Clearwater Personal Injury Attorney
Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Clearwater
Clearwater roads, including US-19, Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, and Drew Street, see serious collisions every day. Distracted drivers, speeding, and impaired driving cause injuries that can take months or years to recover from. If another driver's negligence put you in a hospital bed, we fight to recover every dollar you're owed.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Rideshare Accidents (Uber/Lyft)
- Scooter Accidents
- Delivery Vehicle Accidents
- Taxi Accidents
- Drunk Driver Accidents
- Uninsured Motorist Accidents
When someone else's negligence causes a fatal accident, Florida law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim. We handle these cases with care and directness, fighting for full compensation, including funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship.
- Wrongful Death Claims
- Fatal Auto, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents
- Wrongful Death Due to Premises Negligence
Property owners in Clearwater carry a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. Retail centers, restaurants, and parking lots are common sites of preventable injuries. When an owner's negligence causes your fall, we investigate the conditions, document the failure, and build your premises liability claim.
- Slip and Fall Injuries
- Trip and Fall Accidents
- Wet Floor and Unmarked Hazard Cases
- Premises Liability Claims
- Commercial and Residential Property Injuries
Not every medical outcome is malpractice. But when a healthcare provider's failure to meet the accepted standard of care causes you harm, you have a claim. Medical malpractice cases in Florida require careful preparation and an attorney willing to take on hospitals and insurers. That's exactly what we do.
- Surgical Errors
- Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose
- Medication Errors
- Birth Injuries
- Anesthesia Errors
Clearwater personal injury law covers a wide range of accident types. If you've been hurt through someone else's negligence and don't see your situation listed above, call us. We evaluate every case at no cost.
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
- Swimming Pool Accidents
- Catastrophic and Serious Injury Cases
- Construction Accidents
Your Recovery Comes First. We Handle the Rest.
Medical bills, lost wages, insurer disputes — none of that should fall on you after a serious injury. We take it from here.
Table of Contents
How Florida Personal Injury Law Works
Florida has specific rules governing personal injury claims, from filing deadlines to insurance coverage requirements, and many more complicated issues. Knowing how these rules apply to your situation directly affects what you can recover.
Florida law sets a strict deadline for filing a personal injury claim. Under Florida Statute § 95.11, most personal injury cases must be filed within 2 years of the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims carry the same two-year window from the date of death.
Missing this deadline eliminates your right to recover compensation. If you were recently injured, the time to act is now.
Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage under the state's no-fault insurance system. PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault, but only if you seek treatment within 14 days of the crash. It does not cover pain and suffering. To recover beyond PIP limits, your injuries must meet Florida's serious injury threshold: permanent injury, significant scarring, or death. If your injuries meet that threshold, you can pursue a direct claim against the at-fault driver. We evaluate all coverage sources from day one.
Florida follows a modified comparative fault system under Florida Statute § 768.81. If you are found partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover at all. Insurance adjusters routinely try to shift blame onto injury victims to reduce payouts. We investigate liability from the start, gather evidence to counter unfair fault attributions, and protect the full value of your claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Clearwater Personal Injury Case
Florida personal injury law allows accident victims to recover two primary categories of money damages. The amount available in your case depends on the severity of your injuries, who was at fault, how the accident has affected your daily life, and the amount of insurance coverage available. We use our advanced knowledge and skills to locate every responsible party to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation.
Economic Damages
These are the concrete, documentable financial losses caused by your injury. They include:
- Medical bills already incurred, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and specialist visits.
- Future medical expenses for ongoing treatment, physical therapy, and long-term care.
- Lost wages from the time you could not work during recovery.
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term.
- Property damage, including vehicle repair or replacement costs.
- Out-of-pocket costs tied directly to the accident and your recovery.
Economic damages are calculated from bills, pay records, and expert testimony. We work to document every verifiable loss.
