[07-18-24] St. Petersburg Driver Charged in Fiery Bay Pines Crash That Killed Woman

CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Car accidents remain a major safety concern across the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 39,345 people died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024. Traffic deaths decreased from 2023, but serious and fatal crashes continue to affect thousands of families each year.

Florida continues to see hundreds of thousands of crashes annually. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 381,210 reportable traffic crashes in Florida in 2024. Those crashes resulted in 3,184 deaths.

The problem also affects St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. In 2024, Pinellas County recorded more than 14,000 motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Car accidents can involve two vehicles, several vehicles, pedestrians, motorcycles, or commercial trucks. Multi-vehicle crashes can become especially complicated because more than one driver may share responsibility and several insurance policies may apply.

Common factors that can contribute to serious car accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Impaired driving
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Unsafe lane changes
• Failure to yield
• Wrong-way driving
• Following too closely
• Failure to obey traffic signals or other traffic laws
• Dangerous weather or road conditions

If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer can investigate what happened and help determine which parties and insurance policies may be responsible.

ST. PETERSBURG CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS FOR VICTIMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS

Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas represent people injured in car accidents throughout St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Serious crashes can lead to extensive medical treatment, lost income, long-term injuries, and significant changes to a person’s daily life.

If another driver caused the collision, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses. Our car accident lawyers can investigate the crash, communicate with insurance companies, preserve important evidence, and identify available sources of compensation.

When a car accident results in the loss of a loved one, eligible family members may also be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Although compensation cannot undo the loss, a wrongful death claim can help families pursue accountability and recover damages allowed under Florida law.

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is one of Florida’s oldest and most established law firms, with a long history of recognition for client advocacy across multiple legal fields. Sean McQuaid has been selected to Florida Super Lawyers every year from 2016 through 2026. In 2026, six Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid attorneys were recognized by Florida Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. The firm was also recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”

Our attorneys handle the legal and insurance issues while our clients concentrate on their recovery. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Call Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas at (727) 381-2300 or schedule a free consultation to speak with a St. Petersburg car accident attorney about your case.