Important deadline: Florida changed its injury filing deadline in 2023. For most negligence claims arising after 24 March 2023, you now have two years from the date of the accident to file — not the four years many older guides still state. Missing that window usually ends the claim permanently, so speak to a lawyer early.
Key Takeaways
- Deadline: two years for most Florida negligence claims arising after 24 March 2023 (reduced from four by House Bill 837).
- Shared fault: Florida now uses modified comparative negligence — if you are found more than 50% at fault, you generally cannot recover damages. This bar does not apply to medical negligence claims.
- Cost: personal injury lawyers in Fort Myers almost always work on contingency, so you typically pay nothing unless they win.
- Choosing: ask about trial experience, who actually handles your file, and the fee percentage before you sign anything.
- The firms listed below are established personal injury practices serving Fort Myers and Lee County.
About this list: the firms below are long-standing personal injury practices operating in the Fort Myers area, compiled from publicly available information. They are presented in no particular order and this is not a ranked endorsement or a recommendation of one firm over another. Always do your own checks — including a licence check with The Florida Bar — before hiring any attorney.
A personal injury lawyer aids clients who have suffered injuries as a result of another party’s negligence or an accident. Claims may be made against individuals, businesses, or governmental bodies. You should look for the best personal injury lawyer in your area if you have been hurt and need assistance so that you may collect the compensation you are entitled to.Personal Injury Law Firms in Fort Myers
The firms below are established personal injury practices in the Fort Myers area, listed to give you a starting point for your own research. This is not a ranking, the order does not imply that one firm is better than another, and no firm has paid to appear here. The details come from each firm’s own public descriptions of its work. In this post, we will share with you the names and short descriptions of the best personal injury attorneys in Fort Myers, Florida.Garvin Law Firm
The Garvin Law Firm assists clients in resolving personal injury disputes and is engaged in the Fort Myers metropolitan region. A father-son team with more than 35 years of litigation experience runs this firm. Comprehensive litigation services are offered to clients, and each case is evaluated to determine the appropriate level of compensation to seek before being brought before the parties accountable for paying out the compensation. The Garvin Law Firm handles cases involving frequently occurring accident types, including those involving bicycles, jet skis, cars, trucks, and motorcycles. It also deals with cases of medical malpractice. Although it normally settles out of court, it can also fight for favorable results.Viles & Beckman, LLC
A personal injury law firm that serves Fort Myers and the surrounding areas is called Viles & Beckman, LLC. It handles cases involving vehicle, truck, and motorcycle accidents and fights for the rights of people who have been injured as a result of driver negligence. Additionally, the firm’s team represents families seeking restitution for losing a family member in an accident by pursuing wrongful death lawsuits. More than $100 million has been recovered for accident victims by Viles & Beckman in settlements and verdicts. Marcus W. Viles, one of its partners, is board-certified in civil trial law.Bernardo Injury Law
For more than 30 years, Bernardo Injury Law has provided legal services to Fort Myers citizens. Joe Bernardo, the company’s founder, represents wrongful death and catastrophic injury clients. He handles wrongful death, slip-and-fall, and auto accident personal injury cases. Bernardo seeks to uphold the rights of his clients and secure just compensation for them. The National Association of Distinguished Counsel named him one of the nation’s top one percent in 2018.Cantor & Cantor Attorneys at Law
In the vicinity of Fort Myers, Cantor & Cantor Attorneys at Law represent both individuals and families. It aids those who have suffered personal injuries in pursuing restitution in a variety of accident situations, including car accidents, animal assaults, slips and falls on hazardous property, and injuries from defective consumer goods. It also deals with cases of fatal injury. The company also provides defense counsel for those facing criminal charges. Zachary Cantor, the firm’s founding attorney, has over 15 years of legal experience and is admitted to practice in both New York and New Jersey.Daniels Law PA
