Orlando Accident Law Snapshot

Orlando Car Accident Claims

Legal Options After a Car Accident in Orlando In Orlando, accident victims may file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Florida follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar under HB 837 (Fla. Stat. §768.81), effective March 24, 2023 - recovery is barred when fault exceeds 50%. Victims may seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Timely action is important because Florida gives two years to file personal injury claims under HB 837.

Orlando state map

Quick Facts

  • Statute: 2 years from the accident date (HB 837, eff. March 24, 2023).
  • Fault Rule: Modified comparative negligence, 51% bar (HB 837, eff. March 24, 2023 - barred if fault exceeds 50%).
  • Minimum Coverage: $10,000 bodily injury per person / $20,000 per accident / $10,000 property damage.

Key Facts for Orlando Accident Claims

Statute of Limitations

2 years from the accident date (HB 837, eff. March 24, 2023).

Personal injury claims

Fault System

Modified comparative negligence, 51% bar (HB 837, eff. March 24, 2023 - barred if fault exceeds 50%).

Comparative fault rules

Min. Liability Coverage

$10,000 bodily injury per person / $20,000 per accident / $10,000 property damage.

State minimums

Uninsured Motorist

Must be offered unless rejected in writing.

Coverage status

Statute of Limitations in Orlando

For accidents on or after March 24, 2023, generally two years from the date of the accident applies to Orlando personal injury lawsuits under HB 837. Older claims may still be governed by the previous four-year rule, and property damage claims generally still have a four-year filing period. Acting promptly ensures that evidence and witness testimony are preserved, which is critical for both insurance claims and lawsuits.

Don't Wait: Evidence can disappear and memories fade. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Orlando's Fault System

Florida follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar under HB 837 (Fla. Stat. §768.81), effective March 24, 2023. Injured parties may recover damages only if their share of fault does not exceed 50%. A plaintiff found 51% or more at fault is barred from recovery. For example, 30% fault reduces compensation by 30%. This system promotes fairness but requires strong documentation to protect your rights.

Injured in a Orlando accident?

Connect with an experienced FL attorney now.

Insurance Requirements

Orlando drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of 10/20/10. Liability insurance pays for injuries or damage caused to others. Uninsured motorist coverage must be offered by insurers but may be rejected. Maintaining UM coverage provides important protection in accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

For accidents on or after March 24, 2023, generally two years from the date of the accident applies to an Orlando personal injury lawsuit under Florida's HB 837 deadline. This is a firm cutoff for the lawsuit itself, separate from any earlier notice deadlines your own insurance policy may require. Tourist traffic and seasonal visitors around Orlando's attractions can make witnesses harder to track down as time passes, so early documentation matters. Gathering police reports and contact information for witnesses soon after the crash protects your ability to prove the case later.

Yes, as long as your fault does not exceed 50%. Florida's modified comparative negligence rule under HB 837 bars recovery when fault exceeds 50%, but someone found 30% responsible still recovers the remaining 70% of their damages. Insurers frequently try to assign injured drivers a higher fault percentage to trigger the 51% bar or lower what they pay out. Strong documentation, including the police report and any available dashcam or intersection footage, helps counter an inflated fault estimate before it becomes the basis for a settlement offer.

Orlando drivers must carry Florida's minimum liability coverage of 10/20/10: $10,000 bodily injury per person, $20,000 per accident, and $10,000 in property damage. Those bodily injury limits are often too low to cover serious injuries from a highway or intersection collision, leaving a gap between medical costs and what the at-fault driver's policy pays. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can step in to cover that gap. It's worth confirming the at-fault driver's actual coverage early rather than assuming the state minimum applies.

Florida law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage on every auto policy, but a driver can reject it in writing, so it isn't automatically included. This coverage becomes critical when an Orlando crash involves a driver with no insurance or insufficient limits to cover your injuries. Without it, you may have to rely solely on your health insurance and out-of-pocket payments for medical care. Reviewing your policy's declarations page is the only reliable way to confirm whether you carry UM coverage before an accident happens.

Get Help from a Orlando Attorney

Our Orlando accident attorneys are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Free case review, no fee unless you win.

Call Now Free Review