How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida after a car accident?
Florida's HB 837, signed in March 2023, reduced the statute of limitations for most negligence-based personal injury claims from four years to two years. The deadline begins on the date of the accident under Florida Statutes § 95.11. Missing this two-year window eliminates your right to seek compensation through the courts regardless of fault.
What does Florida's no-fault insurance actually cover after a Broward County car crash?
Florida's Personal Injury Protection covers up to 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses and 60 percent of lost wages, capped at $10,000 total. You must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to qualify. Without an emergency medical condition determination from a qualified provider, benefits are capped at $2,500 instead of the full $10,000.
When can I sue the other driver instead of relying on my own PIP insurance in Florida?
Florida law allows you to step outside the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver when your injuries meet the serious injury threshold under Florida Statutes § 627.737. That threshold requires a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, or significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
What happens if the at-fault driver in my Pompano Beach accident has no insurance?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage becomes your primary recovery source when the at-fault driver carries no bodily injury liability insurance or flees the scene. Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage, which means many at-fault drivers have no policy to pay your claim beyond PIP.
Am I more than 50 percent at fault — can I still recover compensation in Florida?
No. Florida's modified comparative negligence rule, enacted through HB 837 in 2023, bars recovery entirely when a plaintiff is found 51 percent or more at fault. If your share of fault is 50 percent or less, your compensation is reduced by your fault percentage. Insurance companies regularly use this rule to shift blame and reduce or deny payouts.
Does Florida law require a real estate attorney at closing?
Florida does not legally require a buyer or seller to hire an attorney for a residential real estate closing. A title company can conduct the closing independently. An attorney, however, reviews the legal implications of every document, identifies title defects a title company may miss, and protects your interests if disputes arise before, during, or after the transaction.
What title problems delay real estate closings in Broward County?
Unsatisfied liens from unpaid contractors, overdue property taxes, and past-due HOA assessments are the three most common title defects in Broward County closings. Unreleased mortgages — where a prior lender never filed a satisfaction of mortgage — also appear frequently in South Florida. A thorough title search conducted early in the transaction identifies these problems before they threaten your closing date.
Should I use a title company or a real estate attorney for my South Florida closing?
A title company issues title insurance and coordinates the closing, but works for the title insurer rather than for you. A real estate attorney works exclusively for the buyer or seller who hired them. In Broward County, the buyer customarily selects the title company and pays the premium, but retaining your own attorney ensures someone at the table is reviewing every document solely to protect your interests.
What is the difference between an as-is contract and a standard contract in Florida real estate?
An as-is contract limits the buyer's ability to request repairs after inspection. The seller agrees to sell the property in its current condition, and the buyer's primary remedy is to cancel the contract within the inspection period. A standard Florida residential contract allows the buyer to request repairs up to a negotiated dollar amount and gives the seller the option to make repairs or cancel.
How does Mark T. Stern's insurance background help personal injury clients?
Mark spent nine years as a casualty claims adjuster and litigation specialist at Farmers/Zurich Insurance and Walsh Claim Services before practicing law. He evaluated injuries, prepared defense litigation plans, and negotiated bodily injury claims on behalf of the insurer. That experience means he anticipates the specific tactics adjusters use to delay, undervalue, or deny claims — and he documents cases accordingly from the start.
Mounting medical bills and a two-year filing deadline leave no room to wait. Mark T. Stern brings nine years of insurance-side experience to your case. Call (954) 772-6800 today.
