Personal Injury in Miami
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
If you’ve been injured in Miami, you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal-injury lawsuit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), shortened by 2023’s HB 837) in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court within Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit — or the County Court for smaller claims. Florida is also a no-fault PIP state (Fla. Stat. § 627.736), so your own $10,000 PIP pays first regardless of fault.
Where do I file my case in Miami?
Miami is the seat of Miami-Dade County, and which court hears the case turns on the amount in controversy. Larger claims are filed in the Circuit Court (11th Judicial Circuit); smaller-dollar civil cases go to the County Court. Confirm the current jurisdictional threshold on the court’s official website before you file.
How long do I have to file?
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury (accrued on/after 3/24/2023) | 2 years | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a) |
| Property damage (vehicle) | 4 years | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3) |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from death | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(d) |
| Claim against Miami-Dade County / government | 3-year statute + 6-month presuit notice | Fla. Stat. § 768.28 |
The local court decides where your case is heard; the substantive law lives in our statewide guides. Start with the Florida personal injury hub, then read about car accidents, motorcycle accidents, or wrongful death.
Injury claims run on tight deadlines, and Florida’s modified comparative negligence (Fla. Stat. § 768.81) bars recovery once your share of fault exceeds 50%. To get matched with a local Miami personal-injury attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Local court
Court: Personal injury lawsuits for Miami residents are filed in the Miami-Dade County courts — the Circuit Court (11th Judicial Circuit) for larger claims, and the County Court for smaller-dollar civil cases.
Miami is the seat of Miami-Dade County. Personal injury suits are heard in the Circuit Court within the 11th Judicial Circuit when the amount in controversy exceeds the statutory county-court threshold, while smaller-dollar civil claims go to the County Court. Verify the court's current location, hours, jurisdictional thresholds, and filing procedures on its official website before you file.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Which court hears my injury case in Miami?
- It depends on the amount claimed. Larger personal injury suits are filed in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, part of Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit, while smaller-dollar civil claims go to the County Court. Confirm the current jurisdictional threshold.
- How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Miami?
- Florida sets the deadline by statute, and recent tort reform shortened many negligence claim windows. The local court controls where you file; see our statewide guides for the current filing deadlines and how the law applies.