Vehicle Wrecks
Vehicle Wrecks
Vehicle crashes are among the most common and most devastating events that bring Pensacola residents through our door. Escambia County reports thousands of traffic crashes each year, including dozens of fatal collisions and thousands of injury-related incidents. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), recent annual reporting shows that local roadways continue to experience a high number of serious and fatal crashes affecting thousands of residents. These are not abstract numbers. They represent real people traveling across major corridors such as U.S. Highway 98, Interstate 10, Cervantes Street, and Davis Highway—some of the most heavily traveled roadways in the Pensacola area.
Florida’s vehicle crash laws have changed significantly in recent years, and understanding those changes is critical to protecting your claim. In March 2023, Florida enacted HB 837, which reduced the statute of limitations for most negligence-based personal injury claims, including vehicle accidents, from four years to two years for causes of action accruing on or after March 24, 2023. For any crash occurring after March 24, 2023, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit — and missing that deadline will typically bar your claim permanently. HB 837 also revised Florida’s negligence system from pure comparative negligence to a modified comparative negligence framework. Under current law, a plaintiff found to be more than 50% at fault for an accident is barred from recovering damages. These changes make it more important than ever to speak with an attorney promptly after a serious crash, before evidence fades and deadlines close.
Florida’s no-fault insurance system adds another layer of complexity. Every registered driver in Florida is required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of at least $10,000. After a crash, your own PIP insurance covers up to 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost wages, subject to policy limits, deductibles, and applicable Florida fee schedules. But there is a critical condition: Florida law requires that you seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident from a qualified medical provider to access PIP benefits. Miss that window, and your coverage may be denied entirely. PIP also does not compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or damages that exceed its $10,000 limit. To recover those losses, you must be able to demonstrate that your injuries meet Florida’s serious injury threshold — Florida law defines a ‘serious injury’ as one that results in permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. If your injuries cross that threshold, you have the right to pursue the at-fault driver directly for the full scope of your damages. If you have questions about how Florida’s laws apply to your situation, Lusko Law is here to help you understand your rights and your options.
At Lusko Law, we handle the full range of vehicle crash claims — including rear-end collisions, T-bone and intersection crashes, head-on impacts, drunk or impaired driving incidents, distracted driving cases, and crashes involving uninsured or underinsured motorists. We investigate the scene, obtain the crash report and any available footage, consult with accident reconstruction professionals where necessary, and deal directly with insurance carriers so that you do not have to navigate that process alone. Justin Lusko is a trial attorney who has tried more than 55 cases before a jury — and when insurers know that your attorney is fully prepared to take a case to trial, it changes the dynamic at the negotiating table.
Our Personal Approach
We know that the period immediately following a serious vehicle crash is disorienting. You may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, vehicle repairs, lost income, and insurance calls simultaneously — all while trying to understand what your legal rights actually are. Our approach begins with listening. We sit down with you, walk through exactly what happened, and give you a clear, honest picture of what your case may involve and what realistic outcomes look like.
At Lusko Law, you work directly with your attorney from the first conversation through the resolution of your case. You will not be handed off to a case manager or left waiting for responses. We communicate clearly, keep you informed at every step, and make sure the decisions being made are ones you understand and agree with. A vehicle crash case can move quickly or take time to develop correctly — what matters is that every step is taken with care and with your best interests at the center of it.
Transparent Service Fees
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Past Results Disclaimer (Florida Bar Required): Prior verdicts and settlements referenced in connection with Lusko Law reflect results obtained in prior cases and do not guarantee a similar outcome in any vehicle wreck or other matter. Most cases result in a lower recovery. It should not be assumed that your case will have as beneficial a result.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing this page. Florida vehicle wreck claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations (Fla. HB 837, effective March 24, 2023), no-fault PIP requirements under Fla. Stat. § 627.736, and modified comparative negligence rules. Laws are subject to change — contact Lusko Law promptly to preserve your rights.
Escambia County crash statistics sourced from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Crash Dashboard, 2024 and 2025 data. Florida statewide statistics sourced from FLHSMV annual reports. PIP repeal timeline sourced from Florida legislative records (HB 1181, 2025 session).