Florida Car Accident Lawyers You Can Trust

Call 911. Florida requires immediate report of any crash involving injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500 under Fla. Stat. § 316.065. 

Then start the clock that matters most. Florida PIP benefits require you to receive initial medical services within 14 days of the crash under § 627.736. Miss that window and your medical benefits are not reimbursable at all, regardless of how serious the injury turns out to be. Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your physician within two weeks without exception. 

Photograph everything before vehicles move: positions, damage, debris, skid marks, signals, and road conditions. On I-95, the Turnpike, or Glades Road, lanes clear within minutes. 

Collect witness names and numbers directly. Exchange insurance information and photograph the other driver's card. 

Notify your own insurer and request the PIP application form. Say nothing about fault at the scene, including apologies, and decline a recorded statement to the other driver's carrier until you have spoken with an attorney. 

Yes. Florida remains a no-fault state, and Personal Injury Protection is still mandatory despite widespread claims otherwise. 

Repeal bills SB 522 and HB 769 both died in committee on March 13, 2026 when the legislative session closed. Neither reached a floor vote. Florida Statutes §§ 627.730 through 627.7407 remain in force. If you have seen a July 1, 2026 repeal date online, that figure traces to a 2025 bill that was withdrawn from consideration and never became law. 

Under § 627.736, every registered owner must carry $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability. PIP pays 80 percent of reasonable and necessary medical expenses and 60 percent of lost gross income, up to that combined $10,000 ceiling. 

Two limits catch people. Benefits cap at $2,500 unless a qualifying provider determines you suffered an emergency medical condition. And initial treatment must begin within 14 days. 

Florida also does not require bodily injury liability coverage for most drivers, which is why serious injury claims so often run into a policy with nothing available to pay them. 

Florida is both, which is why the question keeps getting asked. No-fault governs who pays your initial medical bills. Fault governs everything beyond that. 

Since March 24, 2023, Florida applies modified comparative negligence under Fla. Stat. § 768.81. If you are found more than 50 percent responsible, you recover nothing at all. At exactly 50 percent, your award is cut in half. This replaced Florida's former pure comparative system, under which someone 80 percent at fault could still recover 20 percent of their damages. 

That change gives insurers a direct incentive to push your share of blame past the 51 percent line, because doing so eliminates their exposure entirely rather than merely reducing it. Expect arguments about speed, following distance, phone use, and whether you could have avoided the impact. 

Medical malpractice claims are carved out and still follow pure comparative negligence. 

Property damage has always been fault-based and sits outside the no-fault system entirely, which is why a single crash can produce a no-fault medical claim and a fault-based repair claim at the same time. 

Immediately, and Florida sets a low trigger. Fla. Stat. § 316.065 requires notifying law enforcement whenever a crash causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500. Given current repair costs, almost any collision clears that figure. 

If an officer investigates, a Florida Traffic Crash Report is generated and becomes available through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Crash reports are confidential for 60 days under § 316.066, released only to involved parties, their attorneys and insurers, and certain others. 

Report to your own insurer promptly as well. Most Florida policies require notice as soon as practicable, and delay gives carriers grounds to question a claim. 

Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury is a felony in Florida, and leaving a crash involving property damage carries criminal penalties of its own. 

Even when damage looks minor, an official report creates a contemporaneous record that becomes difficult to reconstruct once vehicles are repaired and memories fade. 

Different coverages pay different losses, and they operate in sequence rather than together. 

Your own PIP pays your medical treatment and part of your lost income first, regardless of who caused the crash. That obligation belongs to your insurer even when the other driver was entirely at fault. 

Vehicle repairs run separately. The at-fault driver's property damage liability coverage pays, or your own collision coverage does if you carry it. Florida requires $10,000 in property damage liability, which a single newer vehicle can exceed. 

Injuries beyond PIP limits require the at-fault driver's bodily injury liability coverage. Because Florida does not mandate that coverage, it is frequently absent. Roughly one in five Florida drivers carries no insurance at all. 

