How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Florida?
Florida law gives most car accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a negligence lawsuit, a window that was shortened from four years in 2023. Miss it, and courts will almost always dismiss the case regardless of how strong it is.
Two years sounds like plenty of time, but insurance negotiations, medical treatment timelines, and evidence gathering consume it faster than most people expect. Witnesses move, camera footage gets overwritten, and vehicles get repaired or scrapped.
There are narrow exceptions that can pause or extend the deadline, such as claims involving minors or defendants who leave the state. Whether one applies to your situation is a question worth asking early, not in month twenty-three.