The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Florida

According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2022, there were 395,719 total car crashes in Florida. Car accidents can leave victims with devastating losses. As a result, car accidents tend to be some of the most cited reasons for filing personal injury claims. Personal injury claims are civil lawsuits that help victims of negligent acts obtain financial compensation for their damages. Damages can be many, but the most common are property damages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and missed wages.

Car accidents are not the only incidents that can lead to personal injury claims being filed. Other injury events, like medical malpractice, slip and fall, or injuries from defective products can also call for a personal injury claim. There are several aspects of the personal injury claims process that victims should know about to protect their rights better. One is the statute of limitations. 

If you believe that you have a personal injury claim to file, but you would like a professional opinion on your case, please call the Florida personal injury attorneys at Fulgencio Law.

Understanding Florida’s Statute of Limitations

The amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim is limited. This is why if another party harmed you, you do not wait to see an attorney and get more information about your claim and what you should do to secure the most compensation. If you miss filing before the statute of limitations is up, you have effectively lost your ability to make a claim. As a result, you also forfeited your rights to compensation. This is not a good position to be in when you are injured from a personal injury event.

Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injuries is four years from the date that the personal injury event took place. What this means for victims is after an accident, the clock starts ticking. In most cases, a victim will only have four years to file a suit. 

Medical malpractice suits, though, have less time to file. In Florida, a medical malpractice suit must be filed two years from when the medical malpractice event happened. So do wrongful death suits. Wrongful death only allows for two years as well.

Lawsuits against the government give a victim three years to file a notice of a claim. Some specific details and nuances accompany filing against the government, so it is helpful to have an attorney on your side if this is the party you are filing your claim against.

Speak to an Attorney at Fulgencio Law Today

It is important not to wait after a personal injury event to have your situation evaluated by an attorney and the claims process started, where applicable. Delays can jeopardize your ability to recover compensation.

The claims process can be challenging, and figuring out the rules confusing for victims who are also trying to heal from their injuries. Working with an attorney can make things go much smoother. Call a personal injury attorney at Fulgencio Law today at (813) 463-0123 to schedule a free, initial consultation.