Florida Personal Injury Settlements and Law

Florida Personal Injury Settlements and Verdicts: What to Expect

As a victim of personal injury seeking compensation in Florida, it is natural to want to understand the potential range of settlement payouts for your case. This page analyzes Florida settlement statistics and how similar cases have been resolved in the state, offering settlement statistics and examples of settlements and jury awards to help you gauge the potential value of your claim.

But.. approach settlement statistics and sample settlements with caution. No cases are identical, even when they feel identical. The factors driving the settlement payout of a case may not always be apparent in a case summary. Comparing cases and statistics can absolutely provide valuable information about the potential value of your claim – that is why we are providing example Florida settlement amounts and jury payouts for you. Still, you need to consult a Florida personal injury attorney who can fit your case to all the variables to determine the range of your expected settlement payout range.

We also provide a detailed summary of the Florida personal injury law you need to know to better understand the rules governing your injury or wrongful death claim.

Florida Settlements and Verdicts

Below are summaries of recent settlements and verdicts from actual Florida personal injury cases.

• $504,966 Jury Verdict (Florida 2025): Following a robotic-assisted hysterectomy at Florida Cancer Specialists in Jupiter, a 78-year-old patient developed signs of bowel perforation and peritonitis, ultimately dying from sepsis. The estate alleged that the operating gynecologic oncologist failed to consider the patient’s surgical history and risks of adhesions, resulting in a perforated colon. Despite a second surgery and ICU admission, the patient’s condition deteriorated. A jury awarded $1,262,415 in total damages, including funeral expenses and pain and suffering, but the final recovery was reduced due to apportionment of liability among multiple parties.
• $1,200,000 Verdict (Florida 2025): A 78-year-old woman underwent a robotic-assisted hysterectomy after experiencing post-menopausal bleeding, with concerns about abnormal cells potentially indicating cancer. The procedure, initially planned as outpatient surgery, was performed at Jupiter Medical Center, where she was expected to stay overnight for monitoring. However, during the surgery, her bowel was perforated in two places, with one of the perforations going unrecognized and unrepaired. Following the surgery, she was taken to the post-anesthesia care unit in stable condition, but hours later, she was moved to the medical-surgical unit. Over the next day, she complained of severe abdominal pain, nausea, and tenderness, while her lab results showed abnormalities. Somehow, this did not set off alarms. No one told her doctor. A nurse later inserted a nasogastric (NG) tube, believing the patient’s elevated heart rate was simply a reaction to the procedure. The next day, her rapid heart rate and deteriorating vital signs were finally acknowledged, but it was too late—she died two days later from sepsis, caused by the untreated bowel leak. Her husband filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the surgeon, the hospital, and a nurse staffing agency. After a two-week trial, a Palm Beach County jury found all three defendants negligent.
• $308,839 Verdict (Florida 2025): The plaintiff was driving north on an interstate during rainy conditions when her vehicle was rear-ended by the defendant. She claimed to have suffered permanent injuries and argued that the defendant was negligent for driving too fast given the weather conditions. The defendant denied liability and challenged both the severity and permanence of the plaintiff’s injuries. Notably, the jury did not award any damages for pain and suffering, likely because they did not find the injuries permanent. The final award comprised $108,839 for past medical expenses and $200,000 for future medical expenses. This likely indicates that the jury did not find the plaintiff’s injuries permanent—a crucial threshold for recovering non-economic damages in Florida car accident cases. Under Florida Statutes § 627.737, plaintiffs in auto accident claims can only receive compensation for pain and suffering if they can prove a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability. It makes little sense to find that the plaintiff suffered all of these injuries, but there was no pain and suffering. Juries can do this under Florida law.
• $6,486,717 Verdict (Okeechobee County 2025): A Walmart shopper in Okeechobee, Florida, suffered severe injuries when a store employee negligently pulled a pallet jack through a crowded aisle, striking her lower extremities. The force of the impact caused her to fall backward, hit the floor, and lose consciousness. She sustained extensive spinal injuries that required cervical and lumbar fusion surgeries, hospitalization, and years of pain management treatment. The lawsuit, filed in the Florida State Circuit Court of Okeechobee County, argued that Walmart failed to maintain a safe shopping environment and properly train its employees. Walmart denied responsibility, claiming the injuries stemmed from pre-existing conditions, but the jury found Walmart 100% liable. The verdict totaled $6,486,717, including $4.6 million for pain and suffering and over $2 million for medical expenses.
