Florida cut its injury filing deadline in half in 2023. If you were hurt by someone else's negligence, here's what the two-year statute of limitations means for you.
One of the most important — and least understood — rules in a personal injury case is the statute of limitations: the legal deadline to file a lawsuit. In Florida, that deadline changed dramatically, and a lot of people still aren't aware of it.
The deadline is now two years, not four
In March 2023, Florida enacted a sweeping tort-reform law that shortened the statute of limitations for most negligence-based personal injury claims from four years to two years from the date of the injury. For accidents that happened on or after that change, you generally have just two years to file suit.
Why waiting hurts your case long before the deadline
Two years can feel like plenty of time, but evidence doesn't wait. The practical clock is much shorter than the legal one:
- Surveillance and dash-cam footage is often erased within days or weeks
- Witnesses move, forget details, or become hard to reach
- Skid marks, damaged property, and road conditions are cleaned up quickly
- Medical treatment gaps give insurers an argument that you weren't really hurt
Some deadlines are even shorter
Certain claims have their own, tighter rules. Cases involving a government entity (a city vehicle, a public property hazard) require formal written notice — often within a strict window and long before the two years is up. Medical malpractice and other specialized claims follow their own timelines.
What this means for you
If you've been injured, the single most important thing you can do is not wait to at least understand your deadline. You don't have to file suit tomorrow — but you should know how much time you actually have, and you should preserve evidence before it disappears.
A free consultation costs you nothing and can tell you exactly where your case stands and when your clock runs out. If you're unsure, call — it's always better to ask early.