Frequently Asked Questions

These words get used loosely in lawyer advertising, and the differences matter. A charge is "dropped" when the prosecutor decides not to pursue it at all. It is "dismissed" when a judge throws it out, often because of a legal or evidentiary problem. It is "reduced" when the original charge is exchanged for a lesser one, such as a DUI reduced to reckless driving. A reduction is often an excellent outcome, but the charge has not disappeared, and a firm that calls its reduced DUIs "dropped" is misleading you. We tell you in writing, in plain language, which of the three happened in your case.

Often, no. In many criminal and traffic matters we can appear on your behalf. By getting involved early, sometimes before charges are even filed, we can resolve many cases without you ever setting foot in a courtroom. Disability hearings and some criminal matters do require you to be there, and if yours does, we will prepare you for exactly what to expect.

Nothing. Consultations are free, with no obligation. In Social Security disability cases you also pay no legal fees unless we win. In workers' compensation there is no upfront fee: if we win, the insurance carrier pays our fees and costs, and if your case settles, our fee is a percentage of the settlement. For criminal defense, DUI, and our other fee-based cases, we offer payment plans through Affirm. Depending on your fee and your credit, you may be able to finance your full fee, subject to approval.

Yes. We handle Social Security disability and workers' compensation cases anywhere in Florida, and most of that work happens by phone, Zoom, and mail, so you never need to visit our Clearwater office. For criminal defense, DUI, domestic violence, and traffic cases, we represent clients in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties, and we take Hillsborough County cases on a case-by-case basis. If you're not sure whether we can help, call us and we'll tell you on the first call.

Often, yes. For the cases we charge a fee for (criminal defense, DUI, domestic violence, and traffic), our office offers payment plans through Affirm, using a legal-fee program Affirm runs with Clio and LawPay. Depending on your fee and your credit, you may be able to finance your full fee, get started now, and pay over time. The part people get wrong is how to apply. The application has to come from our office: after we talk and quote your fee, we send you a secure link by text or email, and you apply through that link. Calling Affirm's general customer service line will not get you there, because that line is not set up for legal-fee financing. Financing is subject to application and approval, and the decision is Affirm's to make. Your application and that decision stay private between you and Affirm: we never see the application and are not told whether you were approved.

If you are in danger, call 911 (in Pinellas County you can also text 911 if it is not safe to call). The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24 hours at 1-800-500-1119. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and open 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. In Pinellas County, CASA Pinellas in St. Petersburg runs a 24-hour hotline at 727-895-4912. If there is a criminal case, the State Attorney's Victim & Witness Services for Pinellas and Pasco is at 727-464-6090. Our firm defends people accused of crimes, so we cannot advise you on your side of a case, but these services can help right away.

Your driver's license suspension is handled by the Florida DMV separately from your criminal case, and you have only 10 days from the date of arrest to challenge that administrative suspension. Miss the window and the suspension stays on your driving record for 75 years. Call us within those 10 days and we can usually have you driving on a temporary license the same day we file.

A DUI is charged as a felony if it is your 3rd within 10 years of a prior conviction, or your 4th at any time, no matter how old the earlier ones are. A felony DUI can mean a maximum of 5 years in prison and probation from 1 up to 5 years, among other sanctions. A DUI crash that causes serious injury or a death is charged separately, with its own felony penalties. If you have a prior DUI, tell us on the first call, because it changes how we approach your case.

No. What most people miss is that a DUI touches two separate records, kept by two separate agencies: the DMV suspends your license, and the court convicts. On the DMV side, the administrative suspension goes on your driving record, where Florida keeps it for 75 years. On the court side, a DUI conviction goes on your criminal record permanently, because Florida law does not allow a DUI conviction to be sealed or expunged. Insurance companies and employers can see it, and the State Attorney can use it to enhance any future DUI charge. That is why it matters so much to fight the charge properly the first time.

No. Denial is common at the first stage: according to the Social Security Administration, only about one in five SSDI applicants is awarded benefits on the initial application. Many of our disability clients come to us after a denial, and a claim can still succeed on appeal with the right medical evidence and preparation. The appeal deadlines are strict, though, so don't wait to get help.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your work history. You earned the coverage by paying into Social Security, and it has no asset limits. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program for people with little income and few assets, regardless of work history. Some people qualify for both, and we can tell you which applies to you in a free consultation.

Report the injury to your boss or supervisor right away. Florida law gives you only 30 days to report a workplace injury, and missing that window can get your claim denied. Then call us. There is no upfront fee to take your case. If we win, the insurance carrier pays our fees and costs. If your case settles, our fee is a percentage of the settlement.

It is a violation of Florida law for an employer to fire you for reporting a work-related injury or hiring an attorney. Many injured workers stay silent out of exactly this fear. With an attorney involved, every party has to follow the law or be held accountable.

Yes, and a real person answers. After hours, our calls go to a live team that works only with law firms, so they know what to ask. They take your information, route the call based on the kind of case you have, and pass urgent matters straight to the attorney. If it is not urgent, you get a call back during office hours, Monday through Friday.

Please go read them. We don't pay to remove reviews or hide negative ones, and we never tell clients what to write. If a firm has hundreds of five-star reviews and not one critical review, it is fair to ask how. Ours come from real clients, and we respond to them personally.