Legally Reviewed by Frank P. Marsalisi on August 11, 2026
Distracted driving accidents in St. Petersburg happen in an instant, when a driver looks at a phone, reaches for a drink, or glances at a GPS screen instead of watching the road ahead. That momentary lapse can be all it takes to miss a stopped car, a red light, or a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and the person who pays for that lapse is usually someone else.
At Marsalisi Law, we work with people across St. Petersburg and Pinellas County who were hurt by drivers who simply were not paying attention. We have seen how quickly insurance companies try to shift blame onto the injured person, and we focus on building a case that shows exactly what the distracted driver did and how it affected your life.
How Distracted Driving Leads to Crashes in St. Petersburg
Distraction pulls a driver’s attention away from the road in three main ways: visual, meaning eyes off the road; manual, meaning hands off the wheel; and cognitive, meaning the mind off driving. Texting combines all three, which is part of why it is considered one of the most dangerous forms of distraction behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thousands of people are killed every year in crashes involving a distracted driver, and far more are injured. Even a glance away from the road for a few seconds at highway speed covers a distance close to the length of a football field with no one actively steering or watching for hazards.
In St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County, we see the same pattern again and again. A driver is scrolling through a notification, adjusting a GPS route, or reaching for something in the passenger seat, and by the time they look up, the vehicle in front of them has already stopped.
Florida Law on Distracted Driving
Florida law addresses texting while driving directly. Under Florida’s Wireless Communications While Driving Law, texting, emailing, and instant messaging behind the wheel is a primary offense, which means an officer can stop a driver for that violation alone. Florida also prohibits handheld phone use in designated school and work zones.
Even so, the law does not stop every driver from checking a phone at a red light or scrolling through messages at a stop sign. Citations and enforcement help, but they do not undo the injuries caused by a driver who was not watching the road when it mattered most.
In a civil injury claim, a distracted driving citation or a driver’s own statements about what they were doing can become important evidence, even though the criminal citation itself is separate from your right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Where Distracted Driving Crashes Happen Most in Pinellas County
Certain corridors in and around St. Petersburg see a disproportionate share of distraction-related crashes, largely because of heavy traffic, frequent stops, and long stretches where a driver’s attention can drift. Fourth Street, Central Avenue, and I-275 are common examples, along with intersections near schools, shopping centers, and the beaches where traffic slows and speeds back up repeatedly.
Rear-end collisions are especially common in these areas because a distracted driver often fails to notice that traffic ahead has slowed or stopped. Intersection crashes and pedestrian or cyclist collisions also happen frequently, since a driver who is not watching the crosswalk or the signal can miss a person or vehicle that had the right of way.
How Distracted Driving Is Proven After a Crash
Proving that a driver was distracted is not always straightforward, since a driver rarely admits to being on the phone or looking away from the road. Building this kind of case usually depends on gathering multiple pieces of evidence quickly, before it becomes harder to access.
Evidence that can help establish distraction includes the following:
- Phone records: call and text logs can show whether a driver was using a phone at the time of the crash;
- Traffic and dashcam footage: nearby cameras or a dashcam can capture what the driver was doing before impact;
- Witness statements: people who saw the driver looking down or drifting can support your account;
- Vehicle data: some vehicles store speed and braking information from the moments before a collision;
- The police report: officer observations and any citation issued at the scene can add weight to your claim.
Acting quickly matters because phone records can be harder to obtain over time and footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras is often overwritten within days or weeks.
What To Do After Being Hit by a Distracted Driver
Getting medical care should always come first, even if your injuries seem minor at the scene. Florida’s Personal Injury Protection law generally requires that you receive initial treatment within 14 days of the crash to access your PIP benefits, so waiting too long can affect both your health and your claim.
From there, documentation matters. Photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries can help. A police report creates an official record of what happened, even though it does not automatically decide fault on its own. If your symptoms change or worsen in the days that follow, continuing your medical treatment without gaps helps show a clear connection between the crash and your injuries.
When the Other Driver Blames You for the Crash
Insurance companies do not always accept that their driver was distracted, even when the evidence points that way. It is common for an adjuster to suggest that you were partly at fault, whether by braking too suddenly, changing lanes, or simply being in the wrong place. Being blamed for a crash you did not cause does not mean the insurance company is right, but it does mean the evidence in your case needs to hold up.
Florida uses a modified comparative fault system, so how blame gets divided can directly affect what you are able to recover. This is one of the reasons it helps to avoid common mistakes that hurt injury claims, such as giving a recorded statement before you understand how the crash happened or accepting an early settlement offer before your medical treatment is complete.
How Marsalisi Law Can Help After a Distracted Driving Accident
Distracted driving cases often come down to details: what the driver was doing, what the evidence shows, and how the insurance company tries to frame the story. At Marsalisi Law, we focus on pulling that evidence together quickly and presenting a clear picture of how the crash happened and how it has affected you.
Working with Frank P. Marsalisi means direct attention from an attorney recognized on the 2026 Florida Super Lawyers list, with a long history of representing injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians throughout Tampa Bay. You can review examples of how we have approached past cases on our case results page.
If you were hurt by a distracted driver in St. Petersburg or anywhere in Pinellas County, do not wait to understand your options. Evidence fades, memories change, and insurance companies move quickly to protect their position. To talk through what happened and what steps make sense for your situation, please contact our office for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Distracted Driving Accidents
What counts as distracted driving in Florida?
Distracted driving includes texting, using apps, eating, adjusting a GPS, reaching for an object, or anything else that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or attention away from the road. Florida law specifically bans texting, emailing, and instant messaging while driving as a primary offense.
How do I prove the other driver was distracted if they deny it?
Phone records, witness statements, dashcam or traffic camera footage, and vehicle data can all help establish that a driver was distracted, even without an admission. Gathering this evidence quickly matters because footage and records can become harder to access over time.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Florida’s modified comparative fault law may still allow you to recover compensation reduced by your percentage of fault, as long as you are not found more than fifty percent responsible for the crash. Insurance companies often try to assign a driver more blame than the facts support.
How long do I have to file a claim after a distracted driving accident in Florida?
Florida generally allows two years from the date of the crash to file most personal injury claims. Certain circumstances can affect this timeline, so it is best to act well before that deadline approaches.
What should I avoid saying to the insurance company after a crash?
Avoid guessing about who was at fault, downplaying your injuries, or giving a detailed recorded statement before you understand how the crash happened. Adjusters may use early statements to minimize what your claim is worth.
About the Attorney
Founding Attorney, Marsalisi Law
Frank P. Marsalisi has represented injured people throughout St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area for more than 18 years. He was selected for the 2026 Florida Super Lawyers list and built his practice around direct attorney involvement in every case, including car, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accident claims. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
