Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyer

A serious crash on Gulf to Bay Boulevard, Highway 19, or the Courtney Campbell Causeway can start two separate cases at once: a civil claim for the injuries, and sometimes a criminal prosecution of a driver. Anyone searching for a Clearwater personal injury lawyer is usually dealing with the first. King Law Group works on the second. We are a criminal defense firm serving Clearwater, Pinellas County, and the wider Tampa Bay area, and we handle the criminal charges that follow injury-causing accidents.

The distinction matters because the two cases run on different tracks. A civil injury claim is about money. A criminal case is about liberty, a driving record, and a permanent conviction. If you were hurt and want compensation, you need a civil injury firm, and we will not pretend otherwise. If you were behind the wheel, or accused of hurting someone, and police or the State Attorney are now involved, the decisions you make in the first days can shape both cases.

Why Choose King Law Group for Crash-Related Criminal Charges

King Law Group is a criminal defense firm and nothing else. Founder Cameron King, a Tampa Bay native, spent his career in criminal law. After earning his law degree at Florida State University with a concentration in criminal law, he worked as a Florida state prosecutor, handling cases from murder to DUI. He then spent years as a defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm before building a practice devoted only to defending people accused of crimes. The firm serves Clearwater and the rest of Pinellas County, along with Pasco and Hillsborough Counties, New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

That prosecutor background matters in injury-related cases. Charges like DUI causing injury, DUI manslaughter, and vehicular homicide are built from crash reconstruction, blood or breath results, officer observations, and witness statements. Someone who has sat on the prosecution side knows how those files get assembled, where they tend to be thin, and what a State Attorney’s office needs to see before it will negotiate. Mr. King’s former clients describe him as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate. Several testimonials mention prompt returned calls, patient explanations at each stage, and a case that ended with the charges dropped.

Because the firm takes no civil injury work, there is no conflict between your defense and a competing money claim. We do not take cases on the other side of your crash. We focus on the criminal exposure: the charge, the license, the plea options, and the record. The firm offers a free case evaluation and is available around the clock, which matters when a crash happens at 2 a.m. and the booking process has already started.

Criminal Charges That Can Follow an Injury Crash in Clearwater

Not every crash leads to a criminal case, but when alcohol, drugs, a suspended license, or a death is involved, prosecutors often get involved. These are the charge categories we see tied to injury accidents.

• DUI Causing Property Damage or Injury: Under Florida’s DUI statute, a DUI that causes or contributes to damage to another person’s property or body is a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail. A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 and up to six months of jail, and the numbers climb when the breath or blood level is 0.15 or higher or a minor is in the car. The legal limit is 0.08.
• DUI Manslaughter: Causing the death of a person or an unborn child while committing DUI is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years. A conviction brings a mandatory minimum prison term of four years and permanent revocation of the driver’s license.
• Vehicular Homicide: A death caused by reckless driving is prosecuted separately from DUI manslaughter. A recent law known as Trenton’s Law raises vehicular homicide to a first-degree felony when the accused already has a prior conviction for DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or the vessel equivalents.
• Driving on a Suspended License at the Time of a Crash: A knowing violation is a second-degree misdemeanor on a first offense and a first-degree misdemeanor on later ones. It can become a third-degree felony in limited situations, such as when the suspension traces back to a prior DUI, a refusal to test, or a crash causing death or serious injury. Driving as a designated habitual traffic offender is a third-degree felony.
• Violent Crimes Involving Injury: Bar fights near Clearwater Beach, altercations after a road-rage incident, and assaults leading to hospital visits are charged under violent-crime statutes, where the extent of the injury often drives the severity of the charge.
• Domestic Violence With Injury: An injury to a spouse, partner, or family member triggers a domestic violence prosecution. These cases often proceed even when the injured person wants them dropped, because the State Attorney decides whether to pursue them, not the alleged victim.
• Child Abuse Allegations: An injury to a child, whether from an accident at home or a medical finding that raises concern, can lead to a criminal investigation as well as a child protective inquiry.
• Probation Violations After a New Incident: A crash or arrest while on probation can trigger a violation hearing in addition to any new charge, with separate standards and separate risks.

