Were you recently injured in a car accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? You might be confused about your legal rights, Florida’s no-fault car insurance system, and other legal matters following the accident. Contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney from Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers at (727) 787-2500 and schedule a free consultation.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll work hard to get you money to cover the costs of your medical care, make up for lost income, and compensate for your pain and suffering.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Accident in St. Petersburg, FL
Some of the characteristics that make Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers are:
- We are a pillar of the community – Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has been a fixture of the community since 1986. We have created a strong reputation in the legal community, and our reputation precedes us.
- We have extensive experience – Our personal injury attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience. This is relevant experience you can count on during every phase of your case.
- We are knowledgeable – Our founding attorney, Mark Roman, is Board-Certified in Civil Trial Law, an attribute held by only a small percentage of attorneys licensed in Florida that indicates a commitment and demonstrated knowledge of a particular practice area.
- We get results – We have recovered over $120 million for car accident and personal injury victims in Florida. We fight hard to secure the compensation our clients deserve.
- We are trusted legal advocates – Our personal injury lawyers have been recognized as Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers and Super Lawyers. We are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We have also been recognized with Martindale-Hubbell’s AV-Preeminent Rating and 10.0 Avvo Rating.
Learn what it’s like to work with our award-winning law firm when you call for your free case review.
Why Should I hire a car accident lawyer?
If you were injured in a car accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, a legal battle may ensue. The at-fault driver may not want to take responsibility for the damages they caused. The insurance company may try to deny the claim or minimize the damages you have incurred. An experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney can help level the playing field.
An experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer can protect your rights by:
- Explaining your legal rights and options during a free case review
- Reviewing all applicable insurance policies, including you
- Advising you of applicable filing deadlines
- Protecting you from unfounded accusations that you were to blame for the accident
- Handling communication with insurance companies so they do not try to extract information to use against you
- Compiling evidence to establish the other driver was at fault and the full extent of your injuries
- Negotiating for maximum compensation on your behalf
We can answer any questions you have during a free, confidential case review. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers today to speak with a car accident attorney in St. Petersburg.
How much money can I get from a car accident case?
It typically requires an extensive investigation to analyze the various factors that can affect your case value, such as:
- The nature and extent of your injuries
- Who is responsible for the accident
- The value of your economic damages
- The type and duration of medical treatment you received
- The extent and severity of your pain and suffering
- Whether you contributed to the accident
- The insurance coverage available for your accident
Let our team investigate your case and determine its value while you focus on your car accident case.
St. Petersburg Car accident statistics
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the state experienced 394,921 traffic accidents in 2023, which resulted in 3,399 fatalities and 252,261 injuries. 14,819 motor vehicle accidents occurred in Pinellas County in 2024, resulting in 111 fatalities and 9,192 injuries. This number also includes 4,108 hit-and-run collisions.
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
The value of your car accident claim is based on many factors. Your injuries and damages are unique and will result in a unique claim value.
The amount of money you can recover from your crash will generally depend on the following factors:
- The extent of your medical bills
- Whether you lost wages or experienced a diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Your pain and suffering
- Available insurance coverages
- Whether you share fault for the accident
- The strength of your evidence
- The identity of the defendant(s)
The best way to establish your claim’s value is to consult an experienced St. Petersburg car crash lawyer. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
What type of compensation is available after a car accident?
In Florida, car accident cases are handled within the civil justice system, allowing injured victims to pursue compensatory damages. These damages are typically divided into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic
Economic damages are expenses directly related to the car accident that naturally flow from the accident. These may include:
- Medical expenses – You may have the right to recover compensation for your past and current medical costs. This could include payment for the ambulance ride, emergency room treatment, surgery, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, specialist care, follow-up appointments with your primary care physician, travel to and from medical appointments, medical supplies, and medication. You can also recover compensation for the medical expenses you reasonably anticipate incurring in the future.
- Rehabilitation expenses – Car accidents can cause severe injuries. You may require extensive physical rehabilitation and ongoing medical care to get you back to the point you were at before the accident. You can seek compensation for rehabilitation, physical therapy, and home healthcare services.
- Lost wages – Serious injuries can keep you out of work for a substantial amount of time. You can seek compensation for the wages you lost and other earnings, such as self-employment income or used employment benefits like lost vacation days or sick days.
- Future lost wages – Some motor vehicle accidents are so serious that they cause permanent impairments or disabilities that make it impossible for you to ever work again or disrupt your work life so that you have to take a less demanding and lower paying job. You may be able to recover compensation for the reduction in your long-term earning capacity.
- Lost services – In addition to losing time from work, you may be unable to perform the same activities that you did before the accident. You can seek compensation for replacement services to provide transportation, cook, clean, and care for children.
- Property damage – The at-fault driver is responsible for paying for the costs of repairing your vehicle. This is typically covered under their liability insurance. If the cost to repair your vehicle is more than its value, you can seek compensation for its replacement cost.