When it is missing or insufficient, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage becomes the source. Insurers must offer UM under § 627.727, and it can only be rejected in writing, so check your declarations page rather than assuming you declined it. Many drivers who believe they have no UM coverage actually do. 

Usually yes, but as a secondary payer rather than a first one. 

PIP is primary for auto injuries in Florida. Your health plan generally pays after PIP is exhausted or after PIP has paid its 80 percent share, subject to your deductible, copays, and network rules. Given the $10,000 PIP ceiling, health insurance becomes relevant quickly in any serious injury. 

Coverage details matter. Some plans exclude injuries payable under auto policies. High-deductible plans can leave substantial out-of-pocket exposure once PIP runs out. Medicare and Medicaid both pay conditionally and assert reimbursement rights afterward. 

That reimbursement is the part people miss. Health insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, and hospitals asserting letters of protection all claim repayment from any settlement you eventually recover. Those liens are negotiated and satisfied before funds reach you. 

Tell every provider you were injured in a motor vehicle crash. Billing the wrong payer first creates coordination problems that take months to unwind and can jeopardize PIP benefits you are entitled to receive. 

Yes, but Florida's no-fault system restricts when. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.737, a claim for pain and suffering against an at-fault driver requires crossing a permanent injury threshold. 

You meet it with significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. Permanency is the operative word, and it must be established by medical evidence rather than reported symptoms. 

Economic damages exceeding PIP limits can be pursued without meeting that threshold. Medical bills beyond $10,000 and lost income beyond what PIP paid are recoverable directly. 

The deadline changed and many people have not caught up. HB 837 reduced the negligence statute of limitations from four years to two, effective for causes of action accruing on or after March 24, 2023, under Fla. Stat. § 95.11. 

Disputes with your own insurer over PIP or UM benefits are breach of contract claims and follow a separate, longer deadline, and PIP suits require a statutory demand letter before filing. 

Florida places no cap on compensatory damages in car accident cases. Medical expenses, lost income, future care, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering are recoverable in whatever amount the evidence supports. 

Punitive damages are capped. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.73, they are generally limited to the greater of three times compensatory damages or $500,000, with higher limits in narrow circumstances involving specific intent to harm or unreasonable financial gain. Punitive damages are rare in ordinary collisions and typically require conduct like drunk driving or extreme recklessness. 

The practical ceiling is usually insurance, not statute. A driver carrying no bodily injury liability coverage, which Florida permits, may have nothing collectible regardless of what a jury awards. 

HB 837 also changed how medical damages are proven. Fla. Stat. § 768.0427 restricts evidence of billed amounts in favor of amounts actually paid or payable, which has reduced the medical figures juries see in many cases and lowered settlement values accordingly. 

Yes, though being uninsured narrows your options considerably. 

You can still pursue the at-fault driver for your injuries and losses. Florida's no-fault rules do not bar an injury claim simply because you lacked coverage, and comparative negligence turns on your conduct in the crash, not your insurance status. 

What you lose is your own PIP. Without it, no coverage pays your medical bills while the liability claim develops, which often means treating on a letter of protection or through health insurance. You also lose access to uninsured motorist coverage, leaving nothing to reach if the at-fault driver has no bodily injury liability coverage either. 

Florida has a separate consequence. Driving without required insurance can suspend your license and registration independently of the claim. 

If you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or a cyclist rather than a vehicle owner, PIP may still be available through a resident relative's policy or, in some circumstances, through the owner of the vehicle involved in the crash. 

Florida treats it as a licensing matter rather than a criminal one in most cases, but the consequences are lasting. 

Driving or registering a vehicle without the required $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability coverage can result in suspension of your driver license, vehicle registration, and license plates for up to three years, or until you show proof of coverage. 

Reinstatement requires a fee that escalates with repetition: $150 for a first offense, $250 for a second within three years, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. 

