About Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer – Paul B. Catania

Paul B. Catania is a co-founding partner of Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers and one of Tampa’s most experienced personal injury attorneys, with 38 years of legal experience representing accident victims and their families throughout Tampa Bay and West-Central Florida. He has called the Tampa area home for over 23 years and currently lives in Northwest Tampa.

BACKGROUND & CREDENTIALS

Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in May 1988. He was admitted to practice law in September 1988 and is licensed across an exceptionally broad range of courts, all Florida state courts, including the Florida Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

THE TRIAL-READY APPROACH

Paul’s defining philosophy is straightforward: every case gets prepared as if it’s going to trial. To him, it’s critical that insurance companies understand which law firms try cases and which ones just settle, because that distinction directly affects what clients are offered. In 1992, he co-founded Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers with his brother Peter to represent injury victims exclusively, never insurance companies.

Paul represents injury victims across Tampa and Tampa Bay in a wide range of cases, including car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, Uber/Lyft and rideshare crashes, slip and fall, wrongful death, product liability, nursing home abuse, brain and spinal cord injuries, workers’ compensation, and bad faith insurance claims.

RECOGNITION & MEMBERSHIPS

  • AV Preeminent® Rating – Martindale-Hubbell (highest peer recognition for legal ability and ethics)
  • Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Award (2025)
  • Avvo Client’s Choice Award
  • Florida Bar Licensed Since 1988
  • Member: The Florida Bar | U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit | Florida Supreme Court

CASE RESULTS

Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers has recovered over $500 million for injury victims across Tampa Bay since 1992. Select firm results include:

  • $2,600,000 – Motor Vehicle Accident
  • $2,417,965 – Car Accident
  • $1,500,000 – Pedestrian Accident
  • $1,100,000 – Premises Liability
  • $985,000 – Motor Vehicle Accident (4 accidents, global settlement)
  • $746,000 – Truck Accident
  • $575,000 – Sideswipe by Tractor-Trailer

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.

OFFICE LOCATIONS

📍 Tampa (Main Office) – Bank of America Plaza, 101 E Kennedy Blvd #2400, Tampa, FL 33602
📍 St. Petersburg – 146 2nd Street N, Suite 310, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
📍 Clearwater – 601 Cleveland Street, Ste. 501-G, Clearwater, FL 33755
📍 Bradenton – 4916 26th St. W., Suite 100, Bradenton, FL 34207
📍 Sarasota – 1990 Main St, Suite 750, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States

Serving injury victims across Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the entire Tampa Bay region.
Available 24/7, (813) 222-8545

Practice Areas

Car Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Truck Accidents

Frequently Asked Questions

Paul co-founded Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers in 1992 after earning his law degree from Stetson University and has been licensed in Florida since 1988, with 38 years of experience exclusively representing injury victims. What separates him is his trial-ready philosophy: every case is prepared as if it’s going to court. Insurance companies in Tampa Bay know this, which is why clients represented by Paul tend to receive more serious settlement offers than they would with attorneys who rarely litigate.

What makes Paul Catania different from other personal injury lawyers in Tampa?

Paul handles the full spectrum of personal injury cases in Tampa and throughout Hillsborough County, including car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, product liability, rideshare accidents, and workers’ compensation claims. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, Paul’s team can evaluate your case at no cost.

What types of accidents does Paul Catania handle in Tampa?

Paul is licensed to practice in all Florida state courts including the Florida Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. This breadth of court admission is uncommon among personal injury attorneys and reflects the complexity of cases he is equipped to handle.

What courts is Paul Catania licensed to practice in?

Seek medical attention first, even if you feel fine; some injuries don’t present symptoms immediately. Document the scene, exchange insurance information, and avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. Insurance companies use early statements to minimize or deny claims. Contact Paul Catania’s office as soon as possible, the firm is available 24/7 and consultations are always free.

What should I do immediately after a car accident in Tampa?

Possibly, but Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, updated in 2023, now bars recovery if you are found more than 50% at fault. If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. This makes having an experienced Tampa personal injury attorney critical, since insurance companies will aggressively try to shift blame onto you to reduce or eliminate your claim.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my accident in Florida?

Clients work directly with Paul and the firm’s partners, not handed off to paralegals or junior associates. The firm’s approach emphasizes consistent, direct communication so clients are informed at every stage of their case. Reviews across Avvo and Martindale-Hubbell consistently cite responsiveness and transparency as standout qualities of working with Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers.

How does Paul Catania handle communication throughout a case?