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IN THIS ARTICLE
- Quick Answer & Overview
- Types of Florida Car Accidents We Handle
- Florida Car Accident Law — The Four Statutes
- Liability Theories We Build
- Common Florida Car Accident Injuries
- What Compensation Can You Recover
- What to Expect When You Hire Us
- Dangerous Florida Roads for Car Crashes
- Florida Cities We Serve
- Why Choose Kaiser Romanello
- Meet Our Florida Car Accident Lawyers
- Florida Car Accident Lawyer FAQ
Quick Answer: How a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Helps You
If you need a Florida car accident lawyer, get medical care within 14 days. Florida's PIP statute (Fla. Stat. §627.736) requires it. Then photograph the scene, get the crash report number from the responding agency, and do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with a Florida car accident lawyer.
Your case will be filed under Florida's modified comparative negligence rules — meaning if a jury finds you 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of the crash under Fla. Stat. §95.11. Both rules took effect on March 24, 2023 under HB 837 and reshaped Florida personal injury defense.
For a free, confidential case review with a Florida car accident lawyer, call Kaiser Romanello, P.A. at (844) 877-8679. No fee unless we win.
Florida has one of the highest car crash rates in the United States. Heavy tourism, year-round driving conditions, snowbird traffic between November and April, and dense urban environments in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Tampa all combine to produce hundreds of thousands of crashes every year. Additionally, Florida's no-fault PIP system, combined with the 2023 HB 837 tort reform, creates legal traps that catch unrepresented plaintiffs — particularly tourists and seasonal residents unfamiliar with the rules.
Our firm, Kaiser Romanello, P.A., is headquartered in Parkland and represents Florida car accident victims statewide. We've handled cases ranging from minor rear-end collisions on Glades Road in Boca Raton to highway-speed I-95 commercial truck crashes that produced catastrophic injuries. Every case is built around the same four Florida statutes — PIP, the comparative-fault cliff, the two-year filing deadline, and the serious-injury tort threshold — and around identifying every potentially liable party.
As your Florida car accident lawyer, our job is to make those statutes work for you instead of against you. The pages below cover the law, the process, and the cities where we concentrate our work.
Types of Florida Car Accidents We Handle
Every type of car crash carries its own evidence challenges, liability theories, and insurance dynamics. Below are the most common car accident cases our Florida car accident lawyers handle. If your crash involved a rideshare driver, a commercial truck, a motorcycle, or another specialized vehicle, jump directly to that sub-hub for the relevant analysis.
Rear-End Collisions
The most common Florida crash. The trailing driver is usually presumed at fault, but insurers exploit comparative-fault doctrine to push blame onto the lead driver for sudden stops, brake-light failures, or distracted driving.
Intersection & Left-Turn Crashes
Failure to yield, running red lights, and protected/unprotected left-turn confusion produce the most serious injury crashes we see at signalized intersections statewide.
Highway & Interstate Crashes
I-95, I-75, I-595, Florida's Turnpike, and the Sawgrass Expressway produce highway-speed crashes with the most catastrophic injuries. These often involve commercial defendants, FHP investigation, and multi-policy recovery.
Drunk & Impaired Driver Cases
Florida allows both negligence claims against the driver and dram-shop liability against bars and restaurants that served visibly intoxicated patrons. Punitive damages may apply.
Distracted & Texting Driver Cases
Phone records, app activity, and in-vehicle telematics can establish distraction at the moment of impact. Preservation letters must be sent within days to capture this evidence.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When the at-fault driver flees the scene, your own UM/UIM policy becomes the primary recovery source. See our hit-and-run accident lawyer page for the full framework.
Rideshare (Uber & Lyft) Crashes
Rideshare crashes involve layered TNC coverage under Fla. Stat. §627.748. See our Uber accident hub and Lyft accident hub for the three-phase insurance framework that determines recovery.
Commercial Vehicle & Truck Crashes
Federal motor-carrier regulations (FMCSR) apply when the at-fault vehicle is a commercial truck or fleet vehicle. Policy limits are much higher. See our Florida truck accident page.
Motorcycle vs. Car Crashes
When a car driver causes a crash with a motorcyclist, injuries are catastrophically severe and Florida's helmet-optional law (Fla. Stat. §316.211) becomes a major comparative-fault battleground. See our motorcycle accident lawyer page.
Fatal Crashes & Wrongful Death
Florida's Wrongful Death Act compensates surviving spouses, children, and dependents. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of death. See our wrongful death lawyer page.