An experienced personal injury attorney from our law firm can work closely with you to determine the extent of your economic losses. They can also compile evidence to show the value of these losses, such as bills, receipts, estimates, invoices, check stubs, letters from your employer, and tax returns.
Non-economic
Non-economic damages are losses you experience that are more difficult to quantify and do not have a direct economic effect. Examples of non-economic losses you can seek compensation for in your personal injury claim include:
- Pain and suffering – You can seek compensation for the physical pain you experience due to your car accident injuries. Your damages claim can also request money for your future pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish – Car accidents don’t only result in physical injuries. Sometimes, the psychological injuries far outlast the physical ones. Car accident victims may be scared to ride in a motor vehicle again. They may be triggered and have flashbacks of the auto accident when they experience a near-miss in traffic. They may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, or depression. You can seek compensation for these losses as part of your damages claim.
- Scarring and disfigurement – Burns, broken bones, degloving, and other injuries can result in unsightly scars and disfigurement. Your claim should fairly compensate you for these devastating injuries.
- Physical impairment – Your life may be very different after an accident. You may be dealing with chronic pain and unable to enjoy the same types of activities you did before the accident. You can seek fair compensation for such impairments based on the severity of the restrictions you have and how they affect your daily life.
Florida does not currently limit the amount of damages that personal injury victims can recover in a case. Each case is different, but an experienced car accident lawyer can review your situation and explain the damages you may be eligible to recover.
How Does Florida’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Affect My Car Accident Claim?
Florida has no-fault insurance rules for car accidents. Every driver must purchase a minimum amount ($10,000) of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. This insurance covers a portion of a driver’s medical bills and lost income after a crash. After an accident, drivers will file an injury claim with their own PIP insurer to recover money for crash-related losses.
You can only file a claim against the at-fault driver if you suffer a “serious injury.” However, lawsuits or claims against the at-fault driver or their insurer will enable you to recover full damages related to your injuries.
An experienced car accident lawyer in St. Petersburg can help you understand how Florida’s insurance rules will affect your accident claim.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which provides many benefits to personal injury victims, including:
- You receive immediate legal services without having to pay any costs upfront.
- You only pay attorney’s fees if your lawyer successfully recovers compensation for you.
- Your attorney receives a percentage that you and they previously agreed on, which is outlined in your retainer agreement.
- Your attorney’s interests are aligned with yours because the more compensation they recover for you, the more they get paid, too.
Feel free to ask us any questions you have about our contingency fee agreement during your free initial consultation.
How long do I have to file a car accident case?
In Florida, the statute of limitations is two years from the accident date. If you do not file a lawsuit within this timeframe, you can lose your right to recover compensation through the courts.
Note that this is the time limit you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. You are also subject to time limits regarding your insurance. To receive benefits under your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy, you must initiate medical treatment within 14 days of the accident. You must promptly provide your insurance company with notice of your claim and submit your bills.
Can I get money If I was partly at fault for my car accident?
Yes. Florida uses a no-fault system for car insurance. Your PIP insurance provides payment of up to 80% of your reasonable medical expenses and 60% of your lost earnings, up to policy limits.
If you file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver, you can still recover compensation for the damages you sustained as long as you are not found more than 50% at fault under Florida’s modified comparative fault system.
However, your monetary compensation is reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you are injured in an accident in which you sustain $100,000 in damages and you are found 40% at fault, your damages are reduced by 40% or $40,000 in this example. If you were 51% at fault for the crash, you would not be able to recover any compensation for the accident since this goes beyond Florida’s threshold.
Insurance companies are aware of this law and like to use it to their advantage by trying to assign you more fault than what is reasonable under the circumstances. An experienced car accident attorney can protect your rights and protect you from unfounded allegations that you were at fault. If you share some of the blame for the accident, we will work hard to minimize it so that you can seek as much compensation as possible.
Will my car accident case go to trial?
Statistically, very few personal injury cases go to trial. Most are resolved before the car accident victim files a lawsuit. This is typically through an insurance claim.
However, times may exist when it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit. For example, the statute of limitations may be approaching, so filing a lawsuit may be necessary to preserve your rights. If the insurance company denies your claim or the defendant does not offer fair compensation, you may choose to file a lawsuit.
However, even if you ultimately file a lawsuit, there are many steps before an actual trial occurs. For example, your attorney and the defendant’s attorney may file various motions to try to resolve the case before trial, such as motions for summary judgment. During the discovery process, your lawyer may obtain additional evidence to support your case, which may be sufficient to get the opposing party to agree to increase its settlement offer to you.
Your lawyer can continue negotiating at each phase, increasing the likelihood that you can resolve your case before trial. However, if it’s necessary to go to trial, it’s important you work with an experienced trial attorney. Mark Roman is Board-Certified in Civil Trial Law, so he knows how to effectively represent you at each phase of your case.
What should I do after a car accident in St. Petersburg?
Car accidents can be overwhelming, making it difficult to think clearly. Your first priority should always be your safety. If you’re in a dangerous area, try to move to a safer spot if possible.
Here is a checklist of steps to follow after a St. Petersburg car accident:
- Move to a safe location near the accident scene.
