Skateboarding is a favorite pastime and a practical way to get around Tampa, especially with its warm weather and welcoming streets. However, car accidents with skateboards can happen unexpectedly and cause stress, confusion, and injuries. If you've been hit by a car and injured while riding a skateboard in Tampa, you need to act fast to protect your rights. An experienced attorney can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Skateboard vs. Car Accidents
Skateboarding accidents involving cars often happen from a combination of factors that make roadways dangerous for skateboarders. One major reason is visibility. Drivers can easily overlook skateboarders, especially at night or in poor lighting conditions, due to their smaller size and lower profile. This makes it easier for skateboarders to slip unnoticed into a driver's blind spot.
Additionally, distracted driving significantly increases the risk of collisions with skateboarders. Drivers preoccupied with phones, navigation systems, or conversations with passengers may fail to notice skateboarders crossing streets or moving alongside traffic.
Another common cause is drivers not yielding the right-of-way. Too often, negligent drivers ignore skateboarders at intersections, crosswalks, or driveways and fail to treat them with the same respect as other road users. Lastly, speeding and reckless driving further increase the risk.
Common skateboard accident injuries
Skateboarding accidents involving passenger vehicles often lead to serious and sometimes life-altering injuries due to the force involved in the collision. Common injuries include:
- Broken bones, particularly fractures to wrists, arms, legs, and ankles, as skateboarders instinctively brace for impact.
- Head injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries, potentially resulting in long-term or permanent disabilities.
- Road rash, deep cuts, and bruises.
- Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding due to the blunt-force trauma of the impact.
How a lawyer can help after a skateboarding accident
The steps you take immediately after getting hit by a car on a skateboard will impact the outcome of your recovery and ability to seek compensation. To best protect your rights, here's what you should do:
- Analyze the situation: Remain calm and check for injuries. If you've been hurt, call 911 right away and request emergency medical assistance. Try to pay attention to the at-fault driver's behavior. Do they appear intoxicated? Are they apologizing, or are they trying to blame you for the accident?
- Call the police: Make sure you call the police immediately and wait for an officer to arrive. A police officer will examine the scene, speak to everyone involved, get statements from witnesses, and create an official crash report.
- Gather information from the scene: If you can, exchange information with the driver who hit you (name, phone number, insurance company, etc.). If witnesses are nearby, get their contact information and ask them what they saw.
- See a doctor, even if you feel fine: Your health always comes first. Even if you think your injuries are minor, it's important to see a doctor immediately. Adrenaline from a skateboarding accident can hide serious injuries, and prompt medical treatment ensures your well-being and creates a medical record that supports your personal injury claim.
- Keep fault discussions minimal: Avoid discussing fault or blame immediately after the accident. Even saying something as simple as “I’m sorry” can later be misinterpreted as admitting fault. Stick to the basic facts, and wait to discuss detailed circumstances until you’ve spoken with an experienced personal injury attorney.
How can I build a strong claim after a skateboarding accident?
Preserving evidence helps build a strong personal injury claim. Gather all medical records, receipts, and detailed photos of your injuries. Obtain copies of the police report and any witness statements. Your ongoing recovery documentation clearly illustrates the full extent of your injuries and the impact they've had on your life.
You should also keep a journal documenting your medical appointments, treatments, and all related expenses. Include lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working. Describe in detail how your injuries affect your daily life, emotional state, and relationships. The more thorough you are, the stronger your claim will be.
Biases Against Skateboarders Can Impact Your Case
Just like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, skateboarders often face unfair biases when accidents happen. Many drivers—and even some insurance companies—view skateboarding as a recreational activity rather than a legitimate mode of transportation. This can lead to wrongful assumptions that skateboarders are reckless, don’t follow traffic laws, or are responsible for their own injuries.
In reality, many skateboard accidents happen due to negligent drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way, don’t check blind spots, or engage in distracted driving. Unfortunately, these biases can influence how insurance adjusters and even juries perceive your case, potentially making it harder to get the compensation you deserve.
An experienced accident attorney understands how to counter these unfair assumptions with solid evidence, such as surveillance footage, eyewitness testimony, and expert accident reconstruction. If a driver’s negligence caused your injuries, you shouldn’t have to fight against stereotypes to prove your right to compensation. At Armando Personal Injury Law, we make sure your case is judged on the facts—not on misconceptions about skateboarders.
compensation For Injured Skateboarders
After being involved in a skateboarding accident with a car, Florida law allows you to seek compensation that covers the direct and indirect impacts of your injuries. These typically include:
- Medical costs
- Lost income and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and psychological impact
How a Lawyer can help after a skateboarding Accident
Injured in a skateboarding accident in Tampa? The attorneys at Armando Personal Injury Law understand how serious the aftermath can be. When you work with us, you’re not just another case number; you’re a person with a unique story and real struggles. Armando and his dedicated legal team can take the time to listen, understand your pain, and create a personalized plan that fits your life and needs right from the first conversation.
To find out how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation. Let us support you every step of the way so you can rebuild your life with the compensation and peace of mind you deserve.
“I trusted Armando and staff with my accident claim. I had been in this situation before, and the insurance company had treated me poorly. Armando did all he could and more to get me fair treatment and help me navigate the claim. I highly recommend him. The most important quality of a lawyer is to be trustworthy, Armando is. Thank you!” – I.C., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