Local Roots. Million Dollar Results
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers provides aggressive, client-focused representation for individuals harmed by another party's negligence across Pinellas County.
Hiring a skilled St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer handles the claim and the insurer communications so the full cost of your injuries is on the table.
If a reckless driver or negligent property owner hurt you in Pinellas County, call Roman Austin today at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 to answer questions and offer guidance and support.
The Roman Austin Difference
Our founding attorney Mark S. Roman maintains recognition as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, a distinction earned by under two percent of licensed Florida lawyers. Partner John C. Austin brings distinct first-hand perspective to roadway collision claims as an active cyclist who understands local traffic flow and bike lane hazards.
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and carrying an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, our firm consistently delivers real courtroom advocacy. We have secured notable outcomes for our clients, including a $3 million settlement for a pedestrian run over by a school bus and a $2.25 million settlement for a slip and fall brain injury.
Where Is Roman Austin's St. Petersburg Office Located?
Roman Austin maintains a dedicated St. Petersburg office located at 840 Beach Drive NE, Suite 202, positioning our legal team to serve clients across southern Pinellas County.
Our Beach Drive location places our attorneys minutes away from the Pinellas County Civil Court structure and major local transit corridors. We regularly meet clients at this office, in local hospitals, or inside their homes when physical injuries limit mobility.
From downtown St. Petersburg to coastal beach communities, our legal team routinely handles severe motor vehicle collisions and injury claims across the region. Review our complete list of areas we serve to learn more about our regional practice footprints.
Why Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in St. Petersburg?
Insurance adjusters evaluate claims with a primary focus on lowering settlement payouts, making legal representation vital for protecting your financial recovery.
When you handle an injury claim without legal counsel, insurance representatives often take advantage of your situation by offering fast, lowball settlements before your medical treatments finish.
Signing an early release waives your rights to seek further compensation, leaving you personally responsible for future physical care and missed paychecks.
A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg handles all communication with insurance adjusters, conducts an independent investigation, hires medical billing specialists, and prepares your case for formal court litigation.
What Traffic Dynamics and Road Hazards Cause Collisions Across Pinellas County?
Dense population hubs, tourist traffic, and narrow coastal roadways make Pinellas County one of the most hazardous regions for motor vehicle collisions in Florida.
- Heavy traffic volume along 4th Street North and 34th Street North leads to frequent rear-end impacts and dangerous turning collisions.
- The constant influx of visitors near the Sunken Gardens district and Downtown waterfront increases risks for distracted driving crashes and pedestrian strikes.
- Beach-bound commuters crossing the Howard Frankland Bridge or Gandy Bridge frequently encounter sudden slowdowns, causing high-speed multi-vehicle pileups.
- Cyclists along 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South face severe hazards from drivers failing to yield in dedicated bike lanes.
Our firm uses direct knowledge of these local driving patterns to prove liability in contested claims.
What We Handle: Personal Injury Cases in St. Petersburg
Our legal team manages a wide array of personal injury cases, tailoring our approach to the specific facts of your collision or property injury:
- Car Accidents: We represent drivers, passengers, and families injured in head-on collisions, T-bone impacts, and highway crashes; connect directly with a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer to begin building your auto claim.
- Motorcycle Collisions: Drivers who fail to check blind spots or yield right-of-way cause catastrophic injuries to riders; work with a St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer to hold reckless motorists accountable.
- Bicycle Accidents: Using partner John C. Austin's deep personal commitment to the local cycling community, our firm advocates passionately for injured cyclists; speak with a St. Petersburg bicycle accident lawyer to protect your rights.
- Slip and Fall Incidents: Business owners who neglect floor maintenance, leave spill hazards unattended, or fail to fix dangerous stairwells cause severe physical harm; contact a slip and fall accident lawyer to investigate property owner negligence.
- Commercial Truck Crashes: We investigate complex collisions involving large delivery trucks, semi-trailers, and commercial fleets operating along Interstate 275.
What Real Clients Say About Their Experience with Roman Austin
Client testimonials reflect our firm's commitment to personal attention, clear legal guidance, and compassionate advocacy during challenging times.
"From the first moment I spoke with the people at Roman Austin, I knew that I was in good hands! My injury was severe and it was scary, but every step of this journey has been easier because of the guidance I have received from them. They have managed my case with professionalism and thoroughly explained any and all questions that have come up for me. Because of their hard work and dedication to my case, we were able to reach a settlement in my case! I highly recommend them to anyone in need of an injury attorney!" - K.S.
"After my accident, I didn't know where to start. Roman Austin made the whole process feel manageable and honestly took a huge weight off my shoulders. The team was kind, responsive, and truly cared about what I was going through. I always felt heard and supported. I'm so thankful I found them and would absolutely recommend them to anyone who needs help." - S.S.
What Steps Should You Take Immediately After Suffering an Injury?
Taking specific actions right after an unexpected incident preserves critical physical proof and protects your legal claim from day one:
- Report the incident immediately to local law enforcement or store management so an official written record exists.
- Document the scene by taking photographs of vehicle locations, hazardous property conditions, weather factors, and physical injuries before conditions change.