You may also be required to carry SR-22 certification, and FR-44 certification following a DUI, which mandates substantially higher liability limits and typically increases premiums for years. 

Driving while your license is suspended for an insurance lapse is a separate offense carrying criminal penalties. 

The larger exposure is personal. Without liability coverage, an injured party can pursue a judgment against your assets directly, and Florida provides no statutory cap protecting you from that outcome. 

Nothing upfront. Florida car accident attorneys work on contingency, and The Florida Bar sets a specific fee structure rather than leaving it open. 

Under Bar Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B), the presumptively reasonable schedule is 33 and one third percent of any recovery up to $1 million if the case resolves before the defendant files an answer or a demand for arbitration, and 40 percent if it resolves after that point through trial. Recovery between $1 million and $2 million is generally 30 percent, and amounts above $2 million are 20 percent. 

Fees exceeding those figures require court approval, and every contingency agreement must be in writing with a statement of client rights. 

Case costs are separate from fees. Filing fees, records retrieval, deposition transcripts, and expert witnesses are typically advanced by the firm and deducted from recovery. 

Ask whether the percentage is calculated before or after costs are deducted, because that single detail meaningfully changes your net recovery. Ask also what happens to advanced costs if the case does not resolve favorably. 

No Florida attorney may properly claim that title. Bar Rule 4-7.13 prohibits advertising that is deceptive or misleading, including comparisons and superlatives that cannot be objectively verified. Florida enforces these rules more actively than most states. 

Evaluate instead. The Florida Bar board certifies attorneys in Civil Trial law, a designation requiring substantial trial experience, peer review, and examination. Fewer than one percent of Florida lawyers hold board certification in any area, and it is verifiable free through floridabar.org. 

Ask how many cases the firm has actually tried rather than settled. Insurers track that, and it affects what they offer. 

Ask who handles your file daily, whether the attorney you meet will appear at your deposition, and how the firm funds expert testimony in permanency disputes. 

Verify disciplinary history directly with The Florida Bar, which publishes it publicly. Treat rankings and awards cautiously, since many are pay-to-list directories, and Florida restricts how such designations may be advertised at all. 

Do not concede anything, and do not assume the determination is final. 

An officer's opinion in a crash report is not a legal finding of liability. Neither is an adjuster's decision. Fault in a Florida injury claim is ultimately decided by a jury on the evidence, and initial assessments are frequently revised once vehicle damage patterns, event data recorder downloads, surveillance footage, and witness statements are examined. 

Your own PIP benefits are unaffected. Under Florida's no-fault system, your insurer pays your medical treatment and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, and the 14-day treatment deadline still applies to you. 

Partial fault does not end a claim. Under the modified comparative negligence standard, you may still recover if you are 50 percent or less responsible, with your award reduced by your percentage. 

Notify your insurer promptly, since your liability coverage includes a duty to defend you. Avoid apologetic statements to any adjuster, which are routinely characterized later as admissions. 

There are several personal injury law firms throughout Florida that can handle your car accident case. You could even handle your case alone. However, this would mean dealing with tricky insurance companies, fighting for your medical expenses, and proving the at-fault driver’s fault. While you’re recovering, the last thing you want to deal with is managing your case or wondering where your legal matter stands.

Clients of Ged Lawyers don’t have to worry about any of these issues. Our car accident clients choose to work with us because we: 

• Pride ourselves on exceptional customer service. Our personal injury team will be there for you when you need us. If this means being available on nights and weekends to work with you, we have your back. We can even meet you at home or in the hospital if you aren’t able to come to one of our Florida offices. 
• Keep you updated on the status of your case. You won’t feel lost about how your case is progressing or the next steps in your claim or lawsuit. We will keep you up to date, so you can focus on recovering. 
• Provide multilingual legal support. With team members who can assist you in Spanish, Arabic, Creole, Greek, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish, you don’t need to let a language barrier prevent you from seeking legal guidance. 
• Do not back down in the face of a challenge. Our team knows how complex the legal process can become. We’re prepared to defend you against lowball offers from insurance companies and the liable party’s legal team. Even if your case involves a trucking company or another organization, we’re not afraid to fight for what you deserve.
• Serve clients in several Florida cities. With five offices throughout the state, we’re able to help car accident victims seek the compensation they need. 

