Florida injury law has changed in recent years and if you don’t know the new rules, you could lose your case before it ever gets off the ground.
Under HB 837, Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system.
Key changes that affect every Florida driver:
• If you’re found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing.
• If you’re 50% or less at fault, you can still recover—but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
On top of that, the statute of limitations for negligence cases has been slashed from 4 years to just 2 years. Miss that window, and your claim is gone.
Tampa
juries are already showing how powerful these changes are. In recent Hillsborough County trials, defendants admitted fault, but the jury still gave zero to the injured party because causation or fault percentage tipped the wrong way.
Quick Self-Check: Are you on track?
✅ Did you seek medical care right away?
✅ Are you keeping all treatment records & bills?
✅ Have you avoided giving a “fault-admitting” statement?
✅ Is evidence (photos, videos, witness contacts) preserved?
✅ Have you marked your 2-year deadline on the calendar?
For businesses and property owners, HB 837 also tilted the rules. Slip-and-fall and negligent security claims
now face tighter requirements. Injured parties need stronger evidence up front—and juries are holding them to it.
Our car accident lawyers are very experienced and fully prepared to litigate aggressively on behalf of our clients. There are no up front fees or costs unless we win and our consultations are always free. Reach us by phone, email, or our quick contact form. And if you’re still
unsure, have a look at the reviews we receive.