How the Criminal Case Touches the Civil Claim

If someone was hurt in the crash, a civil claim is almost always coming, whether or not you are charged. The two cases influence each other in ways people do not expect.

Statements you make to the police, to an insurance adjuster, or on social media can show up in both. A plea to a criminal charge can be used against you in the civil case. And the criminal outcome, whether a dismissal, reduction, or conviction, can change how an insurer values the claim and how a civil lawyer approaches it.

Florida’s civil rules also shape what is at stake for the injured person. Following the tort reform law known as HB 837, the time limit for most negligence claims is two years, down from four, for claims that arose after it took effect. Claims that arose earlier kept the four-year period. Wrongful death claims generally run two years as well. Under the current comparative fault rule, an injured person found more than 50 percent responsible for their own harm recovers nothing, and a person at 50 percent or less has damages reduced by their share of fault. Before the reform, Florida used pure comparative negligence. That rule does not apply to medical negligence claims.

Why does this matter to a criminal defendant? Because the fault findings, and the evidence behind them, are being built at the same time. A defense that shows the other driver bore a share of responsibility for the collision can help in court and can matter to the insurance side as well. We keep the criminal case as the priority, and we expect you to have separate civil counsel for any lawsuit.

What to Do After a Crash That May Lead to Charges

The first decision is whether to talk. Police in Clearwater and across Pinellas County will ask questions at the scene, at the hospital, and at the station. You can be polite and give your name and documents. You do not have to explain where you were drinking, how fast you were going, or what you saw. Asking for a lawyer is not an admission, and it cannot lawfully be held against you. Statements made in those first hours are often the most damaging part of a prosecution file.

The second decision is about medical care. If you are hurt, get treated. Records created at the hospital can help or hurt, and a blood draw taken for medical reasons can still end up in the file. Do not refuse care to avoid a record, but do tell your lawyer what was tested and when.

Third, deal with your license quickly. A DUI arrest can start an administrative process with the state licensing agency that runs apart from the criminal case and carries its own short deadlines. On a conviction, a first DUI brings revocation of at least 180 days and up to one year. A first offense involving bodily injury carries a minimum three-year revocation under the licensing agency’s rules. A second conviction within five years means revocation of at least five years, and a conviction for DUI manslaughter means permanent revocation. Hardship reinstatement may be available after certain periods, which a lawyer can evaluate for you.

Fourth, preserve what you can. Photos of the scene and vehicles, names of witnesses, the other driver’s information, and anything showing road conditions or signal timing can matter. Keep your car in its post-crash condition if possible, because data from the vehicle may be relevant.

Fifth, know where the case will be heard. Pinellas County criminal cases are handled in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and the Pinellas County Justice Center in Clearwater is the main facility for criminal matters in the county, housing both the circuit and county courts and the Clerk of Court. If the crash happened across a county line, the case may be heard in Pasco County, with courthouses in New Port Richey and Dade City, or in Hillsborough County in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Where the crash happened usually decides where the case is filed.

Finally, do not talk to the other side’s insurer without advice, do not post about the crash, and do not contact the injured person to apologize or explain. Even kind words can be quoted back. If you are the one injured, a civil lawyer should handle your claim, and the two-year clock for most negligence claims is running from the day of the crash.

Plea Offers, Reductions, and What a Conviction Leaves Behind

Many injury-crash cases resolve before trial, and the choices in those negotiations carry long consequences. A reduction from DUI manslaughter or a DUI-with-injury charge to a lesser offense can change prison exposure, license revocation, and the record a person carries for life. We look at the blood or breath testing, the stop and arrest, the crash reconstruction, and the medical causation evidence to see where the State’s case is weak.

Florida courts must place every DUI offender on monthly reporting probation and require a substance abuse course through a licensed DUI program, including a psychosocial evaluation. Those terms apply on top of fines and any jail. For non-citizens, a conviction can also carry immigration consequences, and some offenses involving injury or death can put a green card at risk. Speak to counsel before accepting any plea.

Adult convictions cannot be sealed or expunged in Florida. That is why the outcome of the case itself matters so much. If the case ends in a dismissal or a result that leaves no adjudication of guilt, an eligible person may later seek to seal or expunge the record, starting with a certificate of eligibility from the state law enforcement agency and a statement from the State Attorney. Someone with any prior adjudication of guilt generally cannot qualify.

