If someone else’s negligence caused your injury – a driver, a property owner, a doctor, or a manufacturer – you likely have grounds for a claim. Florida law requires proving four things: the other party owed you a duty of care, they breached it, that breach caused your injury, and you suffered real damages. Every case is unique, and the strength of yours depends on the specific facts, your injuries, and the evidence available. A free consultation with our team is the fastest way to get an honest answer.
Most people face a serious injury claim only once in their lives. Insurance companies, on the other hand, handle thousands of claims a year and have experienced adjusters and attorneys working to protect their interests. An attorney levels that playing field: we investigate what happened, document the full extent of your losses, negotiate effectively, and take your case to trial if that’s what it takes. Studies consistently show that injury victims with legal representation receive higher settlements on average than those who go it alone. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, there’s no fee unless we win, so getting experienced help costs you nothing upfront.
Florida’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury, a change that took effect in March 2023 under HB 837. Before that, the deadline was four years, so older information may be wrong. Miss the deadline, and you generally lose your right to recover, even if your case is otherwise strong. A few narrow exceptions exist, such as when an injury wasn’t immediately discoverable, so it’s worth confirming your specific deadline with an attorney early rather than assuming.
Just like with any other type of insurance, PIP claims are filed either online or through the phone with your preferred auto insurance provider. PIP will help pay for medical expenses that are necessary immediately after the accident.
However, for ongoing, non-urgent claims, a review or pre-approval of a treatment plan with a medical expert of your insurer’s choice or an outsourced medical claims processor is required.
Your auto insurance provider can also approve partial reimbursements, or have you examined by a medical provider of their choice. The money awarded to you depends on what the insurance company decides based on the language of its policy and the nature of the claimed expenses.
Just like other no-fault states, Florida has its own set of special laws and regulations. To reduce the number of people suing each other over damages, Florida only allows drivers to file a claim under a third-party Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) policy when the injuries are considered severely disfiguring, debilitating, permanent, and/or resulted in death.
In many cases, Florida law allows drivers to make a BIL even if the injury is not so severe, so long as the medical costs exceed $10,000. What this means is if you’re involved in an accident and the injuries cost you $20,000, you are allowed to sue the other driver for the remaining $10,000 not covered by PIP. That comes in addition to the uncovered medical costs and lost wages that the eligible policy does cover. You may also claim for any emotional pain and suffering you think the injuries have caused you.
It’s recommended by risk management professionals for all Florida drivers to carry a good amount of bodily injury liability coverage, but Florida doesn’t make that coverage mandatory for most drivers.
For most personal injury cases in Florida, the two-year statute of limitations begins on the date of the accident or injury. The starting point can shift in certain circumstances: if an injury wasn’t immediately apparent (as sometimes happens with internal injuries or conditions that develop over time), the clock may start when you knew or reasonably should have known about it. Claims against government entities involve different, often shorter deadlines and require advance written notice. When in doubt, contact us early; we can confirm your exact deadline and make sure nothing slips.
There’s no universal answer, and every case depends on the severity of your injuries, their impact on your life, available insurance coverage, and who was at fault. Compensation can include medical bills (past and future), lost income, future care costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In cases involving extreme negligence, punitive damages may also apply. We evaluate every case on its own facts and give you a realistic picture during your free consultation.
Several factors shape what a settlement is worth: the nature and severity of your injuries, total medical costs (current and projected), how the injury has affected your ability to work and earn, the impact on your daily life and relationships, and the amount of available insurance coverage. Liability, meaning how clearly fault falls on the other party, also plays a significant role. Insurers typically start low and negotiate; our job is to build a case that documents the full value of your losses and moves the number to where it actually belongs.
Economic damages cover losses with a specific dollar value: medical bills, lost wages, future medical costs, and out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages cover the harder-to-quantify consequences, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (impact on a spouse or close family member). Both types are available to the injury victims. Florida’s 2023 tort reform (HB 837) introduced some modifications to non-economic damage recovery in certain medical malpractice situations, so the specifics depend on your case type.
In most personal injury cases, compensatory damages for physical injuries such as medical bills and pain and suffering are not considered taxable income under federal law. Punitive damages and compensation for lost wages may be taxable. Florida has no state income tax, which simplifies things further. Tax rules can be nuanced depending on your specific situation, so we recommend consulting a tax professional once your case settles. Our job is to maximize your recovery; a CPA can advise on what you keep.
Yes, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Florida moved to a modified comparative negligence system in 2023 under mentioned-above HB 837; previously, you could recover even if you were 99% at fault. Now, if you’re found to be 51% or more at fault, you generally cannot recover. If your fault is 50% or below, your recovery is reduced proportionally: 20% at fault means you receive 80% of your total damages. Don’t assume partial fault ends your case; the specific percentage assignment matters enormously.
Florida requires most drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers your own medical bills and a portion of lost wages after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. PIP covers up to $10,000 in benefits, but you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, or you forfeit those benefits. For injuries exceeding PIP coverage or meeting Florida’s “serious injury” threshold (permanent injury, significant scarring, or death), you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for the full extent of your damages beyond what PIP covers.
Bring whatever you have; you don’t need everything to have a useful first conversation. Helpful items include the accident or incident report, photos from the scene or of your injuries, insurance information for all parties, any medical records or bills you’ve received, and the names and contact information of witnesses. If you don’t have any of these yet, that’s fine; we can help gather what’s needed once you’re a client. The most important thing is to come in and tell us what happened.
Yes. Florida law does not restrict access to the civil justice system based on immigration status. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to pursue a claim regardless of your documentation. Your immigration status is not relevant to your personal injury case and will not be disclosed without your consent. We’ve helped clients from all backgrounds and are committed to fighting for everyone who comes to us for help.
From a gross settlement, three things are typically deducted before you receive your share: attorney fees, case costs (medical records, expert witnesses, filing fees), and any outstanding medical liens, amounts owed to healthcare providers, health insurers, Medicare, or Medicaid that covered your treatment. What remains is yours. We negotiate medical liens on your behalf, which can meaningfully increase what you take home. You’ll receive a full itemized breakdown before approving any settlement.
A medical lien is a legal claim against your settlement by a healthcare provider or insurer to recover the cost of treating your injuries. If your bills were covered by health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or remain unpaid with providers, those parties typically have a right to reimbursement from your recovery. The lien amount comes out before you receive your share. Negotiating these liens down,, which we do as part of your case, is one of the most impactful ways we increase what you actually walk away with.