I used to defend property owners and drivers.Now I fight for the people they hurt.
Crowds on 7th Avenue. Traffic off I‑4 and the Selmon. Rideshare drivers double parking. Streetcar tracks in the road. Bars letting out at once.
That mix leads to serious injuries: pedestrians hit by cars, riders thrown by streetcar tracks, drunk driving crashes, and assaults in poorly secured lots and clubs.
AV Preeminent · Martindale Rising Star · Super Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 · The National Trial Lawyers Member · Florida Justice Association
The things people ask first.
You can recover if you are 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share. Fla. Stat. § 768.81
In a car crash, your own PIP pays first: up to $10,000 if a doctor finds an emergency medical condition. Fla. Stat. § 627.736
I’ve defended every one of these case types. Here’s what that means for you.
Crashes on Nebraska, 21st and 22nd Streets, and the I‑4 and Selmon ramps.
In limited cases, Florida lets you hold a bar responsible for serving a drunk driver.
I’ve defended property owners in these cases. I know what records they don’t want you to see.
Bars, restaurants, broken sidewalks, and uneven brick.
Concussions often miss the CT scan. I build the medical proof.
I get the video first. Ybor is full of cameras: bars, garages, the city. Most footage is gone within days. I send preservation letters right away.
I know drunk driving cases from both sides. As a prosecutor, I tried criminal cases. Now I build the civil case against the driver and anyone else responsible.
I’m ready for trial. I tried 20 jury trials as a prosecutor and have handled 500+ litigated cases. I prepare every case like it’s going in front of a jury, and I’ll take it there if that’s what it takes.
Who writes the report. Ybor is inside Tampa city limits, so Tampa Police handle most crashes and incidents. FHP handles I‑4.
Where you’ll get treated. Tampa General, the region’s Level I trauma center, is minutes away.
Where your case is filed. Hillsborough County, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse downtown.
Bar liability is limited. Usually only if the bar knowingly served a minor or someone it knew was habitually addicted to alcohol. Fla. Stat. § 768.125
Your deadline. Most negligence claims must be filed within 2 years. Fla. Stat. § 95.11
Steps that protect your claim.
Often, yes. Florida lets you recover if you are 50% or less at fault.
Possibly. If the owner knew about prior crimes and didn’t provide reasonable security, they can be responsible.
Only in limited situations. Call me early so the evidence can be preserved.
It depends on the facts. Call me and I’ll take a look.
Nothing unless we win. No fees or costs upfront.
Every case is handled by me. Not assistants, case managers, or call centers.
Written by Jacob Gordon, Florida Bar No. 125004 · Updated October 2026