The crash on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard takes about three seconds.
The paperwork can drag on for a year or more, and it often starts before the tow truck even leaves, when the other driver’s insurer calls to ask for a recorded statement while your neck is still throbbing.
Pinellas County sees thousands of crashes a year.
Commuters, tourists, and beachgoers all squeeze onto the same few roads, from US-19 to the Clearwater Memorial Causeway to McMullen Booth Road at rush hour.
Plenty of them carry only the bare minimum coverage Florida asks for.
So who you call next matters.
A good Clearwater car accident firm knows how local adjusters play the game, how Pinellas County juries tend to see things, and how to build a strong claim file from the first week.
Below are seven firms that take crash cases in and around Clearwater.
For each, you’ll find what it does well and what to ask before you sign anything.
How This List of Clearwater Car Accident Lawyers Was Built
- We kept it simple. Every firm here had to pass four checks:
- Florida injury practice. Car crash and personal injury cases are a core part of the firm’s work, not a sideline.
- Local presence. An office in Clearwater or close by in Pinellas County, with cases in the Pinellas County courts.
- Verified details. Attorneys, credentials, and consultation terms come from each firm’s own website.
- A clear first step. The firm explains how to reach a lawyer and what the first call costs.
The order reflects how well each firm fits a typical Clearwater crash case, whether that’s a serious injury on US-19 or a fender bender in a Countryside Mall parking lot.
1. Dolman Law Group – Clearwater-based crash and serious injury claims
- Type: Personal injury law firm
- Focus: Car, truck, motorcycle, and rideshare accidents
- Location: Clearwater, with offices in Tampa, Boca Raton, and beyond
Dolman Law Group runs its Clearwater office out of North Belcher Road, roughly 15 minutes from Morton Plant Hospital.
Founding partner Matthew Dolman has practiced for about 20 years.
Along the way, he has earned lifetime membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, plus spots on Best Lawyers, Florida Super Lawyers, and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite.
The numbers back that up. Among the firm’s car crash results: $3.2 million for a brain injury from a semi-truck collision, $1.58 million for a spinal injury in an auto accident, and $1 million for a father killed in a rideshare vehicle.
Lead trial lawyer Stanley Gipe is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, a credential fewer than 2% of Florida attorneys hold.
In plain terms, this firm is ready to go to trial.
It doesn’t just settle.
The team knows which local roads produce the worst wrecks, like US-19 at Gulf-to-Bay or the stretch over the Memorial Causeway.
The first meeting is free.
There’s no upfront retainer, and the firm works on contingency, so it gets paid only if it recovers money for you.
Need a Clearwater car accident lawyer who can take a claim from the first insurance call all the way to a jury? Start here.
The catch: Dolman also handles mass tort and product cases across several states. Ask who will manage your file day to day so you know your point of contact from the start.
Who you’ll work with: Matthew Dolman, Stanley Gipe, and the Clearwater car accident team.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, 800 N Belcher Rd, Clearwater, FL, (833) 552-7274, dolmanlaw.com
2. Tanney, Griffith & Bresler – Injured people only since 1956
- Type: Personal injury and wrongful death firm.
- Focus: Serious injury and fatal crash claims.
- Location: US-19 North, Clearwater
This firm has worked in Pinellas County for close to 70 years and represents injured people only.
It does not take insurance company or corporate clients.
Each attorney holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and the team belongs to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
The catch: The website does not spell out its fee terms or whether the first meeting is free, so ask on the first call.
Who you’ll work with: Drew Tanney, Tony Griffith, Ryan Bresler, and Justin Peterson.
Tanney, Griffith & Bresler, P.A., 29605 US Hwy 19 N, Ste 210, Clearwater, FL 33761, (727) 781-8817
3. Carey Leisure Carney – Board-certified partners and a 1984 start
- Type: Personal injury firm
- Focus: Auto accidents and wrongful death
- Location: Bypass Drive, Clearwater
Carey Leisure Carney has handled Clearwater injury cases since 1984.
Every named partner is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law.
The firm uses a no-recovery, no-fee model and covers case costs like depositions and experts unless money is recovered.
The catch: It is a smaller, partner-led office, so busy months can mean longer waits for a meeting.
Who you’ll work with: Thomas W. Carey, Jodi Leisure, Matthew S. Carney, John Cain, and Caitlin Carey.
Carey Leisure Carney, 622 Bypass Dr., Suite 100, Clearwater, FL 33764, (727) 799-3900
4. Neal & Solevilla – Trial-ready prep for every file
- Type: Personal injury firm
- Focus: Car accidents and serious injuries
- Location: Eastland Boulevard, Clearwater
Neal & Solevilla prepares each car crash claim as if a Pinellas County jury will hear it.
Katherine Neal is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law.