- Obtain full names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance policy details from all drivers, property managers, and eyewitnesses.
- Seek immediate medical evaluation at an emergency room or urgent care center, ensuring doctors document every physical complaint.
- Contact our legal team before speaking to insurance adjusters or providing recorded statements to third-party representatives.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Civil Injury Claim?
A successful personal injury claim covers your out-of-pocket financial expenses and compensates you for the ongoing physical disruptions caused by negligence.
Economic damages reimburse you for direct, verifiable financial losses. These include emergency room fees, surgical expenses, physical therapy bills, specialized medical equipment, and prescription costs.
You can also recover full reimbursement for lost wages when injuries force you to miss work, along with diminished earning capacity if permanent physical limitations prevent you from returning to your trade.
Non-economic damages address personal impacts, providing financial recovery for physical pain, mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of daily activities, and physical impairment.
How Does Florida's Modified Comparative Negligence Law Impact Your Case?
Florida enforces a modified comparative negligence rule that calculates your final financial recovery based on your assigned percentage of responsibility.
Under state law, you can recover financial damages as long as you carry 50 percent or less of the fault for the incident. However, your total financial recovery drops by your precise percentage of blame.
For example, if a court awards $200,000 for medical care and lost income but finds you 10 percent responsible for an incident, your final check equals $180,000. If an insurance carrier proves you hold 51 percent or more of the blame, Florida law prevents you from recovering any financial compensation.
Insurance companies constantly attempt to assign unfair blame to injured victims, making experienced legal defense vital.
What Are the Statutory Deadlines for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida law enforces strict deadlines for bringing a lawsuit after an injury, and missing these dates forever bars you from seeking financial recovery.
For standard personal injury lawsuits based on negligence, Florida law requires you to file your court complaint within two years of the incident date.
Statutory deadlines shift dramatically if your injury involved a public agency or municipal entity, such as a city bus collision or a trip on a cracked sidewalk maintained by the City of St. Petersburg.
Claims involving government entities require serving a formal written notice within three years under Florida sovereign immunity laws, followed by mandatory administrative waiting periods before filing suit. Starting your legal case quickly protects vital physical evidence and prevents missing statutory cutoffs.
How Do Lawyers Prove Fault in Complex Injury Cases?
Establishing legal liability requires gathering objective evidence, reviewing statutory safety codes, and building a structured factual narrative.
Our legal team acts quickly to preserve physical proof before property owners clean crash scenes or overwrite security video.
- We subpoena commercial camera footage, obtain electronic data recorder files from motor vehicles, and collect 911 dispatch recordings.
- For property injuries, we inspect maintenance logs, evaluate building code compliance, and document structural defects.
- We work directly with medical specialists, accident reconstruction professionals, and economic expert witnesses to detail the full extent of your physical recovery needs.
Preparing every case for a full courtroom trial forces insurance companies to offer realistic settlement terms.
What Are the Costs of Hiring Roman Austin for Your Claim?
Our law firm operates strictly on a contingency fee framework, ensuring every client receives top-tier legal representation without paying upfront fees.
You pay zero out-of-pocket money to retain our firm or launch an investigation. We absorb all case creation costs, including court filing fees, expert witness retainer expenses, record retrieval charges, and deposition fees.
Our attorneys receive payment only after successfully securing a financial recovery through an insurance settlement or courtroom jury award. If we do not win compensation for your claim, you owe our firm zero legal fees.
This fee structure aligns our goals directly with your financial recovery while removing all financial barriers to justice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in St. Pete
How do I handle medical expenses while waiting for my injury settlement?
Your PIP policy covers initial medical bills up to $10,000 following a motor vehicle collision, provided you receive care within 14 days. Private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid can cover additional treatments while your claim progresses, though these carriers hold subrogation rights against your final settlement. In many cases, our firm arranges for doctors to treat you under a letter of protection, which delays payment until your legal case resolves.
What happens if the person who injured me does not have insurance?
If an uninsured driver hits your vehicle, you can file a claim under your Uninsured Motorist coverage if you carried that option on your policy before the crash. For slip and fall cases, property owners generally carry commercial liability insurance, but if coverage limits fall short, we investigate secondary responsible parties or personal business assets.
How long does a personal injury case take to settle in Pinellas County?
Straightforward claims involving clear liability and completed medical care often settle within four to eight months. Claims involving permanent physical disability, multiple liable parties, or disputed fault frequently take over a year as we litigate the case in court. We never rush a case to settlement before knowing the true long-term cost of your medical care.
What should I do if an insurance adjuster calls me right after an accident?
Politely refuse to give a recorded statement and do not discuss your physical injuries or fault. Insurance adjusters attempt to record statements early when you are in pain or lack full medical diagnoses, using your words later to deny or reduce your claim. Tell the adjuster that your attorney at Roman Austin will handle all future communications directly.
Contact Roman Austin Today
If you suffered an injury in an accident caused by someone else's negligence in St. Petersburg, FL, do not let insurance carriers dictate your financial future. Don't be fooled by billboards and radio ads; partner with a legal team that delivers dedicated advocacy and proven courtroom results.
Contact Roman Austin today at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free, 24/7 case evaluation with an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney.