Matthew A. Crist exclusively represents people and their family members who have been injured or killed because someone else did not take the proper safety precautions in cases that involve automobile and commercial vehicle crashes, defective consumer products, injuries in public places, claims against homeowners, and injuries at work. He also represents clients in class action cases and lawsuits against insurance companies for bad faith and otherwise improper claims handling.
Before joining forces with the Matthews Injury Law team, Matt was the founding partner and managing shareholder Crist Legal | PA, a personal injury and class action law firm based in Tampa that represented clients throughout Florida and was successful in recovering millions of dollars on their behalf in cases against insurance carriers, construction companies, reckless and intoxicated drivers, ride-share companies, commercial trucking operators, rental car agencies, commercial establishments that failed to look out for the safety of their guests, and countless others.
Throughout his career, Matt has been recognized by his peers as a top personal injury lawyer in Florida. He has been selected as a Florida “Super Lawyer” every year since 2012 and is a member of Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite.” He has also been rated by his peers in the Florida legal community as “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating given. Matt has been involved in several high-profile cases and has appeared on NBC’s Today Show.
After graduating from law school, he started his legal career as a federal court law clerk working for Judge Marcia Morales Howard with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He then worked for Greenberg Traurig, a large international law firm, on behalf of Fortune 500 and other large corporations in cases involving catastrophic injuries, defective consumer products, complex commercial litigation, and environmental contamination.
Matt grew up in Florida and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. He then taught American History in St. Augustine before returning to the University of Florida to attend the Levin College of Law where he competed for the nationally recognized Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team and graduated with honors.
When he is not working to achieve justice for his clients, Matt spends time with his wife Leah, a nurse practitioner at Moffitt Cancer Center, and their twin daughters.
Professional Involvement and Recognition
- “Legal Elite” from Florida Trend
- “Super Lawyer” from Thomson-Reuters
- “AV Preeminent” from Martindale-Hubbell
- “Superb” Rating from Avvo
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, Trial and Litigation Section
- Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
- Florida Justice Association, Eagle Member and Former Member of the Young Lawyer Board of Directors
- American Association for Justice
Reported Decisions
- Semaan v. Kavanagh, 341 So. 3d 320 (Fla. 2d DCA 2022) (in this personal injury case, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order ruling the employer was not entitled to immunity under the workers’ compensation statute)
- United States Automobile Association v. Crespo & Assocs., P.A., 322 So. 3d 1123 (Fla. 2d DCA 2021) (affirming trial court’s order determining USAA unlawfully underpaid its insured’s medical providers in violation of Florida law)
- United States Automobile Association v. Bay Area Injury Rehab Specialists Holdings, Inc., 311 So. 3d 172 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020) (in this insurance bad faith case, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order ruling that USAA had to produce its insurance claims files it had unlawfully withheld)
- Gundel v. AV Homes, Inc., 290 So. 3d 1080 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020) (affirming trial court’s order granting a motion for class certification against a publicly traded real estate development company and appointing class counsel)