Non-Economic Damages
Florida law also allows compensation for losses that don't come with a receipt and are easily calculated. These cover the real human cost of a serious injury and may include:
- Physical pain and suffering, both past and ongoing.
- Emotional distress and mental anguish.
- Loss of enjoyment of activities you participated in before the accident.
- Permanent disfigurement or disability.
- Loss of companionship or consortium for affected family members.
Non-economic damages require experienced legal advocacy to present credibly to insurers and juries. Angela Zervos's undefeated trial record reflects exactly the kind of advocacy needed to maximize this category of compensation.
Punitive Damages
In cases involving gross negligence, such as a drunk driver who caused catastrophic injuries, Florida courts may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish particularly reckless defendants and their conduct, not merely compensate the victim. We evaluate whether punitive damages apply during your free consultation.
What to Do After an Accident in Clearwater
The steps you take immediately after an accident in Pinellas County directly affect your personal injury claim. Insurance adjusters move fast, and gaps in documentation can reduce your recovery.
Follow these steps to protect your legal rights:
- Call 911: Get a police report filed — this creates an official accident record.
- Seek medical treatment: Go immediately or within 14 days of the crash to preserve PIP eligibility.
- Document the scene: Photograph vehicle damage, visible injuries, road conditions, and any hazards.
- Collect information: Get the contact and insurance details of all involved parties.
- Get witness contacts: Collect names and phone numbers before witnesses leave the scene.
- Do not give a recorded statement: Do not speak to any insurance company before consulting an attorney.
- Call Zervos & Calta: Get a free consultation before making any decisions about your claim.
The insurance adjuster assigned to your case is not working in your interest. Their job is to minimize what the company pays. Your job is to call an attorney before agreeing to anything.
Meet Angela & Lauren:
Your Experienced Attorneys from Day One
"Insurance companies have teams of lawyers. You deserve an attorney who knows your name and fights just as hard for you."Angela Zervos
With 20+ years of undefeated litigation experience, Angela delivers aggressive advocacy and genuine care for every client.
"Our clients aren't case numbers. They're our neighbors who need someone who genuinely cares about their recovery."Lauren Calta
With 30 years of courtroom experience, Lauren blends fierce representation with compassion and clear communication.
Why Clearwater Injury Victims Choose Zervos & Calta
Direct Attorney Access
You receive your attorney’s direct contact information and communicate directly with Angela Zervos or Lauren Calta.
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No Case Handoffs
The attorney you hire handles your case from consultation through negotiation, litigation, and trial if necessary.
An Undefeated Trial Record
Angela Zervos has maintained an undefeated trial record for more than 20 years in Florida courtrooms.
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What Our Clients Are Saying
Serving Clearwater and All of Pinellas County
We represent clients across Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Largo, Pinellas Park, and throughout Pinellas County. Whether your injury happened on a busy Pinellas road, in a commercial property, or anywhere else in the area, Zervos & Calta is ready to take your case.
Don't Let the Insurance Company Write the Ending
Every day that passes after an accident is a day the other side uses to build their case. Call Angela or Lauren now. Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many claims resolve through settlement negotiations without a trial. However, if liability is disputed or the insurer refuses to provide fair compensation, filing a lawsuit and preparing for trial may be necessary.
Yes. Property owners in Florida have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. If unsafe property conditions caused your injury, you may have a premises liability claim against the responsible party.
Some injuries, including concussions and soft tissue damage, may not show symptoms immediately. Seeking medical evaluation as soon as symptoms appear helps document the connection between the accident and the injury.
Florida law allows certain surviving family members to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim. These cases may include recovery for financial losses, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship.
Some cases rely on expert testimony to explain medical injuries, accident reconstruction, or financial losses. Qualified experts can help clarify complex issues and strengthen the evidence supporting a claim. We have relationships with many experts who help us establish strong evidence in the cases we handle. If a trial is necessary, we pay these experts for their time to testify before a jury in support of your case.