JONES LAW GROUPYour Lawyers for Life! Personal Injury Law Firm in St. Petersburg
Reviewed by Bobby Jones, Personal Injury Attorney, Jones Law Group | Published June 22, 2026 | Updated June 22, 2026
A car accident in St. Petersburg can flip your life in a few seconds. One minute you are driving down 4th Street North, the next you are dealing with a totaled car, a trip to the emergency room, and an insurance adjuster who is already working to pay you as little as possible. A St. Petersburg car accident lawyer levels that fight. At Jones Law Group, we have recovered more than $50 million for injured clients across Tampa Bay, and we take car accident cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.
We work these cases from our office on Central Avenue, in the same county where your crash happened. We know the roads, we know Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital where the worst injuries get treated, and we know how Pinellas insurers and juries behave. That is the difference between a local firm and a name you saw on a billboard.
What you do in the first hour and the first two weeks after a crash can make or break your claim. Follow these steps in order.
Already dealing with an adjuster? Do not give a recorded statement until you have talked to a lawyer. Call (727) 571-1333 for a free consultation.
Florida handles car crashes differently from most states, and three rules drive almost every case.
First, no-fault insurance means your own PIP policy pays your first $10,000 in medical bills and lost wages no matter who caused the crash. The catch is the 14-day rule: miss that initial-treatment window and the coverage disappears.
Second, PIP rarely covers a serious injury, so Florida lets you step outside the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver directly when your injury crosses the threshold in Florida Statute § 627.737: a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. That is where the real compensation, including pain and suffering, comes from.
Third, the deadline. You generally have two years from the crash date to file suit under Florida Statute § 95.11, shortened from four years when the legislature passed HB 837 on March 24, 2023. Florida also uses modified comparative negligence, which reduces your recovery by your share of fault and bars it entirely if you are found more than 50% at fault. We cover the deadline in depth in our guide to Florida’s two-year injury deadline.
St. Pete has some of the most crash-prone corridors in Pinellas County. US-19 and the 34th Street corridor, 4th Street North, Gandy Boulevard, and the I-275 approach to the Howard Frankland Bridge see a heavy share of serious wrecks. We pull crash data from Forward Pinellas to show patterns at the exact intersection where you were hit, which helps establish how a crash happened and who is responsible.
The causes are usually mundane and preventable: distracted driving, speeding, running red lights, following too closely, and impaired driving. Mundane does not mean minor. A distracted driver at 45 mph on US-19 causes the same catastrophic injuries as any other.
Every crash type carries its own evidence and its own legal wrinkles. These are the ones we handle most for St. Pete clients.
The trailing driver is usually presumed at fault, but insurers still fight on the value of soft-tissue and spinal injuries, which are common and very real in rear-end crashes.
Side-impact crashes at intersections often turn on who had the right of way. Traffic-camera footage and witness accounts matter, and they disappear fast.
If the at-fault driver fled or had no insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may pay your claim. Many drivers do not realize they carry this protection until we find it in their policy.
When the other driver was impaired or texting, that conduct can support a larger claim. We work with the criminal case and the evidence behind it to strengthen your civil claim.
Rideshare crashes involve layered insurance that depends on what the app driver was doing at the moment of impact. We sort out which policy applies. See our St. Petersburg rideshare accident lawyer page for the details.
Not sure who was at fault, or whether you even have a case? That is our job to figure out, not yours. Call (727) 571-1333 for a free case review.
No lawyer can promise a number, because value depends on your specific injuries, the evidence, and the available insurance. But Florida law sorts your damages into two clear categories, and knowing them helps you recognize a lowball offer.
Economic damages are your measurable losses: emergency and ongoing medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and vehicle damage. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent scarring, which are often the larger part of a serious claim.
What moves the number: how severe and permanent your injuries are, how clear the other driver’s fault is, how much insurance coverage exists, your own fault share under comparative negligence, and how well everything is documented. For a fuller breakdown, read our guide on how much a Florida car accident settlement is worth.
It starts with a free consultation, in person or by phone, where we tell you straight whether you have a case worth pursuing. If we take it, we investigate: the crash report, photos, any surveillance or traffic-camera video before it is erased, witness statements, and your medical records. We handle the insurance company so the calls to you stop.
Once your treatment stabilizes, we send a demand and negotiate. Most car accident cases settle here. If the insurer will not pay fair value, we file suit and prepare for trial, which often moves the number on its own. A clear-liability case with moderate injuries might resolve in a few months, while a disputed or serious-injury case can take a year or more. We will give you a realistic estimate for your situation, not a sales pitch. You can also explore the full range of cases we handle on our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer page.
Jones Law Group is led by attorney Bobby Jones, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Stetson Law graduate who has practiced personal injury law in Tampa Bay for more than 20 years. We have recovered over $50 million for injured clients and hold a 4.9 rating on Google. We keep cases local and personal, so you work with people who know your file, and because we work on contingency, we only get paid when you do. That keeps us pulling in the same direction from the first call.
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a car accident lawsuit in Florida, under Florida Statute § 95.11 as amended by HB 837 in 2023. Separately, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash to keep your PIP benefits, so do not wait on either deadline.
Yes. Florida PIP only pays if you get initial treatment within 14 days, and injuries like whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue damage often do not show symptoms for several days. A prompt medical visit protects both your health and your claim.
Often yes. Florida uses modified comparative negligence, which reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault but only bars recovery if you are found more than 50% at fault. If you were 25% responsible, you can still recover 75% of your damages.
You may still be covered. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries caused by a hit-and-run or an uninsured driver. We review your policy to find every source of coverage available to you.
Be cautious. A first offer is usually well below what a claim is worth and often comes before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept, you give up the right to seek more. Have a lawyer review any offer first.
Jones Law Group works on a contingency fee, with no up-front cost and no hourly bill. We only collect a fee if we recover money for you, and the initial consultation is free.
If you were hurt in a crash that was not your fault, the next step is free and simple: tell us what happened. We will give you a straight answer about your options, with no obligation and no fee unless we win.Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33707
Phone: (727) 571-1333
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The $50 million figure reflects total amounts recovered for clients over time, not a promise about any individual case. If you have a specific legal question, contact a licensed Florida attorney.
Speak with us before time runs out! In Florida, you have a limited window to file a personal injury case, so speak to an Attorney today.
Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847
Jones Law Group is a dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL, serving the Tampa Bay area since 2006. Our experienced attorneys specialize in car accidents, slip and fall cases, employment law disputes, construction law issues, and overtime wage claims, fighting for maximum compensation on a contingency fee basis. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
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