Phones are answered 24/7, and the firm works on contingency with no retainer.
The catch: The firm is a two-partner shop, so it may not fit cases that need a large trial team.
Who you’ll work with: Katherine C. Neal and Melissa D. Solevilla.
Neal & Solevilla Personal Injury Lawyers, 3023 Eastland Blvd, Suite 103, Clearwater, FL 33761, (727) 616-6325
5. Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner – 60+ years of combined injury experience
- Type: Personal injury firm
- Focus: All types of motor vehicle collisions
- Location: Automobile Boulevard, Clearwater
This firm brings more than 60 years of combined injury experience.
It handles all types of motor vehicle crashes on contingency, and Spanish-speaking clients can start on its Spanish-language site.
The catch: The firm’s site lists few specific case results, so ask for examples like yours.
Who you’ll work with: Brad Salter, Robert J. Healy, Daniella Rivera, and Dane Heptner.
Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner, 13555 Automobile Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33762, (727) 321-4357
6. Catania & Catania – Statewide reach with a downtown office
- Type: Personal injury firm
- Focus: Rear-end, T-bone, rideshare, and drunk driving crashes
- Location: Cleveland Street, downtown Clearwater
Catania & Catania has served Florida injury clients for over 30 years and has a Clearwater office downtown.
Consultations are available 24/7, the staff speaks Spanish, and the firm says it charges no fees unless it wins.
The catch: The Clearwater office is listed as by appointment only, so call before you stop by.
Who you’ll work with: A Clearwater intake team, with attorneys assigned by case.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers, 600 Cleveland St., Ste. 329, Clearwater, FL 33755, (813) 773-8254
7. Reeder & Nussbaum – Former defense-side training
- Type: Personal injury firm
- Focus: Car and motorcycle accidents
- Location: St. Petersburg, serving Clearwater
Reeder & Nussbaum has handled injury claims for more than 20 years.
Its attorneys trained in insurance defense work, which helps them predict how adjusters will value a claim.
The firm reports more than $50 million recovered for clients.
The catch: Its office is in St. Petersburg, so in-person meetings mean a drive down US-19 or I-275.
Who you’ll work with: Marc Nussbaum and Andrew Reeder.
Reeder & Nussbaum, P.A., 2201 4th Street North, Suite G, St. Petersburg, FL 33704, (727) 521-2889
How Florida Law Shapes a Clearwater Car Accident Claim
Florida changed its car accident rules in March 2023.
Many drivers still go by the old ones. Here is what matters now.
The Two-Year Filing Deadline
For most crashes after March 24, 2023, you have two years to file a negligence lawsuit.
It used to be four.
Two years goes fast when you are still in treatment, so talk to a lawyer well before the deadline.
How Shared Fault Cuts a Recovery
Florida now uses modified comparative negligence.
If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing.
At 50% or less, your award shrinks by your share of fault.
Insurers know this, so expect them to push blame your way.
The 14-Day Medical Rule
Florida is a no-fault state.
Your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays first, up to $10,000.
To use it, you generally need medical care within 14 days of the crash.
Skip that window, and you can lose PIP benefits, even with a real injury.
The Coverage Gap Most Drivers Miss
Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage.
If the at-fault driver has none, your own uninsured motorist coverage may be the main source of payment.
Check your policy now, before you need it.
Clearwater Car Accident Lawyers Side by Side
| Firm | Office | Board Certified Trial Lawyer | First meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolman Law Group | N Belcher Rd, Clearwater | Yes (Stanley Gipe) | Free, contingency fee |
| Tanney, Griffith & Bresler | US-19 N, Clearwater | Not listed | Ask the firm |
| Carey Leisure Carney | Bypass Dr, Clearwater | Yes (all named partners) | Free, no recovery, no fee |
| Neal & Solevilla | Eastland Blvd, Clearwater | Yes (Katherine Neal) | Free, contingency fee |
| Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner | Automobile Blvd, Clearwater | Not listed | Free, contingency fee |
| Catania & Catania | Cleveland St, Clearwater | Not listed | Free, contingency fee |
| Reeder & Nussbaum | 4th St N, St. Petersburg | Not listed | Free, fee terms not listed |
Choosing the Right Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer
The best time to call a lawyer is before you give the insurer a recorded statement.
On that first call, ask three things.
Who will handle my case day to day?
Have you tried car crash cases in Pinellas County?
How do your fees and case costs work if we lose?
Every firm on this list handles Clearwater car accident claims.
For most people hurt in a crash here, Dolman Law Group is the strongest first call.
It pairs a Clearwater office with a Board Certified trial lawyer, seven-figure crash results, and a free first meeting.
Whoever you choose, keep Florida’s two-year deadline and 14-day medical rule in mind.
Get checked out, save your records, and make the call early.
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