Many former clients agree that choosing Ged Lawyers was the right decision for their case. They say: 

• “I wanted to share my gratitude for Ged Lawyers and their entire staff…From my call from the accident scene to receiving a check their was I always had a direct line of communication with Yesi. That’s how it’s supposed to be in a personal injury case. Forever grateful.” – Michael
• “I want thank Maria Colon and her amazing team for all their support, time and help that they’ve done for me. Highly recommend them.” – Cathy 
• “Very helpful and professional customer service. Superb experience. Highly recommend. Service from start to finish and some more.” – Eyad 

Car accidents can negatively impact your quality of life for an extended period. Our goal is to make our team of lawyers accessible and provide support for you during this difficult time. 

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident on your own is hard enough, but throwing navigating the personal injury claims system into the mix can make it all the more overwhelming. That’s why it may be beneficial to hire a car accident lawyer from our firm. When you have us in your corner, we manage every part of your case so that you don’t have to.

Some of the many tasks we take on for accident victims include:

• Obtaining a copy of the official accident report
• Gathering your medical records and available photos and video footage to present as evidence
• Interviewing eyewitnesses
• Establishing the negligent and liable parties
• Maintaining communication with the insurance companies
• Fighting for a settlement that covers your losses in negotiations
• Determining your compensable damages 
• Complying with state deadlines
• Going to mock trial or court, especially if we cannot come to a settlement agreement with the other side
• Review your auto insurance policy 

On top of the legal aspects of your case, we pride ourselves on providing optimal client care. Expect one of our attorneys to call you whenever we have an update on your case. If you have a question about any part of the legal process, we want you to connect with us as soon as possible so you feel at ease and informed from start to finish.

We Strive to Reach a Fair Case Outcome for All of Our Injured Car Accident Clients

You’ve been through a lot and deserve help to rebuild your life. Our auto accident attorneys have this attitude with each of our clients, which has enabled us to achieve these case results:

• $1.4 million for a doctor who was hurt in a car crash
• $1 million in a T-bone collision

This track record of success demonstrates our passion for fighting for injured accident victims. We don’t accept unfair settlements. 

Our team of lawyers wants to hear your story and find out how we can serve you. Whether we decide to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, our team is ready to advocate for your financial recovery. 

You could be entitled to different categories of monetary compensation. Each of these types of economic and non-economic damages could combine to form your final settlement amount. An attorney from our firm can advise you on the types of damages available to you and what your case might be worth.

Some of the intangible and financial losses we can pursue on your behalf include: 

Medical Treatment Costs

You could be facing significant injuries following a car accident. These injuries could require medical care—now and in the future. Monetary compensation could be available to pay for these medical expenses, which could include treatments like surgery, prescription drugs, and physical therapy. You may also receive compensation to cover your future care. 

Lost Income

Missing work due to a car accident injury can be a disruptive event. This time away from work could result in missed paychecks and unexpected financial strain. With the help of an attorney from our firm, you could recoup the income you missed out on due to your injury.

Pain and Suffering

Physical pain is an unfortunate part of many car accidents. Because you only experience this pain due to the carelessness of the other road user, compensation for your pain could be available through your injury case.

This is an example of a non-economic damage that we can seek a fair settlement for. Although it cannot be proven with visual evidence, it is a compensable damage, nonetheless. 

Mental Anguish

Emotional trauma is common following major vehicle collisions. For some people, reliving the experience can haunt them even after their physical injuries have already healed. This mental anguish could result in a monetary award based on how it has impacted your life following the accident. If you suffered from anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of a negligent driver’s actions, you may be eligible for this form of compensation. 

