What is the Truck Accident Statute of Limitations in Florida?

Hurt in a truck accident in Florida? You have the right to bring a claim for financial compensation, but it is very much time-sensitive. The statute of limitations in Florida is two-years for fault-based truck accident injury claims. It is four years for a property damage only claim. However, you have less time to bring a no-fault case through your own insurance. Within this article, our Miami semi-truck accident attorney provides a comprehensive guide to the statute of limitations.
Truck Accident Injury Claims in Florida are Time-Sensitive (Two Years)
You have a limited amount of time to bring a fault-based truck accident injury claim in Florida. Florida law gives injured victims a limited window to file a fault-based truck accident claim. Under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4), a person hurt in a commercial vehicle crash must file a personal-injury lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident. The statute of limitations are strict. There are only very narrow exceptions to the statute of limitations. If you fail to file your lawsuit in a timely manner, you could lose out on the right to take legal action at all. Take a proactive approach: Consult with a Miami, FL tractor trailer accident attorney right away.
Four Years for Property Damage Claims in Florida
Some truck accident cases involve significant vehicle damage but no bodily injury. Florida treats those claims differently. Property-damage-only cases fall under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3), which allows four years to bring a civil action. To be clear, the longer window does not apply to any claim involving physical harm. The distinction matters because trucks often cause catastrophic vehicle losses, and victims may need time to determine the full value of repairs or replacement. If you have a personal injury claim or a truck accident in Florida, the statute of limitations is just two years.
You Have Less Time to Take Action for Your No-Fault Claim (Very Time Sensitive)
Florida’s no-fault system imposes its own strict timing rules. To qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under Fla. Stat. § 627.736, an injured person must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash. Miss that deadline and most PIP benefits are forfeited. PIP applies regardless of fault and can cover initial medical bills and lost wages, but the time frame is unforgiving. Commercial truck crashes can cause injuries that appear minor at first. Delayed care not only undermines your health but it also weakens a later negligence claim by giving insurers room to dispute causation. The no-fault claim itself must also be filed promptly with your insurer. While Florida does not specify a precise filing deadline, policies often require “immediate” or “timely” notice. Insurers use late notice as a basis to deny or reduce coverage. To protect both PIP benefits and a potential fault-based claim, injured victims should take action as soon as possible.
Call Our Miami, FL Truck Accident Lawyer Today
At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our Miami eighteen wheeler accident attorney puts victims and families first. If you have any questions about the statute of limitations for a truck accident, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free, no obligation case review. From our Miami office, we handle eighteen wheeler accident cases in Miami-Dade County and throughout all of South Florida.
