Legal Guidance From A Personal Injury Attorney In Tampa Bay

At Licznerski Law, PLLC, I understand that suffering a personal injury because of someone else’s negligence can be a traumatic and life-altering experience. You may be facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, physical pain and emotional distress. My name is Alexander Licznerski, and I am committed to providing compassionate yet determined representation to victims of negligence.

Whether your situation involves a car accident, a slip-and-fall or another incident that has caused injury, I am here to fight for your rights and help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call my Tampa Bay law office at 813-934-3519 or set up a consultation through my online contact form.

My Personal Injury Practice Areas

I handle various types of personal injury cases, including those involving the following:

• Automobile/car accidents: I understand the confusion and stress that can occur after a car accident injury. I meticulously investigate each case to determine fault and liability, working to try to ensure that my clients receive maximum compensation for their injuries.
• Trucking wrecks: Trucking accidents often involve complex regulations and significant injuries. I have the skills and knowledge to handle these cases and fight for my clients’ rights against trucking companies and their insurers.
• Motorcycle collisions: Motorcycle accidents can result in severe injuries because motorcycles don’t provide the same level of protection that cars do. I am committed to advocating for motorcyclists and working to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.
• Pedestrian accidents: Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable in accidents. I fight on behalf of those injured by negligent drivers to secure the necessary support for their recovery.
• Golf cart and low-speed vehicle accidents. Injuries in and around the golf cart communities of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, where coverage questions can be complicated.
• Boating and watercraft accidents. Injuries caused by careless or impaired operators on the Gulf, rivers and springs of the Nature Coast.
• Rideshare and delivery driver accidents. Crashes involving Uber, Lyft and app-based delivery drivers, where coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of impact.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. Claims against your own insurance company when the at-fault driver has little or no coverage.
• Premises liability/slip-and-falls: Property owners have a responsibility to maintain safe premises. When my clients have been injured because of unsafe conditions, I fight for their rights.
• Medical malpractice: I understand the devastating impact of medical errors, so I selectively accept medical malpractice cases, ensuring thorough investigation and aggressive representation.
• Dog bite injuries: Dog owners are responsible for taking measures that will prevent their dogs from biting others. When clients have been bitten and injured by dogs, I help them seek compensation.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)/spinal cord injuries: These injuries can have long-lasting effects. I am dedicated to securing the resources necessary for my clients’ long-term care and recovery.
• Wrongful death: When a family loses someone because of another person’s carelessness, the grief is compounded by financial pressure and unanswered questions. I work alongside families during some of the hardest moments of their lives to pursue the accountability and compensation they deserve.
• PIP denials and insurance disputes. Insurance coverage litigation is a core part of my practice, so I know how carriers evaluate, delay and deny claims, and how to hold them accountable.

If your situation falls into any of these categories, I want to hear what happened and tell you honestly what your options look like.

Florida’s Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims

If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, Florida law gives you a limited window to file a lawsuit — and that window is shorter than most people realize. For causes of action accruing on or after March 24, 2023, Florida’s statute of limitations for general negligence claims is two years from the date of the accident or injury. This is a significant change from the previous four-year window, and it catches a lot of injured Floridians off guard.

There are exceptions. Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year limitations period, but it runs from the date of death, not the date of the underlying incident. Claims against government entities — for example, an accident involving a city vehicle or a dangerous condition on public property — come with their own notice requirements and deadlines that are far stricter and far less forgiving than claims against private individuals or companies. And if the injured person is a minor, the clock generally doesn’t start running until they turn 18.

In some cases, Florida’s “discovery rule” may extend the deadline — for instance, when an injury isn’t immediately apparent and only becomes known sometime after the incident. But these are narrow exceptions, not a substitute for acting quickly.

Here’s the bottom line: missing your filing deadline doesn’t just weaken your case — it ends it. Once the statute of limitations runs out, Florida courts will not allow your claim to proceed, no matter how strong the evidence or how serious the injury. And the risks aren’t limited to the deadline itself. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance companies use every day that passes to their advantage. If you’ve been injured, the smartest move is to talk to an attorney as soon as possible — not when the deadline is approaching.

At Licznerski Law, PLLC, we don’t wait until the last minute, and neither should you. The sooner we’re involved, the more options we have to protect your claim.

Factors That Affect the Value of a Personal Injury Claim in Florida

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, one of the first questions on your mind is probably: what is my case worth? The honest answer is that no two cases are identical, and the value of a personal injury claim depends on a combination of factors that are unique to your situation. Here is what matters most.

The Severity and Nature of Your Injuries

The more serious your injuries, the higher the potential value of your claim. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, nerve damage, and injuries requiring surgery typically result in significantly higher compensation than soft tissue injuries that resolve quickly. Permanent injuries, scarring, and disfigurement also carry substantial weight in determining value.

Your Medical Treatment and Expenses

The amount you have spent — and will spend in the future — on medical care is one of the most concrete measures of your damages. This includes emergency room visits, surgeries, hospitalizations, physical therapy, chiropractic care, pain management, medication, and any future treatment your doctors anticipate you will need. Gaps in treatment or delays in seeking care can be used by the defense to argue that your injuries were not serious, which is why consistent and documented medical care matters.

Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity

If your injuries kept you out of work, you are entitled to recover the income you lost during your recovery. If your injuries are severe enough to affect your ability to work in the future — whether by limiting the type of work you can do or reducing the hours you can work — the loss of future earning capacity can represent a significant portion of your claim’s value.

Pain and Suffering

Florida law allows injured victims to seek compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and diminished enjoyment of life that result from their injuries. These are called non-economic damages, and while they are harder to quantify than medical bills, they are often the largest component of a personal injury recovery. The severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, and the impact on your daily life all factor into this calculation.

Liability and Comparative Fault

Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you will be barred from recovering altogether. The clearer the liability is against the other party, the stronger your claim. Disputed liability cases carry more risk and can affect settlement value.

The Available Insurance Coverage

Even a strong case is limited by the insurance coverage available to compensate you. If the at-fault driver has minimum policy limits and no significant personal assets, your recovery may be constrained. Identifying all potential sources of insurance coverage — including underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy — is a critical part of maximizing your recovery.

The Quality of Your Evidence

Documentation is everything in a personal injury case. Accident reports, photographs, witness statements, surveillance footage, medical records, and expert testimony all strengthen your claim. The stronger your evidence, the more leverage you have in negotiations and at trial.

Whether Your Case Goes to Trial

Insurance companies settle most cases before trial, but the willingness and ability of your attorney to take a case to a jury significantly affects how much an insurer is willing to offer. Insurers track litigation history. They know which attorneys try cases and which ones always settle. Having an attorney with a reputation for courtroom advocacy changes the dynamic of every negotiation.

What to Do After a Personal Injury: Steps to Protect Your Claim

The moments and weeks after an accident are critical — not just for your health, but for your legal claim. What you do (and don’t do) early on can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case. Here’s what we recommend to every client:

1. Call 911 and get a police report.
   One of the most critical pieces of evidence in a personal injury case is the police report. The police report will discuss what happened and who may be at fault. If the party who injured you is at fault, then the police report may trigger their insurance company to issue payment faster.

2. Get medical attention immediately.
   Your health comes first, always. But there’s also a legal reason to act fast: if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, your PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage requires that you seek initial treatment within 14 days of the accident, or you may lose access to those benefits entirely. Don’t wait to see if the pain “goes away.”
3. Document everything.
   Take photos of the scene, your vehicle or property damage, and your visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Request a copy of the police or incident report. The more evidence you gather early, the harder it is for an insurance company to dispute what happened later.
4. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters.
   Insurance companies are not on your side — even your own. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize what they owe you. Avoid giving a recorded statement or signing anything before speaking with an attorney.
5. Preserve evidence.
   Don’t repair your vehicle or discard damaged property until your case has been evaluated. That damage may be important evidence later.
6. Track your losses.
   Keep records of medical bills, lost wages, mileage to appointments, and any other expenses related to your injury. These add up and matter when it’s time to value your claim.
7. Stay off social media.
   Insurance companies and defense attorneys routinely review social media accounts looking for posts that can be used to undercut a claim — even something as simple as a photo from a family event can be twisted to suggest you’re not really injured.
8. Understand the difference between PIP and bodily injury claims.
   In Florida, your initial medical bills after a car accident are typically handled through PIP, regardless of fault. A separate bodily injury claim may be available against the at-fault driver if your injuries are serious enough to exceed Florida’s no-fault threshold. Knowing which type of claim applies — and when — is something an experienced attorney can walk you through.
9. Don’t accept a settlement offer without legal advice.
   Insurance companies often make early settlement offers before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept, you typically give up your right to pursue further compensation — even if your condition worsens. Talk to an attorney before you sign anything.