Property Damage

The damage to your personal property could also result in financial compensation. Just like with your own injuries, the extent of this damage will determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to recover. Often, this involves a monetary award that allows you to repair or replace your car.

Wrongful Death Damages

If your loved one passed away in a car accident in Florida, our team is ready to help you seek justice through a wrongful death claim in Florida. Some of the damages you and your family may recover include: 

• Loss of your loved one’s support 
• Loss of services 
• Mental anguish 
• Funeral and burial expenses 
• Medical expenses your loved one incurred prior to their death 
• Loss of parental guidance 

Our law firm extends our most sincere condolences for your loss. Our wrongful death lawyers in Boca Raton will fight for justice, holding the at-fault driver or any other liable party accountable for your loss. 

Each state and jurisdiction places limits on the amount of time an injured party have to file an accident injury lawsuit. Florida is no exception, as state statutes apply this limit to car accident cases that occur within the state. The deadline that applies to your car accident injury case is commonly known as the statute of limitations. According to Florida Statutes § 95.11, you generally have two years to sue the other party for personal injury.

The statute of limitations is one of the most dangerous pitfalls facing a civil lawsuit. This deadline is strictly enforced, and the judge in your case is likely to dismiss your lawsuit with prejudice if you file after the deadline expires.

A dismissal with prejudice means that you forever lose the opportunity to file a lawsuit based on your injuries, leaving you with an uncertain future. This is true even if negligence in your case is undisputed. An attorney could help you avoid this pitfall by monitoring the statute of limitations in your case and working to file your accident injury lawsuit with time to spare.

Submitting a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident

Florida Statutes § 95.11 also states that you typically have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Florida, only certain parties are eligible to file a wrongful death case. 

Only the decedent’s personal representative, or the executor of the estate, may submit a wrongful death lawsuit. While several other parties may benefit from any damages recovered, the executor is the only party eligible to submit a lawsuit. 

In some cases, the decedent outlines who they wish to handle their estate in their final will. If your loved one didn’t create a will before their passing, our law firm will identify the personal representative for your family. 

Filing an Insurance Claim in Florida Based on Uninsured Motorist Coverage

It’s a good idea to purchase uninsured motorist coverage due to the amount of uninsured or underinsured drivers in Florida. This way, you can easily access the money you need for medical bills, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering.

If you file a claim through this policy, Florida Statutes § 95.11(2) sets the statute of limitations at five years in most cases. We can help you pursue an accident settlement through this route. 

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 397,354 car accidents in Florida in the most recent year surveyed. Negligence is the basis of virtually every car accident. In the legal realm, negligence means that the other party owed you a duty of care, neglected to uphold that duty, and caused an accident, as well as tangible and intangible losses.

Ways that the other party could have acted negligently in car accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Poor lane change or merge
• Refusing to adjust to poor road conditions 
• Failing to check their blind spot
• Allowing roadway defects
• Failing to check for faulty brakes
• Failing to adjust driving behaviors
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding or aggressive driving
• Tailgating
• Defective auto parts that were not replaced 
• Not slowing down in heavy traffic

Once we establish the liable party’s negligence, as can seek your accident settlement.

Collision Injuries That May Entitle You to Compensation

Negligent actions and inactions could all result in a head-on, rear-end, side-impact, or even rollover collision, which may lead to serious or fatal crashes. Common types of injuries automobile accident victims sustain include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Back and shoulder injuries
• Burns
• Broken bones or fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Cuts and bruises
• Internal bleeding 

If you or a loved one suffered any of these injuries, our team can help you pursue compensation for your past, current, and future losses. Drunk drivers, reckless drivers, and any other negligent party need to be held accountable for their actions.

As a personal injury law firm, it’s our job to hold at-fault drivers accountable for the harm they caused. Whether that means recovering your medical expenses, negotiating with an insurance company, or taking your case to court, Ged Lawyers is on your side. 

