Florida Injury Law

Recoverable Damages

What is an injury claim actually worth? Florida recognizes several categories of damages — and a 2023 change altered how medical bills are presented to a jury. Here is the breakdown.

Attorney-Reviewed Statute Resource
Reviewed by Christopher Walsh, Personal Injury Trial Attorney (Fla. Bar #127459). Last reviewed: June 2026

The Categories

Florida injury damages fall into three broad categories:

The Governing Statute
Florida Damages Law — Recoverable Damages (with HB 837 changes)
"A prevailing injury claimant may recover economic damages (such as medical expenses and lost earnings) and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering), as proven by the evidence."
Read the full statute on Online Sunshine →
Damages — What May Be Recoverable
Economic: medical bills (past and future), lost wages and earning capacity, property damage, out-of-pocket costs.

Non-economic: pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement.

Punitive: in limited cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence (§ 768.72).

How HB 837 Changed Medical Damages

The 2023 reform changed how medical expenses are proven. Rather than showing a jury the full "sticker price" of medical bills, the law now generally limits the evidence to amounts actually paid or the amounts payable under health coverage, along with new disclosure rules around "letters of protection." This tends to reduce the medical-damages figure a jury sees.

The No-Fault Threshold

Remember that in auto cases, recovering non-economic damages (pain and suffering) generally requires meeting the serious-injury threshold, because Florida is a no-fault state. Building the medical proof to establish that threshold is often central to the value of a car-accident claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

What damages can I recover in a Florida injury case?
Economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future losses), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life), and in limited cases punitive damages under § 768.72.
How did HB 837 change medical bills in injury cases?
The 2023 reform generally limits the medical-expense evidence a jury sees to amounts actually paid or payable under coverage — rather than the full billed "sticker price" — and added disclosure rules for letters of protection, which tends to lower the medical-damages figure presented.

Charged Under This Statute?

A statute on a page is not the same as your case. Talk to an attorney who has handled these charges — free, confidential.

This page summarizes Florida Damages Law for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Statutes change; while this page is reviewed by a licensed Florida attorney, always verify the current text on the official Online Sunshine source or consult an attorney about your specific situation. Serving Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties.