Legally Reviewed by Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi on July 31, 2026
A catastrophic injury changes everything in an instant. A single crash, fall, or moment of medical negligence can leave a St. Petersburg resident facing permanent paralysis, a traumatic brain injury, a severe burn, or the loss of a limb. These injuries do not heal on the timeline of a typical accident claim. They often require a lifetime of medical care, home modifications, lost earning capacity, and emotional adjustment for the entire family. Insurance companies know how expensive these claims can become, and they routinely fight harder to minimize or deny monetary compensation for catastrophic injury victims than for any other type of personal injury claim.
Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi founded Marsalisi Law in 2014 and has spent more than 18 years as a bilingual English and Spanish trial lawyer fighting for injured Floridians. He was admitted to the Florida Bar on October 6, 2008, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and has helped recover millions of dollars for injured clients across St. Petersburg and the greater Tampa Bay area. With more than 300 five star Google reviews, Frank and his team at Marsalisi Law, located at 7035 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, are prepared to guide catastrophically injured clients and their families through every stage of a claim.
Time Sensitive, Florida Law Limits Your Window To File
Florida gives most catastrophic injury victims only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.
Frank P. Marsalisi has 18 plus years of trial experience, works on a contingency fee basis so clients owe nothing unless he recovers monetary compensation, and has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients throughout St. Petersburg.
How Florida Catastrophic Injury Law Works
Florida law treats catastrophic injuries differently from routine personal injury claims because the harm is permanent. A catastrophic injury generally involves significant and lasting functional impairment, meaning the victim cannot return to the physical, cognitive, or occupational condition they had before the accident. Proving a catastrophic injury claim requires establishing that another party owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused the injury, along with extensive medical documentation and, in many cases, testimony from life care planners and economists to project the full lifetime cost of the injury.
Statute of Limitations for St. Petersburg Catastrophic Injury Cases
Under Florida Statutes Section 95.11, a victim generally has two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit for accidents occurring on or after March 24, 2023, following the state’s 2023 tort reform legislation, House Bill 837. Accidents that occurred before that date may still fall under the previous four year window. When a catastrophic injury tragically results in death, Florida Statutes Section 95.11 also sets a two year deadline for a wrongful death claim, running from the date of death rather than the date of the original injury. Missing either deadline can permanently bar an injured family from recovering monetary compensation, regardless of how severe the injury or how clear the negligence.
House Bill 837 also changed how medical expenses are proven at trial. Evidence of past medical expenses is now generally limited to the amounts actually paid, rather than the amount originally billed, under Florida Statutes Section 768.0427. This change makes early and thorough medical documentation even more important in a catastrophic injury claim, since the value of a settlement or verdict depends heavily on the medical evidence presented.
Comparative Negligence and the 50 Percent Bar
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. A catastrophically injured victim can still recover monetary compensation even if they are partially at fault for the accident, as long as they are not found more than 50 percent responsible. Any monetary compensation awarded is reduced by the victim’s percentage of fault, so insurance companies frequently attempt to shift blame onto the injured party to reduce or eliminate what they owe.
Key Deadline
Personal injury claim: two years from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claim: two years from the date of death. Both deadlines fall under Florida Statutes Section 95.11.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries We Handle in St. Petersburg
Marsalisi Law advocates for St. Petersburg residents who have experienced life altering injuries in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, slip and fall incidents, and cases of medical malpractice. While every case is different, the following categories of injury are most commonly classified as catastrophic under Florida law.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Impacts to the head can cause long-term or permanent sensory, cognitive, and emotional impairments. Marsalisi Law also represents clients through a dedicated traumatic brain injury practice.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or full paralysis for the rest of a victim’s life. Learn more about our spinal cord injury and paralysis representation.
Amputation and Loss of Limb
Loss of a limb permanently changes a victim’s mobility, independence, and ability to work, often requiring prosthetics and long-term rehabilitation.
Severe Burns
Second and third degree burns covering a significant portion of the body often require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and years of scar treatment.
Internal Organ Damage
Internal injuries can be life threatening and may not be immediately apparent after an accident, making prompt medical attention essential.
Severe Fractures and Birth Injuries
Disabling bone fractures and injuries caused by trauma during labor and delivery can result in long-term or permanent complications.
This list is not exhaustive, and in the most severe cases a catastrophic injury can tragically lead to wrongful death. If a family member has experienced any type of severe or life altering injury in the St. Petersburg area, Marsalisi Law can evaluate the claim at no cost.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg’s busy roadways, construction sites, and recreational areas create numerous opportunities for accidents that can result in catastrophic injuries. Understanding the most frequent causes helps victims and their families recognize when they may have grounds for a legal claim.
- Motor vehicle accidents involving cars, trucks, or motorcycles on major thoroughfares like Interstate 275 and US Highway 19;
- Commercial truck accidents, which often produce more severe injuries due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved;
- Construction accidents caused by unsafe working conditions, defective equipment, or inadequate safety protocols;
- Slip and fall incidents on commercial properties with poor maintenance or hazardous conditions;
- Medical malpractice involving surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or delayed treatment;
- Recreational accidents at beaches, pools, or sporting events where proper safety measures were not in place;
- Workplace accidents involving heavy machinery or dangerous chemicals in industrial settings.
Each of these scenarios requires a thorough investigation to determine liability and build a strong case for monetary compensation. Frank P. Marsalisi has handled catastrophic injury cases arising from all of these situations, bringing his knowledge of Florida negligence law to hold responsible parties accountable.
