CrashAidI-275, US 19, and the Gandy Bridge
I-275 crosses St. Petersburg. Northbound it uses the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Tampa. Southbound it continues toward the Sunshine Skyway and Bradenton. Name the bridge or the exit if that is where the crash happened.
US 19 is 34th Street through much of the city, a main north-south road. Gandy Boulevard comes off the Gandy Bridge from Tampa into northeast St. Petersburg. Fourth Street and Central Avenue are how people describe downtown and the waterfront. This page does not cite a crash study for those roads, so it does not rank them.
Downtown blocks are short, and some crashes involve a person walking or riding a bicycle. Nothing on this page says a driver or a person on foot was at fault. The pedestrian article linked below is general information.
Pinellas courts for a St. Petersburg crash
The Sixth Judicial Circuit covers Pinellas County. Its St. Petersburg Judicial Building is at 545 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. The circuit describes that building on jud6.org. The Pinellas County Justice Center is in Clearwater, at 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762. It is not the downtown civil building. Check the circuit site before you travel.
St. Petersburg Police often investigate crashes inside the city. The Pinellas County Sheriff or the Florida Highway Patrol may have the report on a county or state road. The form still works if you are waiting on a copy.
Hospitals near St. Petersburg crashes
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and Orlando Health Bayfront serve downtown and south Pinellas crash patients.
St. Anthony's Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital are other facilities people name after a crash.
Florida rules that apply after a St. Petersburg crash
House Bill 837 (HB 837), signed in 2023, changed two rules that matter after a Florida car crash. This is general information for people hurt in St. Petersburg who want to pursue the compensation they deserve.
Florida Statute § 768.81 now uses modified comparative fault in negligence cases. A person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover damages from the other party. The statute says that bar does not apply to medical-negligence cases under chapter 766.
For negligence claims that accrued after March 24, 2023, Florida Statute § 95.11 generally allows two years to file a lawsuit. Crashes before that date may still fall under the older four-year period. Acting early preserves evidence and options.
Florida is a no-fault state. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is meant to pay initial medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. Under § 627.736, you generally must receive initial medical care from a qualifying provider within 14 days of the crash, or the insurer can deny PIP medical benefits. Whether the $10,000 benefit or a $2,500 cap applies can depend on an emergency-medical-condition finding. Passenger-car PIP rules do not automatically apply to motorcycles.
After a crash in St. Petersburg
Say whether you were on I-275, on 34th Street, on the Gandy side of the city, or on a downtown street. If the crash was on the Skyway, say which direction you were heading so the county is clear.
What to do after the crash
- Move out of traffic if you can, and call 911 when anyone is hurt or the cars cannot be moved safely.
- Photograph the vehicles, the signal or sign, and the road if it is safe to do so.
- Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance, and plate numbers. Write down witness names if someone stops.
- Get medical care promptly. The 14-day PIP window is short.
- Ask the investigating agency for the crash report. You can still request a referral before the report is ready.
- Be careful about a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. You can ask for a referral first.
- Call (941) 770-2727 or use the form on this page. CrashAid is a free attorney referral service — English and Spanish.
Request a free attorney referral
CrashAid is a free attorney referral service — English and Spanish. Call or use the form to pursue the compensation you deserve. Referrals are welcome.
Questions
Where do St. Petersburg civil filings go?
The St. Petersburg Judicial Building is at 545 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. The main criminal facility is the Pinellas County Justice Center in Clearwater. Confirm the division on jud6.org.
Is US 19 called a high-crash road on this page?
No. US 19, I-275, and the Gandy Bridge are named so you can describe the location. This page does not cite a crash-rate study for them.
The crash was on the Sunshine Skyway. Which county is that?
The Skyway carries I-275 between St. Petersburg and the Bradenton side of the bay. Name the direction of travel. You do not have to decide the venue to request a referral.
Can I request a referral before the police report is ready?
Yes. The form does not require a report. Ask St. Petersburg Police, the Pinellas Sheriff, or the Florida Highway Patrol for a copy when the investigating agency releases it.
