Tampa Bay's roads see more than 25,000 crashes a year. When you're hurt, the insurance company has its lawyers on the case within hours. You should too. Free review, no fee unless we win.
If you've been hurt in a crash anywhere in Hillsborough, Pinellas or Pasco County, you're not just up against another driver — you're up against an insurance company whose entire business model depends on paying you less than your case is worth. That's where we come in.
For more than four decades, John Bales Attorneys has handled Tampa Bay car-accident cases from fender-benders to fatal interstate collisions. We know the local roads — the I-275 / I-4 interchange, Dale Mabry, Bayshore, Bruce B. Downs, the Veterans — and we know how Tampa-area insurers, hospitals and police departments work. We use that knowledge to build cases insurers can't dismiss.
The first 72 hours after a crash usually shape the case more than anything that follows. Here's what protects you — and what protects your claim.
Even if you "feel fine." Florida requires a police report for any crash with injury or significant damage, and that report becomes your case's first piece of evidence.
Vehicles, license plates, debris, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, your injuries. Phone photos beat memory in every deposition.
Florida's PIP statute requires medical care within 14 days of the crash to preserve your benefits. Don't tough it out — get checked.
The other driver's insurer will call you within 24 hours sounding helpful. They are not your friend. Talk to a lawyer first — it costs you nothing.
The most common Tampa crash, often understated by insurers. We document the long-tail injuries.
Right-of-way and red-light cases require fast scene preservation. We move within hours.
Catastrophic injuries demand catastrophic-injury counsel. We've handled them since 1984.
Coverage layers depend on the driver's app status. We know how to find the right policy.
Uninsured-motorist coverage can still recover for you. We pursue it where others don't bother.
Punitive-damage exposure changes the math. Don't accept a quick PIP-only settlement.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case turns on its own facts.
Florida's statute of limitations for most car-accident negligence claims is two years from the date of the crash. Wrongful-death claims are also two years. Wait too long and your claim is gone — start the conversation now, even if you're not sure you want to hire an attorney.
You pay us nothing up front and nothing while the case is pending. If we recover money for you — through settlement or verdict — our fee is a percentage of that recovery. If we don't recover anything, you owe us nothing for our time.
Politely decline to give a recorded statement. Get the adjuster's name and phone number, then call us. Anything you say to that insurer can and will be used to reduce or deny your claim — even innocent statements like "I'm feeling better" before you've seen all the doctors you need to see.
The vast majority of car-accident cases settle without trial. We prepare every case as if it's going to trial, which is exactly why insurers settle on terms they wouldn't otherwise offer. If your case does need a trial, you'll have a partner-led trial team.
Florida is a modified-comparative-fault state. As long as you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover — your award is just reduced by your share of fault. Don't assume your case is dead because someone (often the insurer) says you contributed. Get a real assessment.
There's no fee for a case review and no obligation to hire us. Share a few details and a case manager will reach out within one business hour.