Our legal team has helped numerous car accident victims recover the compensation they need. The unfortunate truth is that car accidents are common in Florida. According to FLHSMV, in the most recent year surveyed:

• There were 3,319 fatal crashes throughout Florida 
• 107,765 crashes involved a hit-and-run accidents in Florida
• Florida motorcyclists were involved in 9,261 accidents with cars 
• 5,249 car accidents involved a drunk driver 
• There were 7,247 pedestrian accidents in Florida involving motor vehicles 

When another party’s negligence leads to your accident, our team is ready to get to work on your accident claim. Florida’s car accident statistics demonstrate how many accidents could have been prevented had negligence not been a factor. At Ged Lawyers, our focus is on seeking justice and fair compensation from a party that did not uphold their legal duty to keep you safe. 

Our auto accident lawyers will investigate your case, taking details from the accident scene into consideration. When you hire us, we can begin collecting evidence such as: 

• The police report. This can give us insight into how many cars were involved in the accident and any witnesses who were at the scene. 
• Lay witness statements. Anyone who saw your car accident may be able to tell us about the at-fault driver’s actions before the crash occurred. 
• Expert witness statements. We may call in medical or financial experts to weigh in on your case. This helps our legal team determine which damages you deserve compensation for and how much money you’re owed. 
• Photos and videos. Pictures of your injuries and surveillance footage can help us tie your injuries to the accident. 
• Your medical records and statements from your doctors. Your medical documents can help us demonstrate you received medical treatment immediately after the accident. This proves that your collision injuries were serious. 

Crash victims do not need to collect any forms of evidence on their own. Our team knows how to support an accident lawsuit with the proof we gather on your behalf. 

However, any photos, bills, receipts, invoices, or witness contact information you have could help us support your case. You can bring any accident-related materials to our firm when we start working on your case. 

The aftermath of a serious injury accident can feel overwhelming and shocking. If you know how to navigate the moments and days after a crash, it could benefit your pursuit of fair compensation. 

Our accident law firm recommends you take the following steps after a collision: 

Get Immediate Medical Attention

Not only does seeing a medical professional right away benefit your health, but it can also strengthen your claim for compensation. If you wait too long to get medical help after an accident, the at-fault party and their insurance company might try to claim that your injuries did not result from the accident. 

Your medical records can also help our lawyers prove the cause of your injury. 

Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies

Right after the accident, you might get a call from an insurance adjuster. They may ask for a recorded statement, hoping you’ll downplay the severity of the accident and your injuries. 

You do not need to give a recorded statement. Instead, politely decline the call or pass the communication to your lawyer. 

Don’t Accept an Initial Lowball Settlement Offer

At the accident scene, the liable party may try to pay you out-of-pocket for the damage to your car and your injuries. If they’re an uninsured driver, or they know they’re at fault, they probably hope you won’t hire an attorney or get your insurance company involved. You do not need to accept this offer. 

You also do not have to accept any settlement offers from the insurance company that seem unfair. Sometimes, an insurer will offer you a lowball settlement, hoping that you’ll take any money you can get. Once your case settles, you can’t seek additional compensation. So, you may want to wait until you’ve consulted a car accident lawyer before taking money. 

Stay Off Social Media

While you may be tempted to tell your friends and family about the accident, you should avoid posting on social media until your case is settled. Anything you say can be taken out of context to downplay your injuries.

Whether you suffered severe or minor injuries, vehicle damage, mental pain, or any economic losses should not be discussed online. Once your case is settled and you receive your compensation, you can return to your usual activities. 

If you suffered injuries in a car crash, the team at Ged Lawyers is ready to help you pursue justice. To learn how a Florida auto accident lawyer at our firm could help you, call right away for a free confidential consultation. There is no risk or obligation involved.

We believe you deserve justice for your vehicle damage, physical and mental pain, and medical costs. Don’t wait to pursue your accident damages. Call us today.