St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer

Were you injured in an accident on Pinellas Trail?

Perhaps your child suffered an injury while receiving treatment at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg?

Maybe you got hit while crossing the street after attending a Tampa Bay Rays game?

The city of St. Petersburg, FL, located in Pinellas County, has a population of over 270,000 and is the fifth-largest city in Florida. Together with Clearwater and Tampa Bay, the area attracts millions of tourists and beachgoers each year.

With a yearly average of 361 days of sunshine, St. Pete is a very popular place to live and visit. With large numbers of tourists, along with millions of residents living in or around the city, St. Petersburg can also be a dangerous place to live if everyone isn't keeping an eye out for each other. If you were recently injured in the St. Petersburg area, you might be entitled to seek damages. Consider working with a personal injury attorney who can help you through the claims process or file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.

At Dolman Law Group, our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys know that injured accident victims need someone who is willing to go the extra mile for them. That's why we fight aggressively for all our clients. We can help you obtain the compensation you need to begin putting your life together after a serious injury accident. Call us today to learn more about your legal options.

Factors to Consider Before Selecting a St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyer

When considering various personal injury attorneys, be sure to select a nationally recognized, award-winning law firm with a pristine reputation in the community. You'll want to ensure that your interests will be represented to the fullest extent, rather than having a personal injury attorney that settles quickly and potentially leaves money on the table. At Dolman Law Group, we have built a reputation for aggressive litigation, and we won't hesitate to take personal injury lawsuits to trial when needed.

Choose a Firm With Personal Injury Lawyers Who are Well-Versed in Insurance Practices

Insurance companies rmember the lawyers they face in personal injury claims. When a lawyer has a solid professional reputation and an established record for taking cases to trial, the insurers remember and respect that opponent. Also, when you work with an attorney who has previously brought a personal injury claim to a specific insurance company, that lawyer will know the company's strategies and negotiation tactics in advance. With this insider information and solid reputation, our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys can avoid the games and focus on resolving your claim.

What's more, it's critical to select an auto accident law firm that only serves plaintiffs, not insurers. A firm that represents plaintiffs only will be equipped to handle your interests both from a practical and ethical standpoint.

Seek Medical Bill Resolution

Dealing with medical costs is inconvenient, stressful, and quickly expensive. Select a law firm that will address and include your medical bills within your eventual settlement.

Dolman Law Group assists every client with negotiating their medical bills in every case, and we'll also help secure medical treatment when necessary or requested. Our goal is to ensure your medical bills are covered within your settlement or court award when your case is resolved.

Choose a Financially Healthy Firm

Fellow Florida and St. Petersburg injury attorneys often call on Dolman Law Group to assist with their biggest and most complicated cases. Our law firm is well respected by other injury attorneys for the results we have obtained for car accident victims and those injured by other acts of negligence exhibited by an individual or corporation.

A firm that is well established within the community—as well as financially responsible—will ensure that your case is properly prepared and resolved, with no cut corners and maximized settlement opportunities.

Rely on Word of Mouth and Unbiased Reviews

Every law firm will say they are the best at what they do. If you want to know what your experience will be when you work with a particular St. Petersburg personal injury attorney, ask former clients, talk to current clients, read online reviews, and ask around for unbiased opinions. See if the lawyer returned phone calls or emails in a timely fashion and how well they explained the legal process. Ask former clients if they were satisfied with their resolution and if they would work with that lawyer again or recommend the lawyer to a family member.

Choosing the car accident lawyers or other injury attorneys you want to handle your serious injuries and financial concerns is an important decision. Do your research to ensure you make the best decision for your personal needs.

Select a Firm Within a Reasonable Traveling Distance

It's wise to choose a lawyer who is easy to travel to in case you need to meet in person. For example, our office is conveniently located in St. Petersburg at 1663 1st Ave. S Just off of I-275 and just a few blocks from Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. We offer FREE consultations to all prospective injury clients and can happily meet you in your home, your hospital room, or wherever is most convenient for you.

Why Dolman Law Group is Your Best Choice

Dolman Law Group is a nationally recognized, award-winning personal injury law firm. We have built a reputation for aggressive litigation when necessary as opposed to settling quickly and leaving money on the table. Stanley Gipe is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer as designated by the Florida Bar, and Matthew Dolman is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Insurance carriers keep detailed notes on all law firms. In fact, settlement offers are based on a law firm's reputation, its track record for taking personal injury lawsuits all the way to trial when necessary, and the risk associated with defending the claim. Remember, insurance is simply risk management. An attorney or law firm that takes cases to trial poses a risk to the insurance company of a potentially large verdict. Please note the vast majority of injury lawyers and law firms rarely, if ever, take cases to trial.  The world's worst trial lawyer is still better than the attorney who never takes a case to trial.