How Insurance Companies Handle Catastrophic Injury Claims
Insurance companies often employ aggressive tactics when handling catastrophic injury claims because of the size of the monetary compensation involved. Adjusters may attempt to minimize the severity of an injury, dispute a long-term medical prognosis, or argue that a pre-existing condition contributed to the victim’s current condition. These companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to protect their own financial interests, not the interests of the injured victim.
Frank P. Marsalisi has extensive knowledge of these tactics and works to hold insurance companies accountable for providing fair monetary compensation. He is familiar with common strategies insurers use to delay or deny catastrophic injury claims, and he has recovered monetary compensation for clients by standing firm against these practices rather than accepting an early lowball offer.
How Frank P. Marsalisi Approaches Your Catastrophic Injury Case
Catastrophic injury cases require more preparation than a standard personal injury claim. When a client retains Marsalisi Law, Frank and his team gather medical records, accident reports, and physical evidence; consult with medical providers and, where needed, life care planners and economists to project future costs; and manage every communication with insurance adjusters so the client can focus on recovery. Frank has extensive knowledge of the tactics insurance companies use to minimize catastrophic injury claims, and he has built a reputation in St. Petersburg for standing firm against powerful insurers rather than settling for less than a case may be worth.
Marsalisi Law has recovered monetary compensation for numerous injured clients throughout the St. Petersburg area, including a $400,000 recovery for a car accident victim in June 2017 and a $300,000 recovery for a car accident victim in July 2021, both arising from serious injuries caused by another driver’s negligence. While no two cases are alike and past results do not guarantee a particular outcome, these recoveries reflect the level of preparation Frank brings to every catastrophic injury claim.
Monetary Compensation for Catastrophic Injury Victims
Because catastrophic injuries are permanent by nature, it is essential to account for both current and future losses when calculating the value of a claim. Marsalisi Law works to identify every category of damages available under Florida law.
| Damages Category | What It May Include |
|---|---|
| Past and Future Medical Expenses | Hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and long-term care; |
| Lost Wages and Earning Capacity | Income lost during recovery and the reduced ability to earn a living going forward; |
| Property Damage | Repair or replacement of a vehicle or other property damaged in the accident; |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain and the mental and emotional toll of a life altering injury; |
| Loss of Enjoyment of Life | The permanent impact on hobbies, relationships, and daily activities. |
How Catastrophic Injuries Affect Family Members
A catastrophic injury does not only affect the victim. Spouses may leave employment to provide care, children may need counseling to adjust to a changed family dynamic, and extended family members frequently step in to help. Florida law recognizes certain family-related damages in these cases, including loss of consortium claims for spouses. Frank P. Marsalisi takes these family impacts into consideration when building a catastrophic injury claim, and works to make sure the full scope of the family’s losses is represented.
What To Do After a Catastrophic Injury in St. Petersburg
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Internal injuries and traumatic brain injuries are not always apparent right away. Prompt medical care protects both health and the medical record that will support a claim.
2. Document The Scene and Preserve Evidence
Photographs, witness information, and incident reports become harder to obtain the longer a victim waits.
3. Avoid Speaking With Insurance Adjusters Alone
Insurance companies may use early recorded statements to minimize the value of a catastrophic injury claim.
4. Consult a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Promptly
Because Florida’s statute of limitations leaves only two years to file suit, and because catastrophic claims require extensive investigation, early legal guidance can help protect the full value of a case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injury Claims in St. Petersburg
Do I have a valid catastrophic injury case in St. Petersburg
A claim generally exists when another party’s negligence caused a permanent or long-lasting impairment, such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or severe burn. A free consultation with Marsalisi Law can help determine whether a claim may be valid.
What is the deadline to file a catastrophic injury lawsuit in Florida
Under Florida Statutes Section 95.11, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. Certain circumstances can affect this deadline, so speaking with an attorney promptly is recommended.
How much does it cost to hire a catastrophic injury lawyer in St. Petersburg
Marsalisi Law represents catastrophic injury clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost and no fee unless Frank recovers monetary compensation on the client’s behalf.
Can family members file a claim if a catastrophic injury results in death
Yes. When a catastrophic injury tragically leads to death, eligible family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim, which under Florida Statutes Section 95.11 must generally be filed within two years of the date of death.
Can I still recover monetary compensation if I was partially at fault
Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule allows a victim to recover monetary compensation as long as they are not found more than 50 percent at fault, though any award is reduced by the victim’s percentage of fault.
Why should I choose a St. Petersburg attorney for a catastrophic injury claim
A local attorney understands the roadways, courts, and medical providers throughout St. Petersburg and the greater Tampa Bay area. Frank P. Marsalisi has worked with medical professionals across the region to properly document catastrophic injury claims and has recovered monetary compensation for numerous clients in the St. Petersburg community.
Marsalisi Law has more than 18 years of combined trial experience, over 300 five star Google reviews, and a track record of recovering millions of dollars for injured clients across St. Petersburg. Frank P. Marsalisi is dedicated to managing every legal detail of a catastrophic injury claim so that clients and their families can focus on healing rather than mounting medical bills.
If a family member has experienced a catastrophic injury caused by someone else’s negligence, do not wait to protect your rights. Complete an online contact form or call (727) 800-5052 to schedule a free consultation with Frank. Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal!