2023 Year in Review: What You Need to Know About Filing a Florida Personal Injury Claim in 2024

Each year, our attorneys publish lots of information for accident victims and families in Florida. If you, your spouse or child, or another close family member has been seriously injured in an accident, it is critical that you make informed decisions about protecting your legal rights. We’re here to help, and we want you to know that we will do everything we can to help you and your family recover.

We published several articles on personal injury claims in 2023. Here is a look back at some of the topics we covered. If you need to file a personal injury claim in 2024, you can use these resources to begin making informed decisions with your family’s long-term best interests in mind:

Florida Personal Injury Law

In Florida, most (but not all) personal injury claims are governed by the law of negligence. In most cases, to recover just compensation, you must be able to prove that someone else’s (or a company’s) negligence led to you or your loved one suffering a serious injury.

Learn more: How to Prove Negligence in a Personal Injury Case in Florida

Along with being able to prove negligence, you must also be able to prove how much you are entitled to recover. This starts with understanding the types of damages that are available under Florida law. Once you know the types of damages that are available to you, then you can begin the process of documenting and calculating your accident-related losses.

Learn more: How to Calculate Damages in a Florida Personal Injury Case

In 2023, Florida enacted a major change to one of its most important personal injury laws. While Florida used to be a “pure comparative negligence” state, it now follows the law of “modified comparative negligence.” This means that accident victims are now barred from recovering just compensation in some cases.

Learn more: Understanding Florida’s Comparative Fault Law and How It Affects Personal Injury Claims

From the role of the insurance companies to hiring a lawyer to represent you, there are several additional key considerations involved in protecting your legal rights after a serious accident. The more you know, the more you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones—and the more you can do to keep the insurance companies from taking advantage of you.

Learn more:

• The Role of Insurance Companies in Florida Personal Injury Cases
• The Importance of Medical Documentation in a Personal Injury Claim in Florida
• Why Hiring an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida Is Essential for Maximizing Compensation

Car Accidents in Florida

Car accident claims are the most common type of personal injury claim in the United States. When dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, it is critical that you are your own advocate—and that you do everything you can to preserve your right to just compensation.

Learn more: How to File a Car Accident Claim in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to protecting your legal rights after a car accident, one of the most important things you can do is seek treatment for your (or your loved one’s) injuries. Your medical records will play an important role in your claim, and documenting the cause of your (or your loved one’s) injuries will help to avoid unnecessary complications.

Learn more: The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Car Accident in Florida

Remember how we said most personal injury claims are governed by the law of negligence? Car accident claims are a major exception—at least in cases involving minor injuries. This is due to Florida’s no-fault car insurance law.

Learn more: What You Need to Know About Florida’s No-Fault Car Insurance Law

While Florida’s no-fault insurance law applies in all cases, car accident victims and their families can still pursue negligence-based claims in cases involving significant and permanent injuries. While these claims present additional challenges, choosing not to file a claim can leave you and your loved ones facing significant and long-term losses.

Learn more:

• The Role of Negligence in Car Accident Cases in Florida
• The Role of Insurance Companies in Florida Car Accident Cases
• Florida Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Stacked vs. Unstacked
• How to Prove Liability in a Car Accident Case in Florida
• The Different Types of Injuries Resulting from Car Accidents in Florida
• The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida

Truck Accidents in Florida

Truck accidents often leave victims facing catastrophic injuries and long roads to recovery. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, the steps you take next could impact your life (or your loved one’s life) for years to come. With this in mind, it is critical to ensure that you know what you need to do in order to protect your right to just compensation.

Learn more: How to Protect Yourself and Your Rights After a Truck Accident in Florida

Truck accidents are unique because they can involve liability on the part of several different parties. When seeking just compensation for a truck accident, you need to know which company (or companies) to sue.

Learn more: Identifying the Defendants in a Florida Truck Accident Case

Regardless of the company (or companies) that are liable for your family’s losses, recovering just compensation will most likely involve dealing with the insurance companies. But, the process of filing an insurance claim is much different from that of filing a claim after an accident involving another non-commercial vehicle.

Learn more: The Role of Insurance Companies in Truck Accident Cases in Florida

Truck accident cases are complex, and recovering the financial compensation you and your loved ones deserve can be challenging. However, asserting your legal rights is important, and you do not have to handle your situation on your own. You can hire a lawyer to handle your truck accident case for you—and you can do so at no out-of-pocket cost.

Learn more:

• The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Truck Accident in Florida
• Understanding the Role of Negligence in Truck Accidents in Florida
• The Legal Process for Filing a Truck Accident Claim in Florida
• The Impact of Comparative Fault in Florida Truck Accident Cases
• The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Florida
• How To Choose a Florida Truck Accident Attorney

Motorcycle Accidents in Florida

Motorcycle accidents also frequently leave victims facing long and difficult roads to recovery. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Florida, there are several important steps that you should try to take as soon as possible.