Florida Car Accident Law — The Four Statutes That Control Your Case
Every Florida car accident case is governed by the same handful of statutes. A Florida car accident lawyer who understands them in combination — not as isolated doctrines — is the difference between full recovery and a denied claim.
Fla. Stat. §627.736 — The 14-Day Treatment Rule
Florida is a no-fault state. Every Florida driver must carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) that pays 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages regardless of fault. The strict catch: you must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the crash. Miss that window and you forfeit PIP entirely. Furthermore, PIP runs out almost immediately for serious injuries — which is why pursuing the at-fault driver's liability policy is the actual recovery path in most Florida car accident cases.
HB 837 — The 50% Cliff
Before March 2023, Florida used pure comparative negligence — a 99%-at-fault plaintiff still recovered 1%. After HB 837, if a jury finds you 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers now aggressively push speed, lane position, distracted driving, and seat-belt non-use to inflate your comparative-fault percentage. Defending against this attack is a core part of what your Florida car accident lawyer does from day one of every file.
Fla. Stat. §95.11 — 2-Year Filing Deadline
HB 837 also cut Florida's negligence statute of limitations from four years to two years for crashes occurring on or after March 24, 2023. Wrongful death is also two years. Claims against governmental entities (cities, counties, FDOT) require formal written notice under Fla. Stat. §768.28 on a much shorter timeline. If a website or attorney tells you that you have four years to file a Florida personal injury case, that information is outdated and dangerous.
Fla. Stat. §627.737(2) — The Tort Threshold
To pursue non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) beyond PIP, your injuries must meet Florida's serious-injury threshold. This requires significant scarring or disfigurement, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant permanent loss of an important bodily function, or death. Without proper documentation, the insurer denies non-economic damages entirely.
Hurt in a Florida car crash?
The 14-day PIP rule and 2-year statute of limitations are running. Evidence disappears faster.
Call (844) 877-8679 Start Free Case ReviewLiability Theories Your Florida Car Accident Lawyer Will Build
Identifying every potentially liable party is the difference between a policy-limits result and a multi-policy recovery that actually covers catastrophic medical care. Here are the theories we evaluate in every Florida car accident case.
1. Other Driver Negligence (Most Common)
The textbook Florida car crash: another driver runs a red light, fails to yield, makes a distracted lane change, or rear-ends you in stopped traffic. The other driver's bodily injury liability policy is the first source of recovery beyond PIP. However, Florida requires drivers to carry only $10K PD liability — not bodily injury — which means many at-fault drivers have zero BI coverage. Consequently, your own UM/UIM policy often matters more than the at-fault driver's policy.
2. Drunk & Impaired Driver Cases
Florida has both standard negligence and dram-shop liability for impaired drivers. If the at-fault driver was impaired leaving a bar, restaurant, or licensed establishment, in addition to the driver's own policy, we evaluate whether the venue knowingly served someone visibly intoxicated. Furthermore, the text-message and phone records of the at-fault driver are subpoena-protected within a short window. That's why preservation letters go out in the first 48 hours.
3. Road Defects & Government Liability
Potholes on Florida highways, badly painted lane markings, missing or damaged guardrails, poorly designed intersections, and inadequate signage can all support a claim against the governmental entity responsible for the road. Sovereign immunity caps and notice requirements under Fla. Stat. §768.28 apply. Missing the notice deadline forfeits the claim.
4. Commercial Vehicle & Trucking Liability
If the at-fault vehicle was a commercial truck, delivery van, or fleet vehicle, federal motor-carrier regulations (FMCSR) apply. The policy limits are typically much higher than passenger vehicle minimums. Additionally, the employer, broker, and shipper may share liability. See our Florida truck accident hub for the full analysis.
5. Manufacturer or Product Defect
If a tire blew out, an airbag failed to deploy, a seat belt malfunctioned, or a brake defect contributed to the crash, the vehicle manufacturer or component supplier may share liability under Florida products liability law. These cases require expert engineering reconstruction and benefit from preserving the vehicle in its post-crash condition.
6. Rideshare TNC Liability
If the at-fault vehicle was an Uber or Lyft driver, Florida's TNC statute (Fla. Stat. §627.748) creates layered coverage that depends on the driver's app status. Phase 3 rides trigger a $1 million commercial policy. See our Uber and Lyft accident hubs for the full three-phase framework.
7. Your Own UM/UIM Policy
If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured (extremely common in Florida, which has one of the highest uninsured-driver rates in the country), your own UM/UIM auto policy becomes the primary recovery source. The policy stacks across vehicles in some configurations. We map every available UM/UIM coverage layer at the start of every case.
Common Florida Car Accident Injuries
Car crash injuries range from soft-tissue strains that resolve in weeks to permanently disabling conditions requiring lifetime care. The injuries we see most often in serious Florida car accident files:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) — concussions, contrecoup injuries, post-concussion syndrome, and severe brain trauma. Some TBIs don't manifest symptoms for 24-72 hours.
- Spinal cord injury — from partial nerve damage to complete paraplegia. Lifetime care costs frequently exceed $5 million.
- Whiplash and neck injuries — cervical strain, herniated discs at C5-C6 or C6-C7, requiring physical therapy or surgical intervention.
- Back injuries — herniated lumbar discs (typically L4-L5 or L5-S1), sciatica, and chronic pain syndromes.
- Compound and complex fractures — the femur, tibia, pelvis, wrist, and clavicle are common fracture sites. Surgical fixation often runs into the six figures.
- Internal organ injury — ruptured spleens, lacerated livers, punctured lungs from blunt-force impact.
- Severe burns and disfigurement — from airbag deployment, post-crash fires, or chemical exposure.
- Catastrophic injuries — amputation, severe disfigurement, and other life-altering conditions requiring lifetime care planning.
- Wrongful death — Florida's Wrongful Death Act compensates surviving spouses, children, and other dependents.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Florida allows recovery of both economic and non-economic damages in car accident cases that meet the serious-injury threshold under Fla. Stat. §627.737(2). In catastrophic crashes, damages frequently exceed the at-fault driver's liability limits, requiring UM/UIM stacking or commercial-defendant pursuit.
Economic Damages
- Past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, imaging, physical therapy, rehab)
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Vocational retraining when injuries end a career
- Property damage (vehicle, personal belongings)
- Out-of-pocket costs — co-pays, transport to appointments, home modifications
- Life-care planning costs in catastrophic cases
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability, scarring, and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium for spouses
See representative outcomes on our case results page. Past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes; every case is different and is evaluated on its specific facts.
What to Expect When You Hire a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
Every Florida car accident case runs on a sequence. Miss a step and the claim suffers. Here's what the first 60 days typically look like when you retain Kaiser Romanello, P.A.
Free Case Review
We talk through the crash, your medical picture, your insurance coverage, and your goals — no fee, no obligation. Call (844) 877-8679 or request a review online.
Evidence Preservation
We send preservation letters to all relevant insurers, the at-fault driver, the city or county (if road conditions contributed), and any commercial-fleet defendant within 48 hours.
Medical Coordination & PIP Protection
We help ensure you treat within the 14-day PIP window with qualified Florida providers. Additionally, we protect your PIP benefits and document injuries to meet the serious-injury threshold.
Liability & Coverage Investigation
We confirm the at-fault driver's coverage, identify any commercial defendants, evaluate road-design liability, and map your own UM/UIM stack.
Demand & Negotiation
Once your treatment is stable, we send a formal demand — structured to satisfy Fla. Stat. §624.155 bad-faith requirements where applicable — supported by medical records, wage loss, and expert evaluations.
Litigation & Trial
If the at-fault insurer won't pay fair value, we file suit in the appropriate Florida venue — the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward, the 15th in Palm Beach, the 11th in Miami-Dade, or wherever venue lies. We litigate discovery aggressively and take cases to trial.
What NOT to Do After a Florida Car Crash
Don't give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurer before speaking to a lawyer. The questions are designed to lock in facts that hurt your claim later.
Don't accept a fast settlement. First offers come before injuries fully declare themselves. Once you sign a release, the case is over.
Don't sign a blanket medical authorization. The insurer will mine pre-existing conditions to argue your current pain came from an old injury.
Don't post about the crash on social media. Defense counsel routinely screens Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for anything that can be weaponized against you.
Don't miss the 14-day PIP deadline. Florida law requires initial treatment within 14 days of the crash. Miss it and PIP is forfeited entirely.
Don't wait. Florida's 2-year statute of limitations for negligence (Fla. Stat. §95.11) runs from the date of the crash. Evidence disappears on a much shorter schedule.
Dangerous Florida Roads for Car Crashes
Florida's road network has specific danger zones. According to Florida Department of Highway Safety crash data, the corridors below account for the highest share of serious car accident files we handle.