• $3,000,000 Verdict (Miami 2024): A professional fisherman was injured after the Cessna 402B he was flying in crash-landed on water en route to the Bahamas, allegedly due to fuel mismanagement. The jury attributed 40% liability each to Noble Air Charter and the pilot, with the remaining 20% assigned to the plaintiff himself. Damages included $12,800 for past medical expenses, $1.16 million for future physical injuries, and $1.74 million for mental anguish and reduced quality of life. The plaintiff and his wife sued Noble Air, the pilot, and Atlantic Aviation, claiming the pilot failed to monitor refueling and mismanaged fuel tanks during the flight, leading to an emergency landing. Atlantic Aviation, which provided the fuel, was found not liable. The plaintiff suffered spinal fractures, a skull fracture, PTSD, and depression, which affect his work as a fishing guide and TV host despite his continued ability to perform with significant pain. The defense argued the pilot executed a skilled water landing, which mitigated the crash’s impact. Not sure how that makes you feel better if you have a spinal fracture.
• $200,000 Settlement (Osceola 2024): A 59-year-old Hispanic woman received a $200,000 settlement after slipping and falling on a puddle of water in the produce aisle of a Unidos supermarket in Kissimmee. The incident resulted in a shoulder tear that required surgical intervention. Initially, the supermarket’s insurance company denied liability, claiming Unidos was not at fault. However, an investigation revealed that a warning sign was placed only after the fall occurred, demonstrating that the supermarket was aware of the hazard. The case, which was filed in the Osceola County Circuit Court, was settled at mediation.
• $30,000,000 Verdict (Hillsborough County 2024): A 23-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for treatment related to chronic pain and Crohn’s disease but suffered from worsening symptoms including nausea and vomiting, which were not properly diagnosed or treated. The medical staff, failing to consult with a pain management specialist, incorrectly attributed her symptoms to narcotic medication for complex regional pain syndrome stemming from a previous spinal injury. Despite alterations to her medication, her condition continued to decline, leading to a fatal blood infection whose cause remained undetermined. An undiagnosed ulcer was discovered post-mortem, although the official cause of death was listed as intoxication by the medications used during her hospital stay. Attempts to settle the case went nowhere so a jury had to decide it.
• $1,900,878 Verdict (Brevard County 2024): The plaintiff was rear-ended. She suffered disc herniations and a torn supraspinatus tendon. Despite accruing over $75,000 in medical bills and facing the prospect of expensive future surgery, the victim’s insurance provider denied coverage for nearly five years. After rejecting a pre-trial settlement offer of $100,000, the victim pursued legal action. Ultimately, the jury awarded the woman nearly $2 million.
• $5,000,000 Settlement (Miami-Dade County 2024): A woman riding a bicycle was struck and killed by a car operated by an employee of Eitel Enterprises. The accident, which took place while the employee was acting within the scope of his employment, led to the woman’s death. A settlement of $5 million was reached between the estate of the deceased woman and the employee of Eitel Enterprises. but not without making the family’s car accident lawyer jump through a lot of hoops. The insurance company, Evanston Insurance, initially refused to cover the settlement, citing an “aircraft, auto or watercraft” exclusion in Eitel Enterprises’ policy.
• $1,613,000 Verdict (Miami-Dade County 2023): In a warehouse in Medley, Florida (a town located in Miami-Dade County), a man operating a forklift was injured while trying to load a large propane tank into a box truck. The truck, which did not have its emergency brake applied, moved forward as the forklift approached, causing the man to fall and the tank to land on him. He sustained injuries to his back, knee, leg, and neck. The injured individual subsequently sued his employer alleging negligence on the part of the truck’s driver and holding the company vicariously responsible. After the accident, the man sought medical treatment, including physical therapy, and in November 2020, underwent a surgical procedure called laminectomy for a herniated disc. He claimed to have persistent back pain, mobility issues, and difficulty working since the accident. Furthermore, he anticipated potential future spinal surgeries. He sought compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. In the end, the jury awarded him a $1,613,000 payout.
• $4,500,000 Verdict (Duvall County 2023): While riding as a passenger in a family vehicle, a 17-year-old girl was sideswiped by a box truck in Jacksonville, Florida, resulting in significant injuries including a disc herniation and a shoulder injury requiring two surgeries. Her insurance company consistently denied that the surgeries were related to the accident. After a protracted legal battle and rejecting an initial $100,000 settlement offer, a Florida state court jury awarded the girl nearly $4.5 million in damages for her past and future medical expenses and ongoing complications from the crash.
• $8,300,000 Verdict (Broward County 2023): A woman suffered a fall while exiting a restaurant in Sunrise on a worn, slippery, and shallow step outside the restaurant’s exit. She suffered a trimalleolar ankle fracture. She now relies on a cane for mobility and is unable to drive or return to work.
• $2,300,000 Verdict (Alachua County 2023): A patient tragically succumbed to severe bedsores at Parklands Care Center. While she initially developed a bedsore during her stay which healed, a subsequent bedsore developed, exacerbated by a specialized pressure-relieving mattress that was deflated, which defeats the purpose. The family hired a nursing home lawyer who put together the case linking the development of this bedsore to the woman’s death and to the nursing home’s negligence. Often in nursing home lawsuits, the deceased has a complicated medical history, and this case was no exception. This woman had a history of numerous health conditions including Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, and diabetes even before her admission to the nursing home. Nursing home defendants always like to point to this as the reason the patient died. Thankfully, the Gainesville jury saw these diversions and focused on the nursing home’s negligence and awarded $2.3 million.