Why Choose Licznerski Law, PLLC for Your Personal Injury Case

Choosing the right attorney after a serious injury is one of the most important decisions you will make. Here is why injured Floridians trust Licznerski Law, PLLC to fight for them.

We Actually Know the Law

Personal injury law in Florida is complex, constantly evolving, and unforgiving of mistakes. From recent changes to comparative fault rules to the nuances of PIP law and insurance bad faith claims, our firm stays ahead of the legal landscape so our clients don’t pay the price for outdated strategies.

We Take the Insurance Companies Seriously — and They Take Us Seriously

Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys know which firms will go to trial and which will fold under pressure. Licznerski Law, PLLC has built a reputation for aggressive, well-prepared litigation. That reputation translates into better results at the negotiating table, because insurers know we are fully prepared to take the fight to a jury if necessary.

We Handle Every Case Personally

You will not be handed off to a paralegal and forgotten. At Licznerski Law, PLLC, clients work directly with our attorneys. We return calls. We explain what is happening with your case. We make sure you understand your options at every stage. That level of attention matters, especially when you are dealing with injuries, medical appointments, and the stress of recovery.

We Work on Contingency — You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Legal fees should not be one more thing on your plate right now. I handle personal injury cases on contingency, which means you owe me nothing unless I recover something for you. Our interests are fully aligned with yours.

We Know Florida

We are not a national firm parachuting into Florida cases. We are a Florida firm with deep roots in the communities we serve. We know the local courts, the local judges, and the local landscape of personal injury litigation. That local knowledge is an advantage you cannot get from an out-of-state operation or a law firm that treats Florida like just another market.

We Fight for Full Compensation — Not Just a Quick Settlement

Some firms push for fast settlements because it is easier and more profitable for them. We take the time to fully evaluate every component of your claim — current and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more — so you are not leaving money on the table. A quick settlement that undervalues your case is not a win. We make sure you understand what your case is truly worth before you agree to anything.

We Have the Resources to Handle Complex Cases

Serious personal injury cases often require accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and economists to fully establish the value of your claim. Licznerski Law, PLLC has the resources and the professional network to build the strongest possible case on your behalf, regardless of how hard the other side fights back.

Retainer Agreement

Personal injury cases at my firm are handled on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless I recover compensation on your behalf. I walk through the fee arrangement with you at the start so there are no surprises down the road.

Common Questions About Personal Injury Claims In Florida

Personal injury cases raise questions that deserve straight answers. Here are the ones I hear most often from clients across the Tampa Bay area.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida?

For most negligence claims arising on or after March 24, 2023, Florida’s statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury. That is half the time Floridians had before the state’s 2023 tort reform law (HB 837) took effect. Wrongful death and medical malpractice claims are also generally subject to two-year deadlines, with their own rules and exceptions, and claims against government agencies, such as a crash with a county vehicle or school bus, carry special pre-suit notice requirements.

The legal deadline is not the only clock running. Surveillance video is often overwritten within days, and vehicle data can be lost once a car is repaired or salvaged. The sooner I’m involved, the more evidence I can preserve.

How long does a personal injury case take in Florida?

It depends on the facts. A claim with clear liability, completed medical treatment and adequate insurance can sometimes resolve in a matter of months. Disputed fault, surgery, ongoing care or an insurer that refuses to be reasonable can stretch a case to a year or more, especially once a lawsuit is filed.

One milestone I watch closely is maximum medical improvement. Settling before your doctors understand the full extent of your injuries risks leaving money behind that you can never go back for, because a settlement release is final. I won’t rush your case to close a file, and I won’t let it sit idle either.

How much is my personal injury case worth?

There is no meaningful average settlement, and anyone quoting one is guessing. The value of your claim depends on the severity and permanency of your injuries, past and future medical expenses, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, how clearly the other party was at fault and how much insurance is available, including the at-fault party’s policy, your own uninsured motorist coverage and any umbrella or commercial policies.

Since 2023, Florida law has also changed how medical bills are proven in court. Juries generally hear about amounts actually paid or owed rather than the fully billed charges, and treatment under a letter of protection must be disclosed. How your care is paid for can affect the number a jury sees, which is why those decisions should be made with your attorney’s input from the start.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault in Florida?

Yes, as long as your share of fault is not more than 50 percent. Since March 2023, Florida has followed a modified comparative negligence standard. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, so if you are found 20 percent at fault, you recover 80 percent of your damages. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing in most negligence cases.