Learn more: What to Do If You’re Injured in a Florida Motorcycle Accident

In motorcycle accident cases, insurance companies will often try to avoid liability by blaming riders for their own injuries. While this can be a viable defense strategy in some cases, it is often nothing more than a bad-faith insurance tactic. To make sure you don’t settle for less than you deserve, you should make sure you know how Florida’s modified comparative fault law applies to your claim.

Learn more: Comparative Fault’s Impact on Florida Motorcycle Accidents

Since motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries, riders will be entitled to significant financial compensation in many cases. In addition to making sure you know how Florida’s modified comparative fault law applies to your claim, it is also critical to make sure you know how much you are entitled to recover.

Learn more: Calculating Damages in a Florida Motorcycle Accident Case

Slip and Fall Accidents in Florida

After car accidents, slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of serious traumatic injuries. If you or a family member has been injured in one of these accidents, you will want to make sure that you know what you need to do to protect your family’s legal rights.

Learn more: What to Do After a Florida Slip and Fall Injury

Property owners and tenants can both be held liable for slip and fall accidents in appropriate cases. But, depending on the circumstances, other parties could be liable as well. Before you can file a slip and fall accident claim, you first need to know who (or what company) is liable for your family’s losses.

Learn more: Identifying the Defendants in a Slip and Fall Case

Just like car and truck accidents, slip and fall accidents can lead to significant financial and non-financial costs. If a property owner, tenant or other party is liable for these costs, you can (and should) hire a lawyer to help you seek full compensation.

Learn more: Calculating Damages in a Slip and Fall Case

Florida’s new modified comparative fault law also applies in slip and fall accident cases, and when you file a claim, it is important to know what you can expect. By having a clear understanding of your legal rights and setting reasonable expectations, you can ensure that you make informed decisions about settlement.

Learn more:

• How Florida’s Comparative Fault Laws Impact Premises Liability Cases
• What to Expect in a Florida Slip & Fall Case

Pedestrian Accidents in Florida

If you need to file a personal injury claim after a pedestrian accident, there is a lot you need to know. While these situations can be stressful and confusing, help is available, and recovering just compensation usually involves dealing with the insurance companies.

Learn more: Proving Liability After a Florida Pedestrian Accident

The insurance companies will also frequently try to avoid liability for pedestrian accidents by blaming victims for their own injuries. Regardless of what happened, you should not let the insurance companies talk you into believing that you should have done something differently.

Learn more: How Comparative Fault Impacts Florida Pedestrian Accident Cases

While auto insurance covers pedestrian accidents, not all drivers in Florida have liability insurance. If the driver who hit you is underinsured, you will need to work with your personal injury lawyer to assess the other options that you have available.

Learn more: Who To Sue If a Pedestrian is Hit By a Commercial Vehicle

Bicycle Accidents in Florida

If you or your child has been injured in a bicycle accident in Florida, recovering just compensation will start with proving the cause of the accident. Negligent drivers are typically to blame, and if evidence is available, an experienced personal injury lawyer should be able to help you prove your right to just compensation.

Learn more: The Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Florida and How to Avoid Them

Florida law requires bicycle riders under age 16 to wear a helmet. But helmets don’t prevent all injuries, and failure to wear a helmet does not prevent families from seeking just compensation.

Learn more: How Florida’s Helmet Laws Impact Bicycle Accident Cases

Whether you or your child was injured in a bicycle accident, there are some important steps you will want to take promptly. There are also some mistakes that you will want to try to avoid. By knowing what to do (and what not to do), you can significantly increase your chances of a full financial recovery.

Learn more: What to Do After a Florida Bicycle Accident

Boating Accidents in Florida

Boating accidents are a year-round concern in Florida. If you or a member of your family has been injured in a boating accident, it will be important for you to be aware of the laws that apply.

Learn more: Florida’s Boating Accident Laws: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe on the Water

Accidents on the water present some unique challenges when it comes to proving liability. But, evidence is almost always available, and an experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to work quickly to preserve as much evidence as possible.

Learn more: Proving Liability After a Florida Boating Accident

Just like other types of personal injury claims, seeking financial compensation after a boating accident usually means dealing with the insurance companies. With this in mind, it is important to know what to expect—and how to deal with the insurance companies’ efforts to deny just compensation.

Learn more: What to Expect in a Florida Boating Accident Case

Discuss Your Legal Rights with a Personal Injury Lawyer at Searcy Denney for Free

While we hope that you don’t find yourself needing to file a personal injury claim in 2024, we’re here for you if you do. To request a free, no-obligation consultation with a Florida personal injury lawyer at Searcy Denney, please call 800-780-8607 or get in touch online today.