa
The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit serves Hillsborough County. The main civil courthouse is the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. A criminal justice annex sits at 401 N. Jefferson Street. Directions are on fljud13.org. Those are public court buildings, not CrashAid offices.
Tampa Police often investigate crashes inside the city. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office covers much of the unincorporated county, and the Florida Highway Patrol often handles interstate crashes. Name the agency in the form if you know it. You can send the request before the report arrives.
Hospitals near Tampa crashes
Tampa General Hospital on Davis Islands is a major trauma center for Hillsborough County.
AdventHealth Tampa and St. Joseph's Hospital serve many crash patients across the city.
Florida rules that apply after a Tampa crash
House Bill 837 (HB 837), signed in 2023, changed two rules that matter after a Florida car crash. This is general information for people hurt in Tampa who want to pursue the compensation they deserve.
Florida Statute § 768.81 now uses modified comparative fault in negligence cases. A person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover damages from the other party. The statute says that bar does not apply to medical-negligence cases under chapter 766.
For negligence claims that accrued after March 24, 2023, Florida Statute § 95.11 generally allows two years to file a lawsuit. Crashes before that date may still fall under the older four-year period. Acting early preserves evidence and options.
Florida is a no-fault state. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is meant to pay initial medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. Under § 627.736, you generally must receive initial medical care from a qualifying provider within 14 days of the crash, or the insurer can deny PIP medical benefits. Whether the $10,000 benefit or a $2,500 cap applies can depend on an emergency-medical-condition finding. Passenger-car PIP rules do not automatically apply to motorcycles.
After a crash in Tampa
Write the road, the direction you were heading, and the nearest cross street. A downtown crash on the I-4 merge is a different location from a Dale Mabry crash north of Hillsborough Avenue or a Gandy crash at the bridge. That detail helps a person route the request.
What to do after the crash
- Move out of traffic if you can, and call 911 when anyone is hurt or the cars cannot be moved safely.
- Photograph the vehicles, the signal or sign, and the road if it is safe to do so.
- Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance, and plate numbers. Write down witness names if someone stops.
- Get medical care promptly. The 14-day PIP window is short.
- Ask the investigating agency for the crash report. You can still request a referral before the report is ready.
- Be careful about a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. You can ask for a referral first.
- Call (941) 770-2727 or use the form on this page. CrashAid is a free attorney referral service — English and Spanish.
Request a free attorney referral
CrashAid is a free attorney referral service — English and Spanish. Call or use the form to pursue the compensation you deserve. Referrals are welcome.
Questions
Which courthouse handles a Tampa car crash case?
Hillsborough circuit cases are filed at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Confirm the division and hours on the Thirteenth Circuit site before you go.
Did a public report name Dale Mabry?
FDOT's January 2023 corridor plan says a Hillsborough TPO Vision Zero list included Dale Mabry Highway from Hillsborough Avenue to Bearss Avenue, and 50th Street from MLK Boulevard to Hillsborough Avenue. That is not a live crash count.
The crash was on the Gandy Bridge. Is that Tampa?
The Gandy Bridge connects South Tampa with St. Petersburg. Name the direction you were heading and the nearest exit or street. You do not have to pick the county yourself to request a referral.
Does CrashAid file the lawsuit?
No. CrashAid is a free attorney referral service. A participating attorney decides whether to take the case and, if so, where to file.
