Did Florida change the statute of limitations to two years?
Yes. Signed March 24, 2023, HB 837 reduced the general negligence limitations period from four years to two.
Which cases it applies to. Causes of action accruing after the effective date. Claims that accrued before it generally retain the four-year period, which means two different deadlines are in circulation depending on when the incident occurred.
That transition is a real trap. A 2022 crash and a 2024 crash have different deadlines, and content written before 2023 states the old rule without qualification.
What didn't change. Wrongful death and medical negligence retain their own periods.
Why it was done. The stated purpose was reducing litigation volume and insurance costs. The practical effect is less time for injured people to develop and file claims.
What it means for you. If your incident occurred after March 24, 2023, assume two years. If before, confirm — but don't rely on the longer period without checking.
If you're not certain which period applies to your date of injury, that's worth a phone call today. ---
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