Other Florida and St. Pete attorneys often call Dolman Law Group to assist on their most significant or complicated cases. Our law firm is well respected by other injury attorneys, and they often ask us to act as co-counsel during a trial, or they refer their complex personal injury cases to us outright because they know we will work hard to reach the best resolution for their clients.

Dolman Law Group is a law firm committed to our clients. In fact, our business has grown based on word-of-mouth referrals from very satisfied former and current clients. The most common complaint we hear from clients after terminating their relationship with another St. Petersburg injury lawyer or law firm is they never met, let alone spoke with their prior attorney.

At Dolman Law Group, we make it a point to encourage and foster communication throughout the legal process. For example, every client is provided the cell phone number of their handling attorney and the Managing Partner at our law firm.

The only way to properly represent a St. Petersburg injury victim is to get to know them on a personal level. This allows us to fully understand just how the car accident or other act of negligence has impacted their quality of life. We begin this process at your free consultation.

We have the financial resources necessary to take on any size corporation and to retain the best experts. We have the financial resources necessary to take on any size corporate defendant and retain the best experts possible to illustrate the extent of your damages.

Dolman Law Group has previously litigated against corporate giants such as Walmart, Wawa, Walt Disney World, Amazon, Publix, Winn Dixie, Outback (Bloomin Brands), Allstate, Geico, Progressive, USAA, State Farm, Monsanto, and others.

When You Need a Proven and Successful St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorney, Look No Further Than Dolman Law Group

The personal injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, have experience negotiating, settling, and litigating personal injury cases of all types.

Past settlements and verdicts have ranged from $80,000 to more than $5 million for cases that involved traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, birth injuries, and more. Here are just some of our most notable personal injury cases.

• $5 million for an auto accident victim who suffered burn injuries.
• $5.7 million jury verdict in 2022 where a nursing home bed sore led to infection and death.
• $3.85 million for a truck accident victim who sustained a traumatic brain injury.
• $3.2 million for a truck accident victim who suffered a brain injury and incomplete spinal cord injury.
• $1.75 million for an accident victim who suffered a shoulder injury in an accident on I-275.
• $1.50 million for a t-bone auto accident victim who suffered a spinal cord injury.
• $1.25 million for a gentleman who sustained multiple orthopedic injuries in a motorcycle accident.
• $1.25 million following a slip and fall resulting in knee and shoulder surgery and back injuries.
• $1.18 Million for a victim of negligent security who was physically assaulted at an apartment complex.

Injuries cause serious physical, emotional, and financial stress. When an injury is caused by someone else's negligence, there may be relief available to the victim. Whether your injury occurred in a motor vehicle accident, at work, at home, or because of a defective product, the negligent party may be responsible for your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We have also successfully handled hundreds of wrongful death claims throughout Florida.

If you were injured by someone else's negligence, speak to a St. Petersburg injury attorney as soon as possible. Call our injury attorneys at (727) 472-3909 or contact us online to discuss your potential claims and obtain a free consultation.

We Handle All Types of St. Petersburg Personal Injury Claims and Lawsuits

Injuries caused by a negligent person, business, or government entity may give rise to a personal injury lawsuit. Each personal injury lawyer at Dolman Law Group has experience handling the following areas:

Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries – Our St. Pete injury attorneys are experienced in representing clients with the following issues; mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), coup-contrecoup injury (where the brain bounces off two sides of the skull), brain contusion, subdural hematoma, skull fracture, cerebral edema, concussion, second impact syndrome, and diffuse axonal injury (DAI).

We often work with treatment teams that include a Neurologist, Neuropsychologist, and a Neuro-Radiologist. These specialized physicians also serve as experts on the brain injury lawsuits our firm handles.

Spinal cord injuries – We are experienced in handling both complete and incomplete spinal cord injury claims, including quadriplegia and paraplegia. Our firm maintains relationships with spinal cord injury experts who can illustrate the costs associated with a lifetime of medical treatment along with loss of vocational skills and the ability to manage household tasks.

Spinal cord injury lawsuits are inherently expensive due to the cost associated with retaining the correct experts. It is essential you retain an attorney or firm that has successfully handled claims relating to an injury of the spinal cord.