- Call the police and report the accident.
- Check for injuries. If anyone was injured, request an ambulance when you report the accident.
- Stick to the facts when you communicate with the police.
- Ask the responding officers for their names and badge numbers.
- Ask the other driver for their contact, driver’s license, and insurance information.
- Ask witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Avoid saying anything to anyone that implies you are sorry or at fault for the accident.
- Take photos and videos of the accident, including close-ups and wide shots of the accident scene, roadside debris, skid marks, tire tread, damage to all vehicles, street signs, and nearby traffic lights or signs.
- Seek immediate medical attention.
- Keep all of your medical records and bills.
- Ask for a copy of the police report when it is available.
- Avoid discussing the accident online or with anyone other than your lawyer.
- Do not agree to give the insurance company a recorded statement, sign a medical release form, or accept a settlement without first talking to a lawyer.
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers offers a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us if you were injured in an accident that was not your fault.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience, so we have handled nearly every type of car accident case.
We can help with any car accident involving:
- Distracted driving – Distracted drivers have less time to react to avoid colliding with nearby motorists.
- Drunk driving – If someone was drunk or drugged and collided with you, you should not have to pay the consequences. Our legal team can pursue the compensation you deserve.
- Defective products – We can help if you suffered airbag injuries or your child sustained car seat injuries due to defective products.
- Head-on crashes – Head-on crashes are some of the deadliest types of motor vehicle accidents.
- Multi-vehicle accidents – Multi-vehicle accidents are often complicated because they may involve the negligence of multiple parties.
- Rear-end accidents – Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of car accidents, often caused by not paying attention or following too closely.
- Red and yellow light collisions – Some car accidents occur because motorists speed up to get through a red or yellow light.
- Side-impact collisions – Side-impact collisions can cause serious damage.
- Single-vehicle accidents – If you were injured because of the driver of the vehicle you were a passenger in, or because of a defective car part, we can help you pursue compensation from the responsible parties.
Our firm also helps families pursue justice and accountability through wrongful death claims.
Who could be liable for my injuries resulting from a car accident?
An experienced accident attorney can investigate your case to identify all at-fault parties, which may include:
- The driver of the vehicle you were a passenger in
- Negligent motorists
- Employers, if the accident occurred while their employee was working
- Government agencies that fail to maintain the roadway or design dangerous roads
- Manufacturers of defective products
Contact us today so we can conduct a thorough investigation before evidence is lost or destroyed.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident?
Negligence is the basis for most car accident claims. To prove negligence, you will need to establish four distinct legal elements.
- Duty – You will have to prove the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care to avoid injuring you. Duties come from the law or a relationship between the parties. All drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and drive reasonably safely.
- Breach of Duty – You will have to show that the at-fault driver breached their duty.
- Causation – You will have to prove that the driver’s breach caused the accident, i.e., that it would not have happened but for the driver’s negligence.
- Damages – You will have to show that you suffered damages related to the crash.
You must prove all four elements to have a successful negligence claim. Your lawyer will use various types of evidence to satisfy your burden of proof, including accident reports, citations, cell phone records, photographs, videos, eyewitness testimony, and expert testimony.
Common types of car accident injuries
Auto accidents can cause serious injuries. The specific injury you suffer will depend on many factors, including your position in the vehicle at the time of the wreck, the direction the vehicles were traveling at the time of the accident, and the safety equipment in the vehicle.
Common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations
- Eye injuries
- Facial injuries
- Dental trauma
- Psychological injuries
- Broken bones
When you are dealing with a painful injury, you should not also have to deal with an aggressive insurance company trying to keep you from getting the financial compensation you deserve. Our car accident attorneys can fight for you so you can focus on your recovery.
Most common causes of car accidents
Car accidents can occur for various reasons, some of the most common being:
- Distracted driving
- Inattention
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Following too closely
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Inexperienced driving
- Defective car parts
- Drugged or drunk driving
- Mechanical issues
- Fatigue
- Careless driving
- Unsafe lane changes or turns
- Driving the wrong way
An experienced lawyer can investigate your case to determine how it happened and who is responsible.
Most dangerous intersections
Based on the number of accidents, traffic, and potential dangers, the most dangerous intersections in St. Petersburg, Florida, include:
- US-19 and 38th Avenue N.
- US-19 and 22nd Avenue N.
- US-19 and US-19 ALT/5th Avenue N.
- Central Avenue and 3rd Street N.
- US-92 and 38th Avenue N.
- SR-693/66th Street N. and 22nd Avenue N.
Exercise extra caution when you are traveling on these intersections. Check before proceeding through the intersection in case another driver runs a red light or is not paying attention.
Contact our St. Petersburg Car Accident Lawyers today for help
If you were injured in a car accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, you should not have to suffer. An experienced St. Petersburg car accident lawyer from Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can meet with you to discuss your legal rights and options.
We can also investigate your case to identify all at-fault parties and relentlessly pursue the financial compensation you deserve. Call us today at (727) 787-2500 to get started and schedule your free initial case consultation.
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