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Florida Personal Injury FAQs

Your Complete Guide to Florida Accident Claims, Insurance, Medical Bills, Settlements & Lawsuits

Serving St. Augustine • Ponte Vedra • Nocatee • St. Johns County • Palm Coast • Jacksonville • Northeast Florida

When you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, questions arise almost immediately. Should you go to the emergency room? Who pays your medical bills? Should you speak with the insurance adjuster? How long do you have to file a lawsuit? What is your case worth?

14 Attorneys and 300+ Years of Combined Experience

At St. Johns Law Group, we believe educated clients make better decisions. This Florida Personal Injury FAQ Resource Center answers many of the questions we hear every day from accident victims throughout Northeast Florida. Whether you were injured in a car accident, truck collision, slip and fall, motorcycle crash, boating accident, or another negligence-related incident, this guide provides practical information to help you understand the legal process.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every personal injury case is unique. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Why Trust St. Johns Law Group?

Personal injury claims often involve more than simply negotiating with an insurance company.

Personal Attention – speak directly to Attorney Josh Saxon.

Successful representation may require:

Investigating how the accident occurred
Preserving critical evidence
Reviewing medical records
Evaluating insurance coverage
Calculating present and future damages
Working with medical, vocational, or accident reconstruction experts when appropriate
Preparing the case for mediation or trial if settlement cannot be reached

Our attorneys represent injured clients throughout St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Ponte Vedra, Palm Coast, Jacksonville, and Northeast Florida.

What to Do Immediately After an Accident
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Medical Treatment Questions
Insurance Questions
Compensation & Damages
Car Accident FAQs
Truck Accident FAQs
Motorcycle Accident FAQs
Slip & Fall FAQs
Wrongful Death FAQs
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Jury Trials & Mediation
Attorney Fees & Costs
Frequently Overlooked Questions
Free Resources & Calculators

Part 1 – What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident?

What should I do immediately after an accident?

Your health and safety should always come first. Depending on the circumstances:

Call 911 if emergency assistance is needed.
Seek appropriate medical care.
Report the accident to law enforcement or the property owner.
Exchange contact and insurance information.
Photograph the scene, vehicles, property damage, and visible injuries if it is safe to do so.
Obtain witness names and contact information.
Preserve damaged property and receipts.
Avoid admitting fault or speculating about the cause of the accident.

Should I call the police?

If law enforcement responds to the scene, an official report may become an important piece of evidence. Even in situations where a report is not legally required, reporting an accident may help document what occurred.

What evidence should I preserve?

Helpful evidence may include:

Police reports
Incident reports
Medical records
Medical bills
Vehicle damage
Repair estimates
Photographs and videos
Witness information
Dash camera footage
Surveillance video
Cell phone photographs
Employment records showing lost wages
Receipts for accident-related expenses

The sooner evidence is preserved, the better.

What if I don’t feel injured immediately?

Some injuries—including concussions, soft tissue injuries, spinal injuries, and internal injuries—may not present symptoms immediately. If symptoms develop after an accident, seek appropriate medical evaluation promptly.

Part 2 – Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Do I need a personal injury attorney?

Not every accident requires legal representation. However, consulting an attorney may be beneficial if:

You suffered significant injuries.
Liability is disputed.
Multiple parties may be responsible.
A commercial vehicle was involved.
Future medical treatment is expected.
The insurance company denies or undervalues your claim.

When should I contact an attorney?

Speaking with an attorney early can help preserve evidence, identify witnesses, review insurance coverage, and ensure important deadlines are not overlooked.

What does a personal injury attorney do?

Depending on the case, an attorney may:

Investigate the accident
Gather evidence
Review medical records
Evaluate damages
Negotiate with insurers
Coordinate expert witnesses
File lawsuits
Conduct discovery
Represent clients at mediation
Prepare cases for trial

Part 3 – Medical Treatment Questions

How soon should I see a doctor?

If you believe you have been injured, seek medical evaluation as soon as reasonably possible.

For qualifying Florida motor vehicle accidents involving Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, certain PIP benefits generally require initial medical services and care within 14 days of the accident.

Can I choose my own doctor?

Depending on the circumstances, you may have options regarding where you receive treatment. The appropriate provider may depend on your injuries, insurance coverage, and medical needs.

What if I already had a prior injury?

A pre-existing condition does not necessarily prevent recovery. In some cases, an accident may aggravate an existing condition. Medical records and expert opinions often play an important role in evaluating these issues.

Can I recover future medical expenses?

Potentially. Future medical expenses may be recoverable when supported by competent medical evidence demonstrating that future treatment is reasonably necessary and related to the injuries.

What is Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)?

MMI generally refers to the point at which a patient has recovered as much as reasonably expected, even if some permanent symptoms remain. Reaching MMI may be an important milestone in evaluating future damages, impairment, and settlement discussions.

Part 4 – Insurance Questions

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Florida’s no-fault system generally requires many drivers to carry PIP coverage. PIP may help pay certain medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident, subject to policy terms and statutory requirements.

What is bodily injury liability coverage?

Bodily injury liability insurance may provide coverage when an insured driver is legally responsible for injuries suffered by another person. Coverage depends on the policy, available limits, and the facts of the accident.

What is uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage?

UM/UIM coverage may provide protection if the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or insufficient coverage. Whether this coverage is available depends on the policy and the circumstances.

Should I give a recorded statement?

Insurance companies often request recorded statements shortly after an accident. Before providing detailed statements about fault or injuries, consider understanding your legal rights and the potential effect of those statements on your claim.

Should I accept the first settlement offer?

Early settlement offers may not account for future medical treatment, lost earning capacity, or long-term effects of an injury. Carefully evaluate any proposed settlement before signing a release.

Part 5 – Compensation & Damages

What damages may be recoverable?

Depending on the facts and applicable law, damages may include:

Economic Damages

Past medical expenses
Future medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of future earning capacity
Property damage
Out-of-pocket expenses

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life
Permanent disability
Scarring or disfigurement

How is pain and suffering calculated?

There is no fixed formula. Factors that may influence these damages include:

Severity of the injury
Length of treatment
Permanent impairment
Emotional impact
Daily limitations
Credibility of the evidence
Strength of liability proof

How much is my personal injury case worth?

Every case is unique. Potential value depends on numerous factors, including liability, medical treatment, future damages, insurance coverage, and comparative fault.

TRY THE ONLINE INJURY CALCULATOR – CLICK HERE

Part 6 – Car Accident FAQs

What if the other driver was texting?

Evidence such as phone records, witness testimony, surveillance footage, or vehicle data may help establish distracted driving, depending on the circumstances.

What if the other driver fled the scene?

Hit-and-run accidents may involve additional insurance issues, including UM coverage. Prompt reporting to law enforcement is often important.

What if multiple vehicles were involved?

Multi-vehicle accidents frequently involve complex questions regarding comparative fault, insurance coverage, and accident reconstruction.

Part 7 – Truck Accident FAQs

Why are truck accident cases different?

Commercial trucking cases may involve additional evidence, including:

Driver qualification files
Electronic logging devices
Maintenance records
Black box data
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
Cargo documentation

Part 8 – Slip & Fall FAQs

What must be proven in a slip and fall case?

Every case depends on its facts. Generally, liability may depend on issues such as the existence of a dangerous condition, notice, reasonable maintenance, and causation.

Can I sue if I fell at a business?

Potentially. Whether a business may be legally responsible depends on the facts, including the condition of the premises and applicable Florida law.

Part 9 – Wrongful Death FAQs

Who may bring a wrongful death claim?

Florida law generally requires the personal representative of the estate to bring a wrongful death action on behalf of eligible survivors.

What damages may be available?

Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:

Funeral expenses
Medical expenses
Lost support
Loss of companionship
Certain mental pain and suffering damages
Estate damages

Part 10 – Personal Injury Lawsuits

How long do I have to file a lawsuit?

The applicable deadline depends on the type of claim, the date the claim accrued, and other legal considerations. Different rules may apply to negligence claims, wrongful death actions, medical malpractice cases, and claims involving government entities. Missing a deadline may bar recovery.

What happens after a lawsuit is filed?

Although every case is different, litigation may include:

Filing the complaint
Service of process
Written discovery
Depositions
Expert witness disclosures
Mediation
Pretrial motions
Jury trial
Appeal, if necessary

Part 11 – Mediation & Jury Trials

Will my case go to trial?

Many personal injury cases settle before trial. However, some disputes require litigation when liability or damages cannot be resolved through negotiation.

At St. Johns Law Group, we prepare cases thoroughly so we are ready to advocate for our clients in mediation or at trial when necessary.

What is mediation?

Mediation is a confidential settlement conference conducted by a neutral mediator. The mediator does not decide the outcome but assists the parties in exploring whether a voluntary settlement can be reached.

Part 12 – Attorney Fees

How are attorney’s fees paid?

Many Florida personal injury matters are handled on a contingency fee basis. Under a contingency fee agreement, attorney’s fees are generally earned only if there is a recovery, subject to the fee agreement and applicable Florida Bar rules.

No Fees Unless You Recover – Free Consultations

Part 13 – Frequently Overlooked Questions

Should I post about my accident on social media?

It is generally wise to avoid discussing your accident, injuries, or claim publicly while the matter is pending. Social media content may become relevant evidence in some cases.

Can I recover if I had a pre-existing condition?

Possibly. An accident that aggravates an existing injury or medical condition may still support a claim, depending on the facts and medical evidence.

How long does a personal injury case take?

There is no standard timeline. The duration of a case may depend on the severity of the injuries, the length of medical treatment, liability disputes, insurance coverage, expert analysis, and court scheduling.

Free Resources from St. Johns Law Group

To help accident victims better understand the claims process, we invite you to explore our educational resources:

These resources are designed to provide general information and should not be considered legal advice.

Why Choose St. Johns Law Group?

Choosing a personal injury attorney is an important decision. At St. Johns Law Group, we focus on providing responsive communication, careful case preparation, and practical guidance throughout every stage of the claims process.

Our team assists clients with:

Whether your case resolves through negotiation, mediation, or trial, our goal is to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation available under Florida law.

Schedule a FREE Consultation

If you have questions about a personal injury claim, contact St. Johns Law Group to schedule a confidential consultation. We can evaluate your circumstances, explain the legal process, discuss applicable deadlines, and help you understand your options based on the specific facts of your case.

Call (904) 495-0400 today for a free consultation.

At St. Johns Law Group, we are committed to delivering the Dedicated & Responsive Service® you deserve.

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Florida Personal Injury FAQ | Questions Every Accident Victim Should Ask