Back and neck injuries – The attorneys at Dolman Law Group have handled in excess of 5000 back and neck injury claims and lawsuits over their combined 120+ years of experience.

We have handled claims associated with a bulging disc, herniated disc, cauda equina syndrome, cervical and lumbar spinal fusion (including anterior cervical discectomy and fusion), laminectomy, discectomy, kyphoplasty, lumbar decompression, vertebroplasty, foraminotomy, nucleoplasty, and others.

All too often, we see lawyers and adjusters spending far too much time and energy focused on the nomenclature regarding terms such as “bulging” or “herniation.” We focus on the symptoms or symptomatology and how they have diminished our client's quality of life when building their case.

Birth injuries – Our focus is on any harm or injury suffered by a baby or the mother at or near the time of birth (during delivery or pregnancy). We have handled an exhaustive list of claims, including cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injury, Erb's palsy, shoulder dystocia, paralysis, nerve damage, and lack of oxygen and oxygen deprivation.

Burn injuries – We handle burn injury claims related to electrical cord fires, workplace injuries, tanker explosions, truck accidents, retail center fires, nightclub fires, hotel and restaurant fires, motor vehicle accidents, and apartment building fires. Our goal is to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and overall physical pain.

Slip-and-fall injuries – We have successfully handled slip and fall accidents along with premises liability claims against major corporations such as; Wawa's, Walmart, Publix, Winn Dixie, Hyatt Hotels, and Walt Disney World, among others. Evidence is crucial in a premises liability slip and fall case.

We must show the property owner (or agents and employees of the owner) had knowledge or should have known of a dangerous condition they failed to address or fix. In a typical slip and fall case, we utilize investigators to immediately visit the scene of such an incident and either secure evidence or take detailed photos of the scene along with a thorough investigation.

We are presently handling a number of claims against Airbnb for injuries that have occurred at properties listed on their service.

Wrongful death – These cases involve the pursuit of a claim on behalf of the survivor(s) of an individual who died as a result of the negligence exhibited by an individual or corporation. Only certain family members are eligible to receive compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit which usually must be filed by the estate's representative.

Auto accidents – Over 50% of our clients sustained injuries as a result of an auto accident. Our car accident lawyers are well respected by insurance carriers, their adjusters, and insurance defense lawyers.

Stanley Gipe is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer as designated by the Florida Bar. Matthew Dolman is a lifetime member of both the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for settlements and/or verdicts in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. Stan and Matt have served as lead counsel on over 2000 combined personal injury lawsuits filed in Florida.

We have successfully handled claims and lawsuits against every conceivable auto insurance carrier, including but not limited to; Geico, State Farm, USAA, Progressive, Allstate, and Nationwide, among others. Our firm routinely represents those injured as a result of a t-bone crash, rear-end collision, head-on collision, and all other types of car wrecks. We have handled over 500 claims and lawsuits against Uber and Lyft.

Motorcycle accidents - If you have been injured as a result of a St. Petersburg motorcycle wreck, it is essential you retain a competent motorcycle injury lawyer. Personal injury protection (PIP) generally extends to vehicles with at least four wheels. Thus, motorcycle accident victims will struggle to handle their inevitable medical bills and lost wages without obtaining compensation from the negligent party.

Since PIP coverage does not apply to motorcycles, a motorcyclist does not need to pass the “permanent injury threshold” applicable to car accident victims. Thus, our motorcycle accident lawyers can pursue damages such as lost wages and outstanding medical bills right off the bat. We have multiple seven-figure results on motorcycle accident cases and have the experience to assist you immediately.

Truck accidents – The biggest mistake we commonly see is when personal injury attorneys handle semi-truck accidents in the same manner as an auto accident. An individual injured as a result of an accident or collision with an 18-wheeler would be best served by retaining a lawyer experienced in litigating claims involving big rigs.

It is imperative the lawyer is well-versed in Federal trucking laws, like those related to hours of service. This governs the amount of time a trucker may drive continuously without a break, when they must take a break, how many hours they may operate a semi-truck in a given week, and the information that must be kept in their log. Further, the attorney must understand rules pertaining to the maintenance and upkeep of a big rig along with the hiring and retention of drivers. Many of our trucking accident lawsuits contain a count for negligent maintenance or negligent retention and hiring.

Trucking accident cases are extremely expensive when handled correctly, and law firms that treat these unique claims the same as a car accident tend to leave significant money on the table.

