Practice Areas

Tampa Bay Attorneys for Criminal Defense and Personal Injury Claims

If you have been charged with a crime, you should be aware that the consequences of a conviction are often significant. You may face prison time and fines, as well as effects on your ability to secure a job, housing, or a professional license. Similarly, suffering serious injuries may change your life forever, potentially affecting your income and your physical and emotional well-being, as well as the future of your loved ones. At Blake & Dorsten, P.A. we are ready to help you if you need a Tampa Bay criminal defense lawyer or representation in a personal injury claim.

Advocacy for Florida Residents Facing Prosecution

Our firm handles the defense of violent crimes, domestic violence, DUI, drug offenses, firearms and weapons offenses, Internet and sex crimes, juvenile crimes, theft crimes, traffic offenses, and white collar crimes, as well as the restoration of civil rights. In all criminal cases, the prosecution is required to prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a difficult burden of proof, and as defense attorneys, we will carefully investigate the facts of your case to determine how to challenge the prosecution’s version of events. We also will look closely at the conduct of the police to determine whether they respected your constitutional rights in stopping you, arresting you, and questioning you. For example, in a drug crime case, it may be possible to bring a motion to suppress if the police did not have probable cause to search you, and the search led to the police finding drugs. Probable cause consists of specific facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a suspect is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a crime.

One commonly charged group of crimes in Florida consists of crimes of violence, which are often punished severely. These are crimes such as battery, assault, child abuse, strong armed robbery, home invasion robbery, kidnapping, manslaughter, and murder. Some violent crimes do not require the prosecution to prove an intent to injure. For example, under Florida Statute § 784.021, aggravated assault is an assault that involves a deadly weapon or an intent to commit a felony. However, it does not require an intent to injure. Similarly, under Florida Statute § 784.041, when battery results in a permanent disability, disfigurement, or great bodily harm, the offender may be convicted of felony battery, whether or not there was an intent to cause the injury. At the other end of the spectrum, white collar crimes do not involve violence but may result in serious penalties. These include embezzlement, securities fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy, RICO offenses, bribery, public corruption, and financial crimes. Under Florida Statutes § 812.014, embezzlement will be punished based on the value of the property stolen. For example, embezzling property worth $100,000 or more is first-degree felony embezzlement. It may be punished by a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.

Representation in Pursuing Compensation After an Accident

We represent clients in lawsuits arising from automobile accidents, wrongful death, dog bites, and premises liability, among other cases. Most personal injury lawsuits arise from negligence. We will need to establish four main elements by a preponderance of the evidence: the defendant’s duty of care, a breach of duty, actual and proximate causation, and actual damages. Additional or slightly different proof may be needed depending on the type of case.

For example, in a slip and fall lawsuit involving falls in a business, we will need to prove that the business had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition and should have acted to fix it or provide another remedy. To establish constructive knowledge, we will need to show that the dangerous condition lasted for such a long time that in using ordinary care, the business establishment should have known about it, or the condition happened regularly and was therefore foreseeable.

If we can establish liability in a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensatory damages, including medical costs, pain and suffering, lost income, lost earning capacity, household services, and other economic and noneconomic losses.

Consult an Experienced Personal Injury or Criminal Defense Lawyer in Tampa Bay

Whether you are dealing with serious injuries or criminal charges, you should not hesitate to enlist knowledgeable legal representation. Our Tampa Bay criminal defense attorneys and personal injury lawyers may be able to help you. We also represent people in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Brandon, Bradenton, and other cities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. Contact us by completing our online form or calling 727-286-614.