Jim Dodson is a Florida native who was born and raised in Sanford. He grew up in Central Florida, graduated from Florida State University and FSU Law School before serving four years in the Air Force as a lawyer at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas. After completing his obligation, he and his wife, Pam, moved to Clearwater where Jim served as an Assistant State Attorney for five years working in a Special Prosecution Unit targeting Habitual Felony Offenders and gaining a tremendous base of felony trial experience at the highest level. He then served several years as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tampa working in the civil division defending the United States in medical malpractice and other civil claims.

After his years of public service, Jim joined a prominent Clearwater law firm, where he became a partner, and served as its Managing Partner, handling personal injury claims on behalf of injury victims. He left to open his own injury law firm over twenty years ago where his practice evolved into its current focus of representing injured cyclists throughout Florida. His has many years as an active cyclist and still rides multiple times each week.

Jim has been fortunate to have helped hundreds of injured Florida cyclists. He is recognized as a specialist in bicycle injury law. His clients appreciate having someone who rides and understands the issues of road riding. They commonly express how relieved they were to turn over to Jim and his team the responsibility of dealing with all the insurance and legal issues so that they could focus on their physical recovery.

Jim served many years on the Board of the Florida Bicycle Association. He has a long history of being a strong advocate of cycling safety and helping cyclists understand what they can do to minimize their chance of being injured while riding and educating them about the auto insurance they need to protect themselves and their loved ones after a collision with a vehicle. Jim deeply appreciates the relationships he has formed with his clients and so many people in the Florida cycling community.

For many years Jim has been awarded the highest rating for legal ability and ethics by his peers with an AV rating by Martindale.com. He has been a longtime member of Super Lawyers and the Million Dollar Round Table.

Scott Marshall
When I first graduated from Law School in 1994, I was intent on finding a job practicing international law and human rights. While looking for this work, I began clerking for a prominent personal injury law firm in Clearwater, Florida. The managing partner who hired me was Jim Dodson.

While working with Jim for the ensuing couple of years, I realized that personal injury involved helping people who would be lost without a lawyer. Helping others is what drew me to study human rights law. In personal injury law, I found a deep connection with my clients during what was often a dark or at least very challenging time for them. Providing them guidance has fulfilled a great sense of purpose in my life, and I have learned that practicing law is as much about relationships as it is about legal issues. I can honestly say that my life has been enriched by the relationships I have had and still have with my many clients.

In the Fall of 1997, I launched my own personal injury firm. After nearly 30 years of practice, it is a great joy to reunite with my old mentor Jim Dodson. Today, we enjoy a partnership between our firms and we are cycling buddies, doing what we love. I can’t imagine a better place to be professionally than where I am right now, and I am incredibly grateful that Jim opened this door for me so many years ago.