Pedestrian accidents - Whether a driver is simply distracted or knowingly violates a traffic law if a pedestrian is involved in a crash, they usually suffer serious injury as a result of the impact. Our team works hard to recover compensation from the negligent person driving the vehicle while protecting our client's rights as an innocent bystander who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Medical Malpractice – We touched on birth injury cases earlier. However, along with birth injury lawsuits, our firm handles a wide variety of medical malpractice cases. We have experience handling the following types of claims; misdiagnosis (including failure to diagnose cancer), surgery errors, delay in diagnosis leading to a fatality or a serious or permanent injury, error in anesthesia, and many others.

How to Determine Who's at Fault in a St. Petersburg Personal Injury Accident

Parties with liability for a personal injury claim vary by the circumstances of the case. For example, Florida is a no-fault insurance state that requires those who drive a motor vehicle to carry a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance policy.

When an injury is caused by a motor vehicle accident, the victim must first file a claim with their own insurance carrier (or, in the case of an uninsured or underinsured motorist, they may file a claim under the other party's carrier). A victim may only file a lawsuit after medical expenses and lost wages have exceeded the PIP limits.

When a lawyer litigates a claim for a personal injury victim, multiple parties may be included as defendants. Depending on the cause of the injury, common defendants may include:

• Drivers who were driving distracted, driving under the influence, or violating other traffic laws.
• Businesses that negligently hired or trained employees or failed to maintain their property or equipment safely.
• Employers who allowed or encouraged unsafe or illegal practices to “get the job done.”
• Individuals who sexually harassed or abused others at home, in public, or in the workplace.
• Manufacturers, Distributors, and Retailers who designed, distributed, marketed, or sold defective products or failed to warn consumers about product use.

Florida's Comparative Negligence Law

Under Florida law, personal injury cases are typically subject to “comparative negligence.” (Exceptions are cases that involve defective products, abuse, and sexual harassment.) Comparative negligence means there may be shared liability for damages. 

For example, if a victim is found partially responsible for his or her own injuries, the damages awarded to the victim will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the victim. Therefore, defendants have a strong incentive to shift blame to the victim in order to avoid paying the full amount of damages.

Common strategies defendants employ include arguing the victim violated traffic laws, was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was trespassing, or used a product incorrectly. Failing those arguments, defendants may outright deny their own liability or try to place their share of the blame on a co-defendant. Personal injury lawyers anticipate these tactics and will work to ensure that those who are responsible for their client's injuries will be held accountable.

Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim

It might be difficult when recuperating from an injury, but when it comes to resolving a personal injury claim, the sooner you start the process, the better. Claimants only have four years from the date of injury to file their claim in court. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose the right to receive compensation from the at-fault party who caused your injuries.

What Are Personal Injury Damages?

Damages for personal injury claims may be economic or non-economic and depend on the severity of the injury and the resulting real and projected losses.

Florida courts rarely award punitive damages and do so only in extreme cases of gross negligence and intentional harm. The more commonly awarded compensatory damages are for actual costs and losses. The most common compensatory damages in personal injury cases include medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Medical Costs

St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers will attempt to recover medical expenses, including ambulance and emergency services, hospitalization, surgery, radiology, prescription medication, physical therapy, and assistive devices for rehabilitation. In cases of long-term disability or chronic condition, victims may recover for future medical costs and care as well.

Lost Wages

Personal injury victims can recover damages for lost wages if they missed work due to their injuries. If a victim cannot return to work, must reduce their hours, or is forced to change professions because of their injury, they may also be able to claim the loss of future wages and benefits as “lost earning capacity.”

Pain and Suffering

In cases that involve serious injuries, especially those that are long-term, it is not uncommon for victims to recover damages for pain and suffering. Determining these types of damages can be difficult, but a skilled St. Petersburg personal injury attorney will work to ensure important factors—such as the severity of the injury, the age of the victim, how long the injury is projected to impact the victim, and the personal consequences of the injury—are all taken into consideration.

Punitive Damages

In cases where the negligence that leads to a personal injury is especially severe and heinous, there may be punitive damages. As the name suggests, punitive damages serve to punish those whose gross negligence led to a plaintiff suffering a personal injury.

These damages are not applicable in every case, but in cases where the stakes are particularly high, there is a decent chance they may be awarded since the other damages are so severe.

Should You Contact a St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer?

