FAQs

If you were seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is strongly recommended. Insurance companies begin protecting their own interests immediately—often before you understand the full extent of your injuries or your legal rights. An attorney ensures evidence is preserved, deadlines are met, and your injuries—both present and future—are fully valued before any settlement discussions take place.

Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney’s fees. You only pay attorney’s fees if there is a recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fees.

If you are able:

• First, check on yourself and any passengers in your vehicle

• Then call 911 to report the accident and always ensure a crash report is obtained, even if the at-fault driver admits fault

• If it is safe to do so, try to flag down any witnesses who may have seen the accident and obtain their contact information

• Seek medical attention promptly, even if symptoms seem minor

• Take photos or videos of the scene, vehicles, roadway conditions, and visible injuries

• Obtain contact and insurance information from all involved parties

• Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies until you seek legal counsel

• Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible

Taking these steps early can protect both your health and your legal rights and can significantly impact the strength of your case.

Yes. Under Florida law, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident in order to preserve your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.

PIP provides up to $10,000 in medical and/or lost wage benefits, regardless of who caused the accident. However, these benefits are waived entirely if you do not receive medical care within 14 days of the crash.

Importantly:

• The treatment must be from a qualified medical provider

• Waiting too long—even if symptoms seem minor at first—can result in a complete loss of PIP benefits

• Once the 14-day window closes, PIP benefits generally cannot be recovered

Seeking prompt medical care protects both your health and your legal rights.

For most negligence cases in Florida, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury (for incidents occurring on or after March 24, 2023). Some cases have shorter deadlines or special notice requirements, including claims involving government entities. Waiting too long can permanently bar your claim, regardless of its merits.

Tonelli Law represents individuals and families injured due to the negligence of others in a wide range of personal injury matters. While we are particularly experienced in serious and catastrophic injury cases, we also handle many non-catastrophic cases and treat every client with the same level of care and attention.

Our practice includes, but is not limited to:

• Motor vehicle accidents (car, truck, motorcycle)

• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions

• Neck, back, and spinal injuries

• Broken bones and orthopedic injuries

• Catastrophic injuries resulting in permanent disability

• Wrongful death

• Medical malpractice and complex injury claims

Whether your injuries are catastrophic or less severe, we take the time to understand how the accident has affected your life and to pursue fair compensation under the law. If we determine that your case is not the right fit for our firm, we will be honest with you and, when possible, help point you in the right direction.

Depending on the facts of your case, damages may include:

• Past and future medical expenses

• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity

• Pain and suffering

• Permanent disability or disfigurement

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Loss of consortium (for spouses)

• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Each case is unique and requires careful documentation and expert support.

Early settlement offers are often made before the full extent of injuries is known and are frequently far below the true value of the case. Once you accept a settlement, your claim is over—even if your condition worsens. You should speak with an attorney before accepting or signing anything from an insurance company.

While many personal injury cases resolve before trial, Tonelli Law prepares every case from day one with the expectation that it may ultimately be presented to a jury.

Insurance companies assess risk based on preparation and willingness to litigate. Cases that are not properly investigated, developed, and positioned for trial are routinely discounted. Our cases are built with admissible evidence, documented damages, and a clear trial strategy from the outset.

Whether a case resolves or proceeds to trial depends on whether the responsible parties and their insurers are willing to make a fair and reasonable offer. If they are not, we are prepared to litigate the case through trial and verdict. Clients are advised of the risks and benefits at every stage, but we do not avoid trial when it is necessary to achieve justice.

Our objective is straightforward: force fair evaluation through trial-ready preparation, and when that fails, allow a jury to decide.

The timeline varies based on the severity of injuries, duration of medical treatment, insurance coverage issues, and whether litigation is required. Some cases resolve in months, while catastrophic injury cases may take longer to ensure damages are fully understood and fairly pursued.

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Statements can be used to minimize or deny your claim. It is best to consult an attorney before speaking with any insurance carrier.

You may still have options, including claims under your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage or other available insurance policies. These cases require careful policy analysis and aggressive advocacy.

Yes—absolutely. Florida is the only state in the nation that does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance, meaning many drivers have little or no coverage. UM coverage protects you and your family when you are injured due to someone else’s negligence and there is no—or not enough—insurance available.

You should carry stacked UM coverage, as much as you can reasonably afford. Even with only one insured vehicle, stacked UM provides the broadest protection under Florida law and follows you wherever you are—whether you are driving, riding as a passenger, walking, or riding a bicycle.

Tonelli Law is not a volume-based personal injury firm. We focus on catastrophic injury cases and prepare every case with trial in mind. Our attorneys bring extensive courtroom experience and real-world jury insight to every matter we handle. We fight insurance companies—not process files.

The first step is a free consultation. We will review the facts of your case, explain your rights, and help you understand your options. There is no obligation and no fee unless we recover for you.

You can contact Tonelli Law by calling (407) 883-4878, or by submitting a request through our website. We are happy to answer your questions and help you determine the best path forward.