A company called Daniels Law P.A. assists and counsels people in Fort Myers with legal matters. It assists injured people in filing a personal injury claim to recover damages for their losses and injuries from those who were at fault and their insurance providers. Theresa Daniels, one of its practitioners, decides if a client qualifies for a just payout covering lost wages, medical costs, and pain and suffering. She also handles situations regarding social security disability, family law, and probate. Daniels additionally devotes his time to Florida Rural Legal Services as a pro bono lawyer volunteer.David M. Goldberg, P.A. Attorney at Law
Fort Myers-based David M. Goldberg, P.A. Attorney at Law is a company. In discussions and court proceedings involving personal injury cases, it represents damaged individuals. David M. Goldberg, the case’s attorney, is a second-generation lawyer who has been fighting for human rights since 1998. He consults with people to develop a plan for interacting with insurance providers and getting just recompense. Additionally, Goldberg handles situations concerning homeowner hurricane or windstorm claim denials, personal bankruptcy, and injury to minors.Gunter Firm
The Gunter Firm is a Fort Myers-based employment and personal injury litigation firm that has served both people and corporations for 18 years. It helps with a wide range of personal injury claims, including those involving dangerous products, medical errors, auto accidents, traumatic brain injuries, and workplace mishaps. The business has received $6 million for a tractor-trailer accident and $3.5 million for a medical malpractice-related wrongful death action. The workforce of Gunter Firm is also multilingual.Kelleher Law
Clients in Fort Myers and the surrounding areas are served by Kelleher Law. It defends clients in personal injury lawsuits involving dog bites, slip & fall accidents, brain, spinal cord, burn, and back injuries, as well as wrongful death. Automobile accidents, premises responsibility, and workers’ compensation are some of the other issues discussed. Injury victims have been represented by Jim Kelleher, the firm’s founding attorney, for more than three decades. He worked as a partner for Morgan & Morgan.Law Office of Joseph Michael Sette
The Law Office of Joseph Michael Sette is a business that specializes in personal injury lawsuits and has thirty years of experience. It has handled numerous cases including car accidents, dog attacks, product liability, workplace mishaps, and food poisoning. It offers individualized support and seeks to help victims get fair recompense for medical costs, financial losses, and general suffering. Residents of Fort Myers are helped by Joseph Michael Sette. One of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 was named for him.Law Offices of Cavanaugh & Cavanaugh. P.A.
A law office in the Fort Myers region is called Law Offices of Cavanaugh & Cavanaugh, P.A. It offers legal counsel to people involved in individually injury-related situations, such as car accidents, product liability lawsuits, assaults on dangerous properties, and instances involving uncooperative insurance companies. Family law and criminal defense cases are also taken up by the business. Daniel M. Cavanaugh, a partner at the firm, has over 25 years of trial expertise. Throughout his career, he has filed lawsuits against both corporations and political bodies.Parvey & Cavenago
Since 1990, Parvey & Cavenago has provided service to the Fort Myers region. In the fields of auto accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, product liability, and insurance/bad faith, it provides advice as well as other legal services. The firm’s attorneys have experience working on multi-million dollar catastrophic injury claims. Members of the neighborhood Rotary club include Carlos Cavenago III and Alan Parvey, and the business often donates to local charities and educational institutions.Scarmozzino King
Locals in Fort Myers and the neighboring areas are catered to by Scarmozzino King. The company defends the rights of people who have experienced personal injuries. Auto accidents, slips and falls, and wrongful death are some of the situations it handles. It also handles cases from other professional areas, such as family law, and criminal defense. Jason King, the firm’s legal counsel, spent 15 years as a litigation paralegal prior to completing law school. He has written books on legal subjects like personal injury and Florida legal ethics.Therefore, if you’re a resident of Fort Myers, you can always seek the help of any of the personal injury law firms mentioned in this list.Florida Injury Law: What Fort Myers Claimants Need to Know
Knowing the rules before you call a lawyer puts you in a much stronger position. Three things changed or matter most in Florida.
You have two years to file, not four
House Bill 837, signed on 24 March 2023, cut the statute of limitations for general negligence claims from four years to two. The shorter deadline applies to causes of action accruing after that date. If you were hurt in a car accident, a slip and fall or a similar incident in Fort Myers, the clock is far tighter than older articles suggest. There are limited exceptions, which is precisely why an early consultation matters.
