Florida Personal Injury Laws, Deadlines and Local Guides

Personal injury claims in Florida

This is the Florida hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 327 Florida communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Florida gives injured people two years to file most personal injury lawsuits (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a)) and two years for medical malpractice. The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, so PIP benefits pay first after a crash. Injury cases are tried in the Circuit Court of the county where the accident happened, and workplace injuries are handled through the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation. Reduced from four years to two years for negligence claims accruing after March 24, 2023 (HB 837), which also moved Florida to a modified comparative negligence rule.

Florida injury law at a glance

Personal injury deadline: two years from the injury (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a))
Medical malpractice deadline: two years (discovery-rule exceptions)
Fault rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Auto insurance: No-fault (PIP pays first)
Minimum auto liability: 10/20/10 (PIP $10,000)
Trial court: County Circuit Court
Workers' compensation: Florida Division of Workers' Compensation
Workers' comp claim deadline: About two years

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Florida injury guides by county

Every Florida county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.

Largest communities in Florida

More Florida city guides: DeLand, FL, Sebring, FL.

Florida claims by injury type

Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida?

Generally two years from the date of injury (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a)). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within two years, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner. Reduced from four years to two years for negligence claims accruing after March 24, 2023 (HB 837), which also moved Florida to a modified comparative negligence rule.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Florida?

Florida applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.

Is Florida a no-fault state?

Yes. Your own PIP coverage pays first after a car accident, and lawsuits against the at-fault driver are limited to serious injuries.

Where are injury lawsuits filed in Florida?

In the Circuit Court of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.

How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Florida?

Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Florida.

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Ready to share what happened in Florida?

Click here for a free claim review — submit accident details

Ask Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.