No one wakes up thinking today will be the day everything changes. But then it does. One careless moment, one unexpected injury and suddenly, your world shifts.

In the days that follow, there’s pain, confusion, paperwork… and silence. A quiet question begins to creep in: What now? Or, more urgently, how long do I have before I lose the opportunity to file a personal injury claim?

It's odd how time passes after an accident. You feel like you should have plenty of it, until someone tells you otherwise.

The truth is, Florida’s injury laws are not as generous with time as they used to be. And that’s not just a legal technicality; it’s a detail that could decide whether your claim stands or falls.

1) If You Were Injured Before March 24, 2023, Here's What Applied

If your injury happened on or before March 24, 2023, the time you had to file a personal injury claim was a little more generous. Florida law gave injured individuals up to 4 years to bring a lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries. That was the general rule.

But of course, not every situation falls under the same umbrella.

• Wrongful Death Claims Were Treated Differently

In cases where the injury resulted in the tragic loss of life, the timeline was shorter. The law allowed 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These cases tend to move faster, not just legally, but emotionally too. So the state gave less time to act.

• Medical Malpractice Had Its Own Clock

Now, if your case involved medical negligence—say a doctor’s mistake or a misdiagnosis—the deadline was also 2 years. These types of claims are complex and often require expert testimony, so that shorter window made it all the more important to get legal guidance early on.

• Uninsured Motorist Claims Followed Contract Law

Then there’s the situation where you’re dealing with your own insurance company—specifically your uninsured motorist coverage. These cases are handled a bit differently because they’re based on your policy contract. In those situations, you typically had up to 5 years to file a claim. That extra time reflected the nature of a contractual dispute rather than a traditional injury lawsuit.

• For Most Injuries, You Had Four Years

So if your case involved something like a car accident, a slip and fall, or any type of injury caused by someone else’s carelessness, that four-year window was the standard. It gave people enough time to recover, assess their situation, and figure out the next steps.

2) Injured After March 25, 2023? Here's What Changed

On March 25, 2023, the clock started ticking a little faster for injury victims in Florida. That’s when a major change in the law took effect, and it’s one that anyone filing a personal injury claim needs to know.

• The Statute of Limitations Was Cut in Half

Before this date, most people had four years to file a lawsuit after an injury. But under the new Florida statute of limitations for personal injury claims, that window was reduced to just 2 years.

That means if you were injured on or after March 25, 2023, you now have 2 years from the date of the incident to take legal action. Whether it was a car accident, trip and fall, or any injury caused by someone else’s negligence—that two-year deadline applies.

Not sure how this affects your case?

Attorney Rob Johnson breaks it down clearly in this short video, so you know exactly what to expect:

• Why This Change Matters for Injury Victims

It may not seem like a significant difference at first. However, in the legal world, two years can pass quickly—especially when you're focused on healing, dealing with insurance, and getting your life back on track.

3) Waiting Comes at a Cost: Don’t Let Time Take Away Your Options

When it comes to filing a personal injury claim, time is both a deadline and a strategy. The earlier you take action, the more control you have over the direction of your case.

• Evidence Doesn’t Wait

The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to gather the proof you need. Video footage can be erased, scene conditions change, and critical documents can go missing. Even things like vehicle damage or unsafe property conditions might get repaired—eliminating key pieces of your case.

• People Forget Details

It’s natural. Witnesses who were sharp and certain at the time of the accident might start to second-guess themselves months later. Their memory fades, and their confidence in what they saw weakens. The sooner statements are taken, the more reliable they are—and the stronger your case becomes.

• Insurance Companies Move Fast And So Should You

Insurance adjusters often reach out quickly after an accident, sometimes before you’ve even seen a doctor. Why? Because they know the sooner they catch you off guard, the better chance they have of minimizing your claim. Acting fast levels the playing field.

The sooner we step in, the sooner we can secure the evidence, talk to witnesses, and start building your case.

4) What If You’re Not Sure How Much Time You Have? Here's What a Lawyer Can Tell You That the Law Can't

The majority of people don't prepare for mishaps. And when they happen, time becomes a strange thing. It speeds up and slows down all at once. One moment, you're just trying to catch your breath. And then you're told that you might have already waited too long.

That’s why guessing is never the answer. Laws change. Exceptions exist. And what applied to someone else’s case may not apply to yours.

More than 50% of personal injury plaintiffs don’t pursue legal action within the statute of limitations because they don’t realize how short the window is.
Source – Florida Bar Journal, 2023

And just like that, the door can close before you even know it was there.

That's what we say to help you, not to frighten you. Because if you were hurt and you’re still unsure whether you have a claim, the best thing you can do is ask. A simple conversation could mean the difference between recovery and regret.

Carter Injury Law is here to help you figure that out. Call us today at 813-922-0228 or visit carterinjurylaw.com. Let’s find out what time you have before it slips away.