Being partly at fault can now bar your claim entirely
Florida used to follow pure comparative negligence, where you could recover damages reduced by your share of blame even if you were mostly responsible. HB 837 replaced that with modified comparative negligence: if you are found more than 50% at fault, you generally recover nothing. Importantly, this bar does not apply to medical negligence claims. This makes how fault is apportioned far more consequential than it used to be.
Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents
Florida requires drivers to carry personal injury protection, so your own policy covers initial medical costs regardless of who caused the crash. Claims against the at-fault driver generally become relevant for more serious injuries. Because the interaction between PIP and a liability claim is genuinely technical, this is one area where guessing is expensive.
What to Do After an Accident in Fort Myers
- Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Gaps in treatment are the single most common way injury claims get devalued.
- Report it. Call police for a traffic crash; report a fall to the property owner or manager and ask for an incident report.
- Photograph everything — vehicles, the scene, hazards, visible injuries — before anything is cleaned up or moved.
- Collect names and numbers for witnesses. They become much harder to trace later.
- Notify your own insurer, but be cautious giving a recorded statement to the other side’s adjuster before you have advice.
- Keep every document: bills, prescriptions, mileage to appointments, and days missed from work.
- Speak to a lawyer well before the two-year deadline. Most offer a free consultation.
How to Choose the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
Most firms will tell you they get results. These are the questions that actually separate them.
- Do you try cases? Some firms settle almost everything. If your case needs a courtroom, you want someone who has been in one.
- Who will handle my file day to day? The attorney in the advertisement is often not the person you deal with.
- What is your fee, and what comes out of my settlement? Contingency percentages vary, and case costs are separate from the fee.
- Have you handled cases like mine in Lee County? Local court and insurer experience genuinely matters.
- How will you keep me updated? Poor communication is the most common complaint clients have about injury lawyers.
How Much Do Fort Myers Injury Lawyers Charge?
Personal injury lawyers in Florida almost always work on a contingency fee, meaning their payment is a percentage of what they recover for you and you owe no attorney fee if the case fails. Percentages differ between firms and typically rise if a lawsuit has to be filed rather than settled beforehand. Case expenses — filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses — are usually handled separately from the fee itself. Ask for the fee agreement in writing and read exactly how costs are deducted before you sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Florida?
For most negligence claims arising after 24 March 2023, two years from the date of the injury. This was reduced from four years by House Bill 837. Some claim types and circumstances differ, so confirm your specific deadline with an attorney.
What if I was partly to blame for the accident?
You can still recover damages, reduced by your share of fault — but if you are found more than 50% at fault you are generally barred from recovering anything. This bar does not apply to medical negligence claims.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Fort Myers?
Almost all work on contingency, so you generally pay no attorney fee unless they recover money for you. The percentage varies by firm and usually increases if the case goes to litigation.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor injury claim?
Not always. For very minor damage with no lasting injury, dealing directly with the insurer may be reasonable. Once there are meaningful medical bills, missed work, disputed fault or a lasting injury, professional advice usually pays for itself.
How do I check whether a Fort Myers attorney is licensed?
Search the attorney’s name in The Florida Bar’s official member directory. It shows licence status and any public disciplinary history. Do this before signing with any firm.
How long does a personal injury case take in Florida?
Straightforward claims may settle in a few months. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability or litigation can run well over a year. Any lawyer promising a precise timeline at the outset is guessing.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Florida law changes and individual circumstances vary — consult a licensed Florida attorney about your specific situation. Legal details reflect Florida House Bill 837, signed 24 March 2023. Last updated: 22 July 2026.
About the figures on this page: settlement and verdict amounts, awards and years of experience are as reported by the firms themselves and have not been independently verified. Past results do not guarantee or predict the outcome of any future case — every claim turns on its own facts. This article is general information about Florida injury claims, not legal advice; consult a licensed Florida attorney about your own situation.
