E131: Protecting Your Health & Finances After a Car Accident with Atty. Melissa Solevilla

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week, I’m joined by Melissa Solevilla, a personal injury attorney and partner at Neal & Solevilla Personal Injury Lawyers. In this episode, Melissa shares her personal story of being hit by a texting driver while pregnant—an experience that shaped her approach to advocating for injured clients.

We discuss why most people in Florida are underinsured without realizing it, and Melissa explains how uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage can protect your finances and access to care after an accident. We also explore the physical, mental, and emotional challenges accident victims face and why finding quality medical care—including mental health support—is so difficult after an accident.

Tune in to learn how to protect your health and finances before and after an accident, with real-world advice from someone who’s been there.

Melissa Solevilla, Esq. is a personal injury attorney and partner at Neal & Solevilla Personal Injury Lawyers in Clearwater, Florida. She began her career in personal injury law as a receptionist in 1999 and has been passionate about helping the injured and disabled ever since. After earning her law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 2012, she partnered with Katherine Neal to open their own firm in 2023.

Melissa focuses on representing clients injured in car accidents, falls, and other negligence cases, as well as families who have lost loved ones in wrongful death cases. She also specializes in crematory and cemetery malpractice claims—a unique niche where she advocates for families affected by extreme industry negligence.

Her commitment to personal injury law deepened after her own experience of being hit by a texting driver while pregnant, leaving her with permanent spinal injuries and a difficult pregnancy. This personal journey drives her dedication to providing personalized, compassionate care to every client.

Melissa is a wife, mother of four, and active community volunteer. She’s a member of The Florida Bar, the Clearwater Bar Association, and volunteers with Countryside Little League, Pinellas County Schools PTA, and Harborside Christian Church in Safety Harbor, Florida.

00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - Meet Melissa Solevilla, Esq: Why She Chose Personal Injury Law
01:47 - Melissa’s Personal Story: Pregnant, Hit by a Texting Driver
05:58 - What is UM Coverage? Why Florida Drivers Are Underinsured
08:15 - Financial Protection as Health Protection: Melissa’s Insurance Tips
10:53 - Misconceptions About Personal Injury Lawyers
12:55 - Challenges of Running a Small Law Firm as a Mom of Four
16:32 - Competing with Big Firms: Boutique Client Experience
19:01 - Physical and Emotional Hurdles After an Accident
20:15 - Trauma and Mental Health: Why Recovery Isn’t Just Physical
23:14 - Why Finding Quality Care After an Accident Is So Hard
27:22 - Wellness Tips Melissa Shares with Clients After Injury

Connect with Attorney 
Website: www.nealandsolevilla.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NealandSolevilla
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nealandsolevilla/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/neal-solevilla-personal-injury-lawyers/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-solevilla-35957b9/

Connect with Dr. Kerry Reller
Podcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou... 
My linktree: linktr.ee/kerryrellermd
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryrellermd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamilyMedicine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerryrellermd
Clearwater Family Medicine and Allergy website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwa...
Podcast: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou...

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