Dolman Law Group offers a free consultation to all prospective injury victims where they can discuss details of their potential personal injury case. If you have a consultation and our injury lawyers agree to pursue your claims, you will not have to pay attorney fees and litigation costs upfront. Injury cases are typically handled on a contingent fee basis, meaning the lawyer will deduct their fees and expenses from any eventual settlement or judgment.

If you have suffered a physical ailment as a result of someone else's negligence, speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. If our firm agrees to represent you and pursue your claim, our personal injury attorneys will work hard to protect your rights and obtain the best possible outcome. Contact the legal team at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, in St. Petersburg at (727) 472-3909 or online for a free consultation.

What Are Contingency Fees?

It's easy to assume that for any legal aid and litigation, clients have to pay high fees upfront. This makes it all the more understandable when victims decide to forgo hiring a personal injury attorney, especially after an accident. 

However, this isn't the case for many clients looking for a reputable personal injury lawyer. Many attorneys operate using contingency fees, which means their fee is paid from a successful settlement. The exact percentage collected can vary depending on case requirements. 

Clients who accept a contingency fee agreement have access to a complimentary consultation and upfront cost coverage for investigation and litigation because payment is delayed until a successful settlement is achieved.

Why Can't I File a Personal Injury Claim Myself?

Representing yourself is an option for victims of personal injury in St. Petersburg. However, it's a very bad decision. The process of filing and successfully settling a claim or taking your case to trial is, at best, lengthy and complex. Victims who don't work with experienced lawyers are at an extreme disadvantage when they attempt to resolve an accident claim and recover from their injuries at the same time.

It's only too easy to make an error that restarts the whole process or nullifies the claim entirely. A well-rounded legal professional will be able to walk you through the process and ensure all submissions, facts, and proofs are correct. 

Often, a personal injury claim has high stakes. Bills accumulate, and you may not be able to work. To ensure a successful recoup of funds, we recommend consulting with a legal professional to explore your options instead of filing your claim yourself. 

If you have suffered an injury because of someone else's negligence, you'll want to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If our firm represents you and pursues your claim, our lawyers will work hard to protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome.

You can contact the legal team at Dolman Law Group in St. Petersburg at (727) 451-6900 or online for a free consultation.

Why Dolman Law Group?

When you hire Dolman Law Group, you are not just getting a lawyer that will give you legal advice and represent you in negotiations and court. Our firm provides a wealth of resources and services to maximize your chances of receiving the compensation that you deserve. 

Our award-winning lawyers promise to provide their insight and skills honed by years of successful litigation and representation for many satisfied clients, but they will also:

• Ensure that you are not taken advantage of by insurance companies
• Help you understand and process the relevant paperwork
• Communicate with you closely to ensure you are aware of the progress of your case
• Gather important documents
• Investigate your case

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A., is an award-winning law firm. In fact, we are considered among the elite personal injury law firms in Florida. Our lawyers offer 120-plus years of combined experience representing victims of car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, truck accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, negligent security, defective medical devices, sexual trafficking, sexual abuse, and those who have sustained residential property damage ignored by an insurance carrier.

It is essential to note that insurance companies are well aware of the attorneys and law firms who regularly litigate claims upon receiving a low or unfair settlement offer. We are proud of our reputation for aggressively handling injury cases among Florida insurance companies, including mass tort cases that have harmed thousands of Americans. We are presently representing consumers who have been diagnosed with cancer after consuming Zantac and members of the military who were diagnosed with cancer after exposure to AFFF Fire Fighting Foam.

Meet Some of Our Attorneys

Matthew Dolman has been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and Legal Elite on multiple occasions and is a lifetime member of both the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has served as lead counsel on lawsuits filed throughout Florida. 

Stanley Gipe is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, which qualifies him as an expert at trial advocacy in accordance with the rules set forth by the Florida Bar. 

Julia Dolman has been selected by her colleagues as a Florida Superlawyers Rising Star (best lawyers under the age of 40) five years in a row. 

Feel free to check out our reviews on Google.

Reach Out for a Free Personal Injury Consultation

For a free case evaluation with one of our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers, call Dolman Law Group today at (727) 472-3909.

St Petersburg Office
1663 1st Ave S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Phone: (727) 472-3909

Client Testimonial

“AMAZING and understanding attorneys! Did great on my case and I highly recommend Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for anyone that has been injured in an accident!"
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Koralis R.
Jan 2020

What Our Clients Have to Say:

“Chad Robinson always responded immediately whenever I had questions or concerns. He worked hard to make sure I received what I deserved.”