Do I have a case?
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If someone else’s carelessness caused your injury — a distracted driver, a wet floor with no warning sign, a negligent property owner — you likely have a claim. The only way to know for sure is to have an attorney review the facts, which we do for free. Even if we can’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction.
How much is my case worth?
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It depends on your medical bills, lost wages, future treatment needs, and the pain and disruption the injury caused. Be wary of anyone who quotes a number before reviewing your medical records — an honest valuation takes time. What we can promise: insurance companies routinely offer a fraction of what a case is worth, and represented claimants consistently recover more.
How long will my case take?
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Most personal injury cases settle in a few months to a year. Cases that go to trial can take longer. We move as fast as the facts allow — but we won’t rush you into a lowball settlement just to close a file. You decide whether to accept any offer.
How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?
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For most negligence cases arising after March 2023, Florida gives you two years from the date of injury to file suit. Some claims — against government entities, for example — have shorter notice deadlines. Evidence also disappears fast: skid marks fade, cameras overwrite footage, witnesses forget. Call sooner rather than later.
What if I was partly at fault?
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Florida uses modified comparative negligence (changed by House Bill 837 in 2023): you can still recover as long as you were 50% or less at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame — at 51% or more, you recover nothing. Medical malpractice cases are the exception and still follow the old pure comparative rule. Adjusters know all this and will try to pin fault on you. Don’t accept their version — fault is something we fight about, not something they decide.
How much does it cost to hire you?
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Nothing up front — ever. We work on contingency: our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you, and if we recover nothing, you owe us nothing. The consultation is free, case costs are advanced by the firm, and you’ll see every number in writing before you sign anything.
What does “no fee unless we win” actually mean?
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Exactly what it says. We front the costs of building your case — records, experts, filing fees, investigation. If your case doesn’t result in a recovery, those costs are our loss, not yours. You will never get a bill from us for a case we didn’t win.
Is the consultation really free?
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Yes — no strings. You’ll talk to us about what happened, we’ll tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it might involve. There is no obligation to hire us afterward, and nothing you share is ever used for anything but evaluating your case.
What should I do right after a car accident?
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Get to safety and call 911 — always get a police report. Photograph everything: vehicles, the scene, your injuries. Get names and numbers of witnesses. See a doctor within 14 days, even if you feel fine — Florida’s no-fault law requires it to preserve your PIP benefits, and adrenaline masks injuries. Then call us before you talk to any insurance company.
The insurance company already offered me money. Should I take it?
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Not before an attorney looks at it. First offers are almost always a fraction of a claim’s value, and once you sign a release, the case is over — even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you thought. Have us review the offer for free; if it’s genuinely fair, we’ll tell you.
Do I need a lawyer if the other driver was clearly at fault?
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“Clear” fault doesn’t mean fair payment. The other driver’s insurer works for their bottom line, not you — they’ll question your injuries, your treatment, and your bills. Studies consistently show represented claimants net more even after fees. And if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you’ll need someone who knows how to pursue every available policy.
What is PIP and how does it work?
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Florida is a no-fault state: your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to $10,000, regardless of fault — but only if you get initial care within 14 days of the crash. One more trap: unless a physician documents an “emergency medical condition,” PIP medical benefits are capped at $2,500 instead of $10,000. PIP pays nothing for pain and suffering — for that, your injury must meet Florida’s serious injury threshold (permanent injury, significant scarring, or death), which lets you pursue the at-fault driver directly. We handle both sides of this.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
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Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry bodily injury coverage, so this happens constantly. If you purchased uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, your own policy steps in — and your insurer will fight that claim just as hard as a stranger’s would. We also look for every other available policy: household policies, the vehicle owner’s coverage, employer coverage for on-the-job drivers.
I slipped and fell in a store. Is the business automatically responsible?
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No — and this surprises people. Under Florida Statute 768.0755, if you slip on a “transitory foreign substance” (a spill, liquid, or debris) in a business, you must prove the business knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to fix it. “Should have known” can be shown by how long the spill sat there or how often the condition recurs. That proof is built from surveillance video, inspection logs, and witnesses — which is why calling a lawyer quickly matters.
What should I do right after a fall on someone else’s property?
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Report it to the manager and ask for an incident report. Photograph exactly what made you fall before it gets cleaned up. Get witness names and numbers. Seek medical care right away. Then call us — store surveillance video is often overwritten within days, and a preservation letter from an attorney can save the evidence that wins the case.
Who can bring a wrongful death claim in Florida?
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A wrongful death claim is filed by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of surviving family members — typically a spouse, children, or parents. The deadline is two years from the date of death. No case is harder to talk about, and no case matters more to get right; we handle these with the care they deserve.
Who will actually handle my case?
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The attorneys you meet — not a call center. You’ll work directly with our attorneys, Charles Spinner, Anissa Morris, and Patrick Barnes, with a combined 50+ years of experience. Unlike high-volume advertising firms, we deliberately limit our caseload so we can actually know our clients and their families. Your calls get returned, and you’ll never explain your case from scratch to a stranger.
What experience does the firm have?
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Charles Spinner has represented auto accident and personal injury victims across Tampa Bay and Florida for over 20 years, recovering millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell — the highest rating for legal ability and ethics — a life member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and recognized by the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100.
What do you need from me to get started?
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Just call. It helps to have the police report, photos, insurance information, and any medical records — but don’t wait until you’ve gathered everything. We can obtain most documents ourselves once you hire us.
Will my case go to trial?
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Most don’t — the vast majority settle. But insurance companies pay more to firms they know will actually try a case. We prepare every case as if it’s going to a jury, and if a fair settlement isn’t on the table, we’re ready to go. The decision to settle or fight is always yours.
What areas do you serve?
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Our office is at 2418 Cypress Glen Drive in Wesley Chapel, in the Cypress Glen Professional Park — convenient to New Tampa, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, and surrounding communities, with free parking and handicap accessibility. We represent injured people across Tampa Bay and throughout Florida, and if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you — including hospital and home visits.