Questions About Crash Charges and Personal Injury Cases in Clearwater

Does King Law Group handle personal injury claims?

No. The firm handles criminal defense only. If you were hurt in a crash and want to pursue compensation, you need a civil personal injury firm. If you were charged with a crime because of the crash, King Law Group can defend you.

Can I be sued and prosecuted for the same crash?

Yes. The State brings the criminal case, and the injured person or their family brings the civil claim. They are separate proceedings with different standards of proof, and one outcome does not automatically decide the other, although evidence and statements can carry over.

What is the deadline to file a civil injury claim in Florida?

For most negligence claims arising after the HB 837 reform took effect, the period is two years under Florida’s statute of limitations in section 95.11. Wrongful death claims generally run two years too. Claims that arose before the reform kept the older four-year period. A civil lawyer can confirm which applies.

What happens if the injured person was partly at fault?

Under current Florida law, someone found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm recovers nothing in a negligence case. At 50 percent or less, the recovery is reduced by their percentage. A fault dispute can matter to both a criminal defense and the civil side.

Is a DUI with an injury a felony?

A DUI that causes damage to another person or their property is generally a first-degree misdemeanor. A DUI that causes a death is DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony. Other facts, such as a prior record or a suspended license, can raise the level of exposure.

Will I go to prison for DUI manslaughter?

A conviction carries a mandatory minimum prison term of four years, with a maximum of 15 years as a second-degree felony. The charge also brings permanent license revocation. Because of these stakes, the evidence deserves a hard look before any plea.

What is Trenton’s Law?

It is a recent Florida law that makes vehicular homicide, and vessel homicide, a first-degree felony when the accused has a prior conviction for DUI manslaughter, BUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or vessel homicide. Without a qualifying prior, vehicular homicide remains a second-degree felony.

Can my license be suspended even if the criminal case is dismissed?

Possibly. An administrative suspension after a DUI arrest is separate from the criminal case and has its own deadline to challenge it. Winning or losing one does not automatically decide the other, so ask about it right away.

Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?

Be cautious. Anything you say can be used in the civil claim and may reach prosecutors. Give only basic facts, avoid describing fault or drinking, and speak with a lawyer first if there is any chance of criminal charges.

How long does a crash-related criminal case take in Pinellas County?

It depends on the charge and the evidence. Misdemeanors can resolve in a few months, while felony cases involving crash reconstruction, toxicology, and expert witnesses often take considerably longer. A fatal-crash case may be slower still because of lab work and the amount of discovery.

Can I get a DUI-related arrest removed from my record?

Only in limited circumstances. Adult convictions cannot be sealed or expunged, but an arrest that did not end in a guilty adjudication may qualify if you have no prior adjudication and have never had a record sealed or expunged before. A certificate of eligibility is the first step, and it is valid for 12 months.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a misdemeanor DUI with a minor accident?

Often, yes. Even a first-degree misdemeanor can carry up to a year in jail, license revocation, probation, and a permanent record, and a fender-bender can be enough to enhance the charge. The decisions made early shape how the whole case ends.

Serving Crash-Related Criminal Defense Clients Across Clearwater and Tampa Bay

King Law Group defends clients across Clearwater and Pinellas County, from Clearwater Beach and Countryside to Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Largo, Seminole, and Indian Rocks Beach. We also represent people in Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Ozona, Crystal Beach, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, and St. Petersburg, where the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s courts hear a steady flow of traffic and DUI cases.

To the north, the firm serves Pasco County, including New Port Richey, Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, and Dade City. To the east and south, we represent clients in Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Riverview, and Plant City. Whatever county a crash happens in, the criminal case follows that county’s courts, prosecutors, and procedures, and we know how they work.

Clearwater Injury Attorney or Defense Attorney? Call King Law Group About Crash Charges

If you need a Clearwater injury attorney to pursue a claim for harm someone else caused, a civil firm is the right call. If you are the one facing arrest, a charge, or a license revocation because of a crash, King Law Group is ready to take your case, from the first interview through trial and beyond.

Call us for a free case evaluation. We are available 24 hours a day, and we will tell you plainly where you stand and what the next step should be.