I-95
Running from the Georgia line through the Keys, I-95 is Florida's deadliest highway. The stretches through Palm Beach County and Broward County see the highest crash density. Highway-speed crashes here produce the most serious injuries.
I-75 & "Alligator Alley"
I-75 carries heavy commercial traffic between Naples and Fort Lauderdale. Alligator Alley produces high-speed rear-end and rollover crashes, often involving commercial defendants.
Florida's Turnpike
The Turnpike's Boca Raton, Lantana, and West Palm interchanges are among Florida's busiest. Highway-speed crashes here often involve commercial defendants, FHP investigation, and the deepest insurance recovery layers.
US-1 / Federal Highway
Running the length of Florida's east coast, Federal Highway sees frequent left-turn and intersection crashes through every coastal city, including high-volume sections in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.
I-595 & Sawgrass Expressway
Broward County's east-west and north-south arterials produce heavy commuter crash volume. The Sawgrass Boca-Sunrise corridor is a known crash zone.
I-4 (Tampa – Orlando)
Repeatedly ranked among America's deadliest highways. Heavy tourist traffic, construction, and frequent rain events make I-4 a high-volume Florida car accident corridor.
If your Florida car crash happened on any of these roads, we know the local conditions, the FHP investigators who work them, and the specific defense patterns the at-fault insurer is likely to deploy.
Florida Cities We Serve
We represent injured Floridians statewide. The cities below have dedicated practice pages with city-specific guidance on local courts, emergency rooms, dangerous roads, and demographic patterns. For Florida-wide guidance, see our accident services hub.
Palm Beach County Car Accident Cases
Our concentration market in Palm Beach County is Boca Raton, where we maintain a deep practice in the 15th Judicial Circuit. For full Boca-specific analysis — including the 14-day PIP deadlines around Boca Raton Regional Hospital and West Boca Medical Center, the snowbird-season comparative-fault patterns, and the I-95 / Glades Road interchange crash volume — visit our Boca Raton car accident lawyer page.
We also represent car accident victims throughout Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Lantana, and Greenacres.
Broward County Car Accident Cases
From our Parkland office, we serve car accident victims throughout Broward County. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury, Hollywood personal injury, Coral Springs personal injury, Pembroke Pines personal injury, and Miramar personal injury practices each handle local car accident files.
Miami-Dade County & Statewide Coverage
We accept Florida car accident cases statewide — Miami, Hialeah, Doral, Aventura, Kendall, Homestead, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Naples, and the Florida Keys. Call (844) 877-8679 to confirm representation in your area.
All Florida Car Accident City Pages
Related Practice Areas
Related accident practices: Uber accident lawyer, Lyft accident lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, truck accident lawyer, hit-and-run accident lawyer, wrongful death lawyer, and catastrophic injury lawyer.
Why Choose Kaiser Romanello as Your Florida Car Accident Lawyer
Statewide Reach
From Parkland, we serve all of Florida. We know the courts, the intersections, and the ERs that document injuries well.
PIP & Tort Threshold Experience
Florida PIP cases require careful documentation to clear the serious-injury threshold. We've handled hundreds.
HB 837 Defense Preparation
We anticipate insurer comparative-fault attacks and build cases that defeat them from day one.
Trial Experience in Every Venue
17th Circuit Broward. 15th Circuit Palm Beach. 11th Circuit Miami-Dade. When a case doesn't settle, we try it.
No Fee Unless We Win
Contingency fee — you pay nothing up front, and nothing at all unless we recover for you.
Direct Attorney Access
You will speak with the attorneys handling your case — not an intake specialist — from the first call through resolution.
Meet Our Florida Car Accident Lawyers
Lorne Adam Kaiser, Esq.
Lorne has represented injured Floridians in personal injury, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death matters for decades. His practice includes auto, commercial vehicle, rideshare, motorcycle, and trucking cases across Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. Additionally, he has tried cases to verdict in multiple Florida circuits and negotiated recoveries against carriers ranging from personal auto insurers to Fortune 500 self-insured defendants.
- Admitted to the Florida Bar
- Member, Florida Justice Association
- Focus: catastrophic injury & complex liability
Steve Romanello, Esq.
Steve litigates serious injury claims with an emphasis on identifying every responsible defendant — the difference between a policy-limits result and a life-changing recovery. His car accident work spans Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Parkland, and the rest of South Florida.
