Jurisdiction: Florida — Hillsborough County
Car accidents in Tampa move through a specific legal process: Florida’s no-fault insurance system, a strict two-year filing deadline, and a comparative negligence rule that can bar recovery entirely if you’re found too much at fault. The attorney you choose, and how quickly you choose them, can materially change your outcome. Below is a look at ten Tampa-based car accident attorneys, along with what’s publicly known about each firm.
1. Santini Personal Injury & Car Accident Law
- Attorney: Frank Santini, Esq.
- Founded: 2018 (Riverview); Tampa office added since
- Headquarters: 9270 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 618, Tampa, FL 33619
- Phone: (813) 896-3301
- Website: realaccidentlawyer.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Slip and Fall
- Firm Size: Small firm, multiple attorneys
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 5.0 (24 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Frank Santini graduated first in his class at Stetson University College of Law and worked as a Practice Group Leader at a nationally recognized Riverview firm before founding his own practice. He’s recognized by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, and AVVO, and is licensed in both Florida and New Jersey. His firm handles cases spanning auto accidents, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury for clients across Tampa and Hillsborough County.
2. Ronald Bone, P.A.
- Attorney: Ronald Bone
- Founded: 1997
- Headquarters: 10823 Seminole Blvd, Suite 2A, Seminole, FL 33778
- Phone: (727) 323-7955
- Website: bone-law.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Catastrophic Injury
- Firm Size: Boutique, limited caseload by design
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 5.0 (49 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Ron Bone founded his firm in 1997 on the principle of direct, attorney-led representation rather than a high-volume case-manager model. Clients work with Bone personally rather than being passed to support staff, and his trial-ready approach shapes strategy from the first consultation through negotiation or litigation. His practice concentrates on serious personal injury, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases across the Tampa Bay area.
3. Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys
- Attorney: Jack G. Bernstein
- Founded: 1983
- Headquarters: 4350 W Cypress St, Suite 725, Tampa, FL 33607
- Phone: (813) 333-6666
- Website: bernsteininjurylaw.com
- Practice Areas: Auto Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice
- Firm Size: 6 attorneys, 40+ staff
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 4.9 (1659 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Jack G. Bernstein earned his law degree from the University of Miami in 1983 and opened his own practice the same year. Over more than four decades he’s personally worked on over 50,000 cases, and his firm now offers 24-hour helplines across Tampa, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg/Clearwater. He personally manages the firm’s active caseload and handpicks legal teams for each case.
4. Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys
- Attorney: Dan Newlin
- Founded: 2001
- Headquarters: 1408 N Westshore Blvd, Suite 310, Tampa, FL 33607
- Phone: (813) 888-8000
- Website: dannewlin.com
- Practice Areas: Auto Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Catastrophic Injury
- Firm Size: Large, multi-office firm across FL and IL
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 5.0 (1403 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Dan Newlin spent ten years as an Orange County Sheriff’s Office patrol officer and detective before earning his JD from Florida State University in 2000 and founding his own firm in 2001. Since then the firm has grown into one of the largest personal injury practices in the country, with offices across Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area, and has secured record verdicts including a $100 million judgment for a client with a traumatic brain injury.
5. MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
- Attorney: Matt Powell
- Founded: 1989
- Headquarters: 304 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL 33606 (Historic Hutchinson Mansion)
- Phone: (813) 565-2864
- Website: mattlaw.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death, Catastrophic Injury, Medical Malpractice
- Firm Size: Multi-attorney, offices in FL, MO, and GA
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 5.0 (1326 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Matt Powell opened his Tampa practice in 1989 after briefly working at an insurance defense firm, an experience that pushed him to represent injured plaintiffs instead. He’s triple board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy, completed his 100th jury trial in 2026, and has secured more than $250 million in recoveries for clients over his career.
6. Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers
- Attorney: Peter Catania & Paul Catania
- Founded: 1992
- Headquarters: 101 E Kennedy Blvd, Suite 2400, Tampa, FL 33602 (Bank of America Plaza)
- Phone: (813) 536-5816
- Website: cataniaandcatania.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability
- Firm Size: Family-run, multi-attorney
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 4.7 (1158 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Brothers Peter and Paul Catania founded their Tampa firm in 1992 and have since recovered more than $500 million for clients. Between them the firm’s attorneys hold over 120 years of combined experience, including backgrounds as former public defenders and insurance defense attorneys, and the firm holds the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
7. Martin J. Hernandez, P.A.
- Attorney: Martin J. Hernandez
- In Practice: Since 2001
- Headquarters: 3002 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
- Phone: (813) 755-9500
- Website: injurylawyersoftampa.com
- Practice Areas: Auto Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Slip and Fall
- Firm Size: Boutique
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 4.9 (840 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Martin Hernandez has practiced law since 2001 and previously spent four years as a prosecutor with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office before moving to plaintiff-side injury work. He’s tried more than 100 jury trials and is known for meeting personally with nearly every client regardless of case size. His office is bilingual, serving English- and Spanish-speaking clients across Tampa.
8. Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
- Attorney: Erik Abrahamson
- Founded: 1989
- Headquarters: 900 W Platt St, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33606
- Phone: (813) 212-6906
- Website: theinjurylawyers.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents, Slip and Fall
- Firm Size: 10+ attorneys, 40+ staff, multiple FL offices
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 4.9 (676 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Erik Abrahamson founded Abrahamson & Uiterwyk in 1989 and has spent more than 35 years focused exclusively on personal injury law. The firm has represented over 20,000 injured clients and recovered more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements, holding the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
9. Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys
- Attorney: Dennis Hernandez
- Founded: 1996
- Headquarters: 3339 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
- Phone: (855) 529-3366
- Website: dennishernandez.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice
- Firm Size: Multi-office across Florida
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 4.8 (664 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: A fifth-generation Florida native, Dennis Hernandez began practicing law at 24 and founded his firm in 1996. He holds a Bachelor’s from Duke University, a JD from Florida State University College of Law, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, and is one of a select group of attorneys who’ve graduated from the Trial Lawyers College. The firm has since grown to seven Florida cities beyond its original Tampa office.
10. Boohoff Law, P.A.
- Attorney: Tatiana Boohoff
- Founded: 2009
- Headquarters: 829 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL 33603
- Phone: (813) 733-6179
- Website: boohofflaw.com
- Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Slip and Fall, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Abuse
- Firm Size: Boutique
- Google Rating: ★★★★★ 5.0 (614 Google reviews) — View on Google
About the Firm: Tatiana Boohoff, a Boston University School of Law graduate, founded her firm in 2009 after seeing firsthand how impersonal the legal process can feel for injured clients. Her “Best Law Firm”-ranked practice focuses on car accidents, slip and falls, and wrongful death cases throughout Hillsborough County, and she’s built a reputation for staying personally accessible to clients rather than routing them through case managers.
Understanding Car Accident Law in Florida
Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, meaning your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays initial medical bills and lost wages after a car accident regardless of who caused the crash. To sue an at-fault driver directly, your injuries generally need to meet Florida’s “serious injury” threshold. Separately, Florida’s statute of limitations for most car accident claims is two years from the date of the crash under Florida Statute § 95.11, and the state applies “modified comparative negligence” under Florida Statute § 768.81, which bars any recovery if you’re found more than 50% at fault. Civil lawsuits in the Tampa area are generally filed with the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court and heard at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, based at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Florida?
Generally, two years from the date of the accident. Florida cut this deadline in half in 2023 under House Bill 837, which amended Florida Statute § 95.11 from a four-year to a two-year window for negligence-based claims. Miss the deadline and a court will almost certainly dismiss the case, regardless of how strong the underlying facts are.
Does Florida use comparative negligence, and how does it affect my claim?
Yes. Florida applies “modified comparative negligence” under Florida Statute § 768.81: your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but if you’re found more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover anything at all. This is a stricter standard than the “pure” comparative negligence system Florida used before 2023.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost in Tampa?
Nearly all car accident attorneys in the Tampa area work on contingency, meaning there’s no upfront fee and the attorney only gets paid (typically a percentage of the settlement or verdict) if they win your case. Free initial consultations are standard across the firms listed here.
What should I do immediately after a car accident in Tampa?
Seek medical attention first, even if injuries seem minor, since some symptoms appear later. Call law enforcement to file an official report, document the scene with photos, exchange information with other parties, and avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
Do I have to use my own insurance before suing another driver in Florida?
In most cases, yes, at least initially. Florida is a no-fault state, meaning your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays your initial medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. You can only step outside no-fault and sue the at-fault driver directly once your injuries meet Florida’s “serious injury” threshold.
What types of compensation can I recover in a Florida car accident case?
Depending on the case, compensation can include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and lost earning capacity, vehicle and property damage, pain and suffering, and in wrongful death cases, damages for the surviving family. Punitive damages are available in limited circumstances involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Do car accident cases usually go to trial, or do they settle?
Most car accident cases in Florida settle before trial, often through negotiation with the insurance company or through mediation. That said, attorneys who are genuinely prepared to take a case to trial if needed tend to negotiate from a stronger position, which is why trial experience is worth asking about when choosing a lawyer.
Where are car accident lawsuits filed in the Tampa area?
Civil lawsuits in Hillsborough County are generally filed with the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court and heard at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, based at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa.
About This List
The attorneys listed here represent a selection of car accident practices operating in Tampa and Hillsborough County. Details including office locations, phone numbers, and background information are based on publicly available data verified at the time of publication, including each firm’s own website and Google Business Profile. Google ratings and review counts reflect a point-in-time snapshot and will change over time. Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement or ranking of legal quality. If you’ve been in a car accident, verify current licensing through The Florida Bar and schedule consultations to find the right fit for your situation. This document is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice.