• $20,000,000 Verdict (West Palm Beach 2023): A 54-year-old patient who had pancreatitis. He had a respiratory collapse and passed away after receiving numerous doses of Dilaudid, a potent opioid painkiller. The central question of the medical malpractice trial was whether the doctor’s care, which encompassed medication administration and the decision not to employ telemetry or pulse oximetry monitors, was appropriate given the circumstances. A jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, found the physician responsible for a patient’s fatal respiratory collapse and awarded the patient’s family a verdict exceeding $20 million.
• $2,800,000 Verdict (Miami-Dade County 2023): After a rear-end collision, a 19-year-old ex-college soccer player from Miami’s ASA College found herself facing ongoing neck and back issues that necessitated continuous chiropractic care and pain management. The three-day trial, focused solely on damages as the parties disputed the severity and lasting effects of the young woman’s injuries. The defense introduced surveillance footage of the young woman engaging in a soccer match following the accident. The victim’s accident lawyer argued that although she had the capability to participate in soccer, the persistent pain stemming from the accident had reduced her performance level and the enjoyment she previously experienced. The jury bought this argument, resulting in a $2.8 million verdict.
• $7,800,000 Verdict (Broward County 2023): The plaintiff slipped and fell in the bathroom at a Burger King, resulting in lower back issues requiring surgery, including a postoperative perforated colon. The defendants offered a $200,000 settlement amount.
• $309,794 Verdict (Alachua County 2023): The plaintiff was injured in a collision with the defendant at NW 8th Ave and 18th Street in Gainesville. The defendant disputed his liability for the accident and claimed that the plaintiff was at fault. The verdict included $200,000 for future medical expenses and $72,000 for past medical expenses.
• $48,993 Verdict (Brevard County 2023): The plaintiff claimed the defendant rear-ended her with his dump truck while she was stopped at a red light. The plaintiff claimed that she suffered severe and permanent injuries due to the collision, including injuries to her cervical and lumbar spine. The jury declined to award future medical expenses and also found that the plaintiff had not sustained a permanent injury.
• $50,235 Verdict (Leon County 2023): The plaintiff alleged that she slipped and fell at a movie theater while exiting her seat to the bathroom. She alleged that the theater was negligent in allowing debris to remain in the aisle. Verdict included $37,502 in past medical expenses.
• $203,000 Verdict (Sarasota County 2023): The plaintiff claimed to suffer right hip bursitis, aggravation or activation of right hip abnormalities, permanent impairment, and low back pain after she was knocked over by falling boxes of cantaloupes while walking in the outdoor area of a market operated by the defendant.
• $372,141 Settlement (Broward County 2023): A minor female suffered a skull fracture when the go-cart she was operating, belonging to the defendant companies and operated on the defendants’ amusement park racetrack, overturned. The plaintiff contended that the defendants were negligent for providing unsafe recreational premises, equipment, and safety procedures.
• $23,600 Verdict (Miami-Dade County 2023): Female plaintiff claimed to suffer injuries, including facial lacerations when the elevator she was using, located in her apartment building, jolted a few times, causing the metal ceiling to collapse on top of her. The verdict only included $1,100 for medical expenses.
• $341,000 Verdict (Citrus County 2023): This wrongful death medical malpractice case involved the death of a 55-year-old man after he reported to the hospital with coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting and was discharged. He died two days later from a heart attack. The lawsuit alleged that the doctors at the hospital negligently failed to recognize the signs of an impending heart attack.
• $3,000,000 Settlement (Pickens County 2021): In a crash in Pickens County, a U.S. Postal Service carrier sustained serious injuries, including a broken spine and a mild traumatic brain injury, when her mail truck was rear-ended and flipped over. The accident occurred as she was stopped on the side of the road for mail delivery and was hit by a speeding pickup truck. In the ensuing lawsuit, the carrier’s attorney emphasized key evidence from the crash vehicle’s black box, which was alleged to have been destroyed by the defendant construction company. This evidence, along with GPS data showing the driver’s habitual speeding, played a crucial role in the case. The lawsuit resulted in a $3 million settlement.
• $1,000,000 Settlement (Duvall County 2019): A 66-year-old retired individual drowned while playing with children at a private ranch’s pool during a party. The estate of the deceased claimed the property owners failed to adhere to the necessary permits and argued that commercial pool standards should have been applied. The defense maintained that the pool was residential and not subject to such standards. If the policy is only $1 million, this is a policy limits case for sure. So before any legal action commenced, the defense’s insurer opted to settle, providing the estate with the policy’s maximum coverage of $1 million.