That hard cutoff gives insurers a powerful incentive to shift blame onto you. Building the liability case early, with scene evidence, witness statements and crash data, is one of the most important things I do.

Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?

Because the insurance company already has a team working against your claim. Adjusters and defense lawyers are paid to pay you as little as possible, and Florida’s recent changes to comparative fault, medical damages evidence and bad faith law have only given them more tools. I handle the investigation, the insurance companies and the legal process so you can focus on recovering.

How does no-fault insurance work in Florida?

Florida is a no-fault state. Your own Personal Injury Protection coverage, required on most Florida-registered vehicles, pays first after a crash regardless of who caused it. PIP covers 80 percent of reasonable, medically necessary expenses and 60 percent of lost income, up to $10,000 total, and includes a $5,000 death benefit.

Two rules catch people off guard. First, you must receive initial treatment within 14 days of the accident or PIP will not pay those medical benefits. Second, the full $10,000 is available only if a physician, osteopathic physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse determines you had an emergency medical condition. Without that determination, medical benefits are capped at $2,500. PIP litigation is a core part of my practice, so I know where carriers cut corners on these claims.

When can I sue the at-fault driver instead of relying on PIP?

Florida law allows a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages when your injuries meet the state’s tort threshold. That generally means a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function or death. Proving that threshold requires the right medical documentation, and building that record is a central part of my work on every serious injury case.

Did Florida repeal PIP in 2026?

No. Despite what you may have read online, Florida’s no-fault law is still in effect. The repeal bills filed for the 2026 legislative session, Senate Bill 522 and House Bill 769, died in committee when the session ended on March 13, 2026. PIP remains mandatory on most Florida-registered vehicles, and the 14-day treatment rule and emergency medical condition requirement still apply. If the law changes, I will update this page.

What if the driver who hit me has no insurance or not enough?

This is common in Florida because most drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability coverage. Your best protection is often your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage, which can cover the gap when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance. Whether your UM coverage is stacked or non-stacked, and whether other policies in your household apply, can make a major difference. I review every available source of coverage before advising you on a settlement.

Should I give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company?

Not without talking to a lawyer first. The at-fault driver’s insurer is not on your side, and adjusters are trained to ask questions that minimize your injuries or shift blame. You generally have no obligation to give them a recorded statement. Your own insurance policy is different. It usually requires your cooperation, and I can guide you through that process so you meet your obligations without hurting your claim.

Will my personal injury case go to trial?

Most cases resolve without a trial, but the best settlements usually come when the insurance company knows your lawyer is ready to try the case. I prepare every case with that in mind. In Florida, claims of $50,000 or less are generally filed in county court and larger claims in circuit court. Cases from Pasco County proceed in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and cases from Hernando and Citrus counties proceed in the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

What happens if the insurance company denies or delays my claim?

Insurance companies owe their policyholders a duty to handle claims in good faith. When a carrier unreasonably denies, delays or undervalues a claim, Florida law provides remedies, including bad faith claims in the right circumstances. Florida’s 2023 reforms changed the rules for bad faith claims, which makes it more important than ever to build the record correctly from the first demand letter. My background in insurance coverage litigation gives me a clear view of how carriers make these decisions.

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?

I handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless I recover compensation for you. Florida Bar rules limit contingency fee percentages in personal injury cases and require a written fee agreement along with a Statement of Client’s Rights. Before you sign anything, I will explain exactly how fees and case costs work so there are no surprises.

Do I have to come to the Oldsmar office to work with you?

No. Many clients in Spring Hill, Brooksville, Crystal River, Inverness, Wesley Chapel and Dade City handle most of their case without ever making the drive. We can talk by phone or video, and most documents can be signed electronically. When an in-person meeting makes sense, we’ll find a way to make it convenient for you.

What is the difference between a boutique law firm and a high-volume firm?

High-volume firms advertise heavily and sign as many cases as possible, which often means your file is handled by a case manager you’ve never met. A boutique firm works the other way. I take a limited number of cases, work on each one personally and give my clients direct access to their attorney. Think of it as the difference between a five-star steakhouse and a fast-food drive-thru. Both serve food, but only one is built around you.

Contact My Firm

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact Licznerski Law, PLLC, today for a free initial consultation. I am here to help you navigate the legal process and fight for the justice you deserve. Call my Tampa Bay law office at 813-934-3519 or fill out this form to set up your consultation.