- Admitted to the Florida Bar
- Member, Florida Justice Association
- Focus: complex liability & trial litigation
Florida Car Accident Lawyer FAQ
What should I do immediately after a car accident in Florida?
Call 911 and get medical attention. Florida PIP requires you to seek treatment within 14 days. Photograph all vehicles, license plates, the scene, and any visible injuries. Get the crash report number from the responding agency (local PD, sheriff's office, or FHP). Finally, do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before calling a Florida car accident lawyer at Kaiser Romanello, P.A. at (844) 877-8679.
What is Florida's 14-day PIP rule and why does it matter?
Florida's no-fault statute (Fla. Stat. §627.736) requires every driver to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). After a crash, you have 14 days to seek initial medical treatment. Miss that window and you forfeit your PIP benefits entirely. The 14-day rule is one of the strictest in the country.
How long do I have to sue after a Florida car crash?
Two years from the date of the crash under Fla. Stat. §95.11 (as amended by HB 837 in March 2023). If you've read elsewhere that Florida gives you four years, that information is outdated. Wrongful death claims also have a two-year window. Claims against governmental entities require notice under Fla. Stat. §768.28 on a much shorter timeline.
How does HB 837's 50% comparative fault rule affect my case?
Before HB 837, Florida used pure comparative negligence. You could be 99% at fault and recover 1%. After HB 837, if a jury finds you 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance defense teams aggressively push comparative-fault allegations — speed, lane position, distracted driving, seat-belt non-use. Defending against this attack is a core part of what your Florida car accident lawyer does.
What if the at-fault driver is uninsured or only has $10,000 of coverage?
This is unfortunately common in Florida. Florida only requires drivers to carry $10K Property Damage liability — not bodily injury. Many at-fault drivers have zero bodily-injury coverage. Consequently, your own UM/UIM auto policy becomes the primary recovery source. Some configurations stack UM/UIM coverage across vehicles in the household. We map every available coverage layer at the start of every Florida car case.
What if I was injured in an Uber or Lyft instead of a regular car?
The coverage analysis is different. Rideshare crashes involve layered TNC coverage that depends on the driver's app status under Fla. Stat. §627.748. Phase 3 rides (passenger in the car) trigger Uber's or Lyft's $1 million commercial policy. See our Florida Uber accident hub and Florida Lyft accident hub for the rideshare-specific framework.
What if the crash happened on I-95 or Florida's Turnpike?
Highway crashes fall under FHP jurisdiction, meaning the crash report comes from Florida Highway Patrol. Highway-speed crashes typically produce the most serious injuries we see. Furthermore, they often involve commercial defendants, road-condition issues, and the deepest insurance recovery layers.
Do I have a case if I live in Boca Raton or elsewhere in Palm Beach County?
Yes — we maintain a deep Palm Beach County practice. For Boca-specific guidance — including local ER documentation, snowbird-season comparative-fault patterns, and 15th Judicial Circuit venue rules — see our Boca Raton car accident lawyer page. We also represent clients in West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, and throughout Palm Beach County.
What will it cost to hire a Florida car accident lawyer?
Nothing up front. Our fee is contingent — we only get paid if we recover compensation for you, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery. The initial case review is free. We advance the costs of investigators, experts, depositions, and filing fees, and we are only reimbursed for those costs if we win. If there's no recovery, you owe nothing.
Talk to a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Today
Free, confidential case review. No fee unless we win. Serving injured Floridians statewide from our Parkland office.
(844) 877-8679 Start Your Free Case ReviewThe hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts. Information on this page is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Kaiser Romanello, P.A., 11555 Heron Bay Boulevard, Suite 200, Parkland, FL 33076.
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“Kaiser Romanello changed my life. They are The Dream Team! Could not recommend them anymore! If you want to get the most money for your personal injury claim call Kaiser Romanello today!”
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“l just got off the phone with Mr. Loren Kaiser for a free consultation and he was absolutely amazing. He was extremely helpful, detail oriented and did not add any “rushed” feeling to the phone call. If I have anything substantial to move forward with, I will proudly utilize this law office. Thank you, Mr. Kaiser, for your help, input and advice! It is greatly appreciated.”
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“Steve and his partner are just very knowledgeable, amazing client service, Steve it is the kind of persons who loves what he is doing, he went about and beyond his lawyer responsibilities in my case, they care about you, If you are looking for professionals at the highest levels, use their services. Not only you will be represented by top lawyers, but you feel like part of the family. Thanks for everything, God bless you.”
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