Legally Reviewed by Frank P. Marsalisi on August 11, 2026
A traumatic brain injury can turn an ordinary day in Pinellas Park into a lifetime of medical appointments, rehabilitation, and financial uncertainty. Whether the injury happened in a crash along Park Boulevard, U.S. 19, or 49th Street North, a fall at a local business, or another preventable incident, the effects on memory, speech, mobility, and independence can be severe and lasting. When another party’s negligence or recklessness caused your injuries, Florida law gives you the right to pursue monetary compensation for every loss you have experienced — but that window is limited, and the clock starts on the day of the injury.
Frank P. Marsalisi of Marsalisi Law has spent 18 years advocating for injury victims in Pinellas Park and throughout the Tampa Bay region. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Frank has a personal connection to this community that shapes the way he handles every case. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Frank manages every step of the legal process himself, from the initial consultation through the final resolution, and never passes clients off to case managers or paralegals.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — Florida Law Limits Your Window to File
Florida’s 2-Year Deadline Could End Your Right to Recover Monetary Compensation for a Brain Injury
Frank P. Marsalisi brings 18+ years of experience and over 300 five-star Google reviews to every case he handles. He works on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no cost unless he recovers monetary compensation on your behalf.
How Florida Brain Injury Claims Work
Florida brain injury claims move through the same legal framework that governs any negligence-based personal injury case, and that framework determines how quickly you must act, whether you can recover any monetary compensation at all, and how insurance coverage applies before a lawsuit is ever filed. Pinellas Park is intersected by some of the most accident-prone roadways in Pinellas County, including Park Boulevard, U.S. 19, and 49th Street North, where intersection crashes and rear-end collisions appear consistently in local traffic data. Brain injury lawsuits filed in the Pinellas Park area are handled through the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Pinellas and Pasco counties and is located at the Pinellas County Justice Center in Clearwater.
Statute of Limitations for Brain Injury Claims in Florida
Under Florida Statute § 95.11, as amended by House Bill 837, most negligence-based injury claims, including traumatic brain injury claims arising from car accidents, falls, and similar incidents that occurred on or after March 24, 2023, must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. That clock starts on the day of the injury, not the date treatment concludes, not the date a settlement negotiation begins, and not the date you first realize the full extent of your injuries. Claims that accrued before that date may still fall under the prior four-year deadline.
Florida Brain Injury Deadlines at a Glance
Personal Injury Claims
2 years from the date of the injury, Fla. Stat. § 95.11.
Wrongful Death Claims
2 years from the date of death, Fla. Stat. § 95.11.
Claims Before March 24, 2023
May still fall under the prior four-year deadline.
Because brain injury cases often require time to gather medical evidence, coordinate with treating physicians, and, where needed, obtain neurological input, it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after the injury occurs. Evidence also becomes harder to preserve over time, since witnesses move, surveillance footage is deleted, and vehicles or properties are repaired.
Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law and the 50 Percent Bar Rule
One of the most consequential legal changes affecting Pinellas Park brain injury victims is Florida’s shift to modified comparative negligence under House Bill 837, effective March 24, 2023. This change directly determines whether you can recover any monetary compensation at all.
50 Percent or Less at Fault
You can still recover monetary compensation, reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault.
More Than 50 Percent at Fault
You are completely barred from recovering any monetary compensation whatsoever.
Before March 24, 2023
Florida used pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery even at 99 percent fault.
Why It Matters Now
Insurers have a direct financial incentive to push your fault share above 50 percent.
Insurance companies routinely attempt to assign an inflated share of fault to injured victims precisely to trigger the 50 percent bar. A single police report note, a recorded statement, or an ambiguous witness account can shift a claim from fully compensable to completely barred. Frank P. Marsalisi works to identify every source of liability, document the full scope of your losses, and build a case that accounts for both the harm you have already experienced and the care you may need in the future, including gathering police reports, witness statements, and available surveillance or dashcam footage, and coordinating with your treating physicians and, where needed, neurologists and rehabilitation professionals.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury in Pinellas Park
Traumatic brain injuries in our community happen in a wide range of settings. Some of the most frequent causes we see include the following.
Car and Motorcycle Accidents
Along heavily traveled corridors such as Park Boulevard, U.S. 19, and 49th Street North.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Where the head absorbs much of the impact in a collision.
Falls
Including slip-and-fall incidents at businesses, apartment complexes, and other properties.
Sports and Recreational Injuries
Sustained at local parks, fields, and recreational facilities.
Workplace Accidents
Including falls from height and being struck by falling or moving objects.
Each of these scenarios carries its own legal complexities. A brain injury claim arising from a car accident, for example, may call for accident reconstruction and a careful review of applicable insurance coverage, while a fall on someone else’s property raises different questions about premises liability. If you are uncertain whether your incident falls within these categories, contact Marsalisi Law for a free consultation, as each case is evaluated on its specific facts.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries range widely in severity, and even injuries that initially seem minor can produce lasting consequences. Understanding the general categories can help you recognize when a head injury needs prompt medical attention and, potentially, legal review.
Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
A concussion is generally considered a mild traumatic brain injury, but “mild” does not mean the effects are minor. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, confusion, sensitivity to light or noise, and difficulty concentrating. Many people who sustain a concussion recover with rest and medical monitoring, though some experience symptoms that linger for weeks or months.
Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
More severe brain injuries can involve loss of consciousness, prolonged confusion, memory loss, and lasting impairment to speech, mobility, or cognitive function. These injuries often require extended hospitalization, neurological care, and long-term rehabilitation, and the effects can permanently change a person’s ability to work and care for themselves.
Why Delayed Symptoms Matter
Brain injuries do not always announce themselves right away. Someone can walk away from a crash or a fall feeling shaken but otherwise fine, only to develop worsening headaches, confusion, or personality changes hours or days later. Seeking medical evaluation promptly after any blow to the head, even when symptoms seem mild at first, is important both for your health and for connecting your injury to the incident that caused it.
Damages Available to Pinellas Park Brain Injury Victims
When an injured victim establishes that another party’s negligence caused the brain injury, Florida law allows recovery of two primary categories of damages, and in cases involving egregious misconduct, Florida courts may also award punitive damages.
| Damage Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Economic Damages | Past and future medical expenses, hospitalization, rehabilitation and cognitive therapy, lost wages, and lost or reduced earning capacity. |
| Non-Economic Damages | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium, and permanent impairment. |
When a brain injury results in death, surviving family members may also pursue monetary compensation through a wrongful death claim under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, within the two-year deadline described above.
How Frank P. Marsalisi Approaches Your Case
Frank P. Marsalisi works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees whatsoever unless and until he recovers monetary compensation for you. There is no upfront cost and no financial risk, and if he does not recover, you do not pay. Frank investigates the cause of the injury, obtains the official crash or incident report, coordinates with your treating physicians and, where needed, neurologists and rehabilitation professionals, handles all insurer communications so you are not pressured into an early settlement, and pursues the full scope of your current and future damages. To review the firm’s full history of results, visit the settlements page.
Why Pinellas Park Residents Choose Marsalisi Law
As a Pinellas Park Personal Injury Lawyer, Frank P. Marsalisi is bilingual in English and Spanish and is available to clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our office is close to the hospitals and rehabilitation providers that Pinellas Park families rely on after a serious brain injury, including HCA Florida Largo Hospital and Palms of Pasadena Hospital, which makes it easier to coordinate with your medical team while we build your case.
We understand the local roads, neighborhoods, and community that make up Pinellas Park, and we bring that knowledge to every brain injury case we handle. Frank meets personally with every client and handles each case directly, rather than passing files off to a paralegal or case manager.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pinellas Park Brain Injury Claims
The following questions address the most common concerns Frank P. Marsalisi hears from brain injury clients in the Pinellas Park area.
Do I Have a Brain Injury Claim in Pinellas Park?
If someone else’s negligence, a car accident, a fall, or another preventable incident caused your head trauma, you may have grounds to pursue monetary compensation. The best way to know for certain is to have Marsalisi Law review your medical records, the circumstances of the incident, and the available evidence during a free consultation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Under Florida Statute § 95.11, as amended by House Bill 837, most negligence-based personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury claims, must be filed within two years of the date of the injury for claims accruing on or after March 24, 2023. Waiting to speak with a lawyer can make it harder to preserve evidence and meet this deadline.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Pinellas Park Brain Injury Lawyer?
Marsalisi Law handles brain injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront legal fees. Frank P. Marsalisi is only paid if your case results in a monetary recovery for you.
Can Family Members File a Claim if a Loved One Suffered a Brain Injury?
In some cases, yes. If a family member is unable to manage their own legal or financial affairs because of a severe brain injury, a spouse, parent, or legal guardian may be able to pursue a claim on their behalf. If the injury was fatal, Florida law allows certain surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Where Do Most Brain Injury Accidents Happen in Pinellas Park?
Many of the brain injury cases we see connect back to collisions along high-traffic corridors such as Park Boulevard, U.S. 19, and 49th Street North, as well as falls and recreational injuries throughout the community. Every case is different, and the specific facts of your incident will shape how liability is established.
Contact Frank P. Marsalisi at Marsalisi Law for a Free Consultation
After a traumatic brain injury, you should not have to navigate insurance companies, legal deadlines, and medical bills on your own. Frank P. Marsalisi has spent 18 years standing up for injured people across Pinellas Park and throughout the Tampa Bay region, and his approach is personal, direct, and focused on pursuing the compensation you may be owed. With over 300 five-star Google reviews, Frank P. Marsalisi is committed to handling every case himself from start to finish.
If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury because of another party’s negligence in Pinellas Park, do not wait to take action. Florida’s two-year filing deadline begins on the date of the injury, and the sooner Frank P. Marsalisi begins working on your case, the better positioned he will be to preserve evidence and pursue the full monetary compensation you are owed. To schedule your free consultation today, complete the contact form at any time. Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal!