{"id":1529,"date":"2026-08-13T01:46:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T01:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-74-180-255.nip.io\/catastrophic-truck-accident-injuries\/florida-truck-accident-statute-of-limitations\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T21:24:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T21:24:30","slug":"florida-truck-accident-statute-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/catastrophic-truck-accident-injuries\/florida-truck-accident-statute-of-limitations\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Truck Accident Statute of Limitations Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Truck Accidents \u00b7 Florida<\/p>

The Clock Is Already Running on Your Florida Truck Accident Claim<\/h1>

After a catastrophic truck crash, Florida law puts a hard deadline on your right to seek justice. Here's how the statute of limitations works \u2014 and why acting early matters.<\/p>\n

Request a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div>
Request a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Guidance from licensed Florida attorneys<\/h2>\n

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2 Years<\/h3>

Standard deadline for most recent crashes<\/p><\/div>

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Nationwide<\/h3>

Catastrophic injury cases handled<\/p><\/div>

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Bilingual<\/h3>

English & Spanish resources<\/p><\/div>

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FL Bar<\/h3>

Florida Bar\u2013admitted attorneys<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published August 01, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Injury Claim in Florida?<\/h2>\n

In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of a truck crash to file a personal-injury lawsuit.<\/strong> That two-year clock applies to most crashes that happened on or after March 24, 2023. Older crashes usually fall under a longer four-year deadline. This deadline is called the Florida truck accident statute of limitations<\/strong>, and missing it can end your case before it starts.<\/p>\n

A statute of limitations is simply a legal deadline to file a lawsuit. After it passes, the court will almost always refuse to hear your case forever. That’s true even when the injury is catastrophic and the fault is clear.<\/p>\n

We know how fast this deadline can sneak up. In the catastrophic-injury cases our attorneys handle \u2014 spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputations, and severe burns \u2014 families are focused on survival, surgeries, and rehab. Legal deadlines feel like the last thing on their minds. But the clock keeps running anyway.<\/p>\n

This page explains the deadline in plain language. It is general information, not legal advice. Your exact deadline depends on your specific facts, so have a licensed attorney confirm it.<\/p>\n\n

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If you've lost a loved one in a truck crash, you don't have to sort this out alone. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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The short answer: how long you have to file a Florida truck accident claim<\/h2>\n

For most Florida truck crashes on or after March 24, 2023, you generally have two years from the crash date to sue. That deadline comes from Florida’s negligence statute, Fla. Stat. \u00a795.11<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here’s what that means in practice. If your truck crash happened on June 1, 2024, your deadline to file a lawsuit is usually June 1, 2026. If you file even one day late, the court can throw the case out.<\/p>\n

Crashes before March 24, 2023, generally fall under the older four-year deadline. We explain that below.<\/p>\n

The deadline can arrive faster than families expect. A spinal cord injury or a TBI often means months of hospital stays and rehab. Two years sounds like plenty of time \u2014 until you realize how much a serious case takes to build.<\/p>\n

Florida’s 2-year deadline: what HB 837 changed<\/h2>\n

Florida cut its general injury deadline from four years to two years through House Bill 837, which took effect March 24, 2023. This change is now reflected in Fla. Stat. \u00a795.11<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Before HB 837, injured people had four years to file most negligence claims. Now most truck and car crash victims have only two. The countdown generally starts on the date of the crash.<\/p>\n

A shorter deadline hurts complex truck cases the most. Truck claims need real investigation \u2014 driver records, company policies, and physical evidence. Two years leaves far less room for that work. That’s why early action matters so much.<\/p>\n

Grandfathered claims: what if my truck accident was before March 2023?<\/h2>\n

Crashes that happened before March 24, 2023, generally keep the older four-year deadline. The cutoff turns on the date of the crash, not the date you file.<\/p>\n

This matters if your crash happened close to that line. A case from early 2023 could fall under either rule, depending on the exact day. That’s not something to guess about.<\/p>\n

Have an attorney review the exact crash date and confirm which deadline applies. Getting this wrong can cost you the entire claim.<\/p>\n

The deadline is different when someone is killed: wrongful death claims<\/h2>\n

When a truck crash causes a death, the family may bring a wrongful death claim, and its two-year deadline generally runs from the date of death \u2014 not the date of the crash. A death is the most catastrophic outcome of all, and Florida law treats these claims separately.<\/p>\n

Usually, the personal representative of the person’s estate files the claim. They do so on behalf of surviving family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents.<\/p>\n

These cases take time to set up. The family may need to open a probate estate and name a representative before filing. Evidence from the crash must also be preserved quickly.<\/p>\n

If you’ve lost a loved one in a truck crash, you don’t have to sort this out alone. Speaking with an attorney early gives your family time to handle these steps carefully.<\/p>\n

Exceptions that can shorten or extend your deadline<\/h2>\n

Some narrow exceptions can pause, shorten, or shift the deadline \u2014 but they are fact-specific and easy to misjudge. Never assume one applies without legal review.<\/p>\n

Here are the main ones:<\/p>\n