# Tampa car accidents: deadlines, PIP and claims in Hillsborough County

> After a Tampa car accident: Florida's 2-year deadline and 51% fault bar, PIP's 14-day rule, crash reports, city and county claims, Hillsborough courts.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/tampa/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

A crash in Tampa follows Florida law: you generally have 2 years to file a negligence lawsuit, and you recover nothing if you were found more than 50% at fault. Your own personal injury protection pays first, and only if you get initial medical care within 14 days. Locally, a lawsuit over a Tampa crash can be filed in Hillsborough County's courts, and the Hillsborough County Bar's referral service has a consultation fee that is waived for certain types of cases, including personal injury.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Negligence lawsuit deadline | 2 years | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a) |
| Fault rule | No recovery at 51% or more | Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6) |
| Required PIP | $10,000 | Initial care within 14 days |
| Notice to a government body | Within 3 years | Lawsuit within 4 years |
| Crash report | $10 | Florida Crash Portal |
| Crash deaths in Hillsborough County, 2024 | 180 | 230 in 2023 |
| County court limit | $50,000 | Larger cases go to circuit court |
| Hillsborough County Bar referrals | (813) 221-7780 | $35 for 30 minutes |

## Deadlines and fault rules in Tampa

Tampa has no crash deadlines of its own. Under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a), the statute of limitations for an action founded on negligence is 2 years, and a wrongful death suit must be filed within 2 years from the date of death. Florida cut its negligence deadline in 2023, so the [Florida guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/florida/) is worth checking for an older crash.

Fault is shared under modified comparative fault (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6)). A jury reduces your damages by your share of fault, and if that share reaches 51%, you recover nothing. The more-than-50%-at-fault bar applies to cases filed after March 24, 2023, and does not apply to medical-negligence claims.

> **Example:** Two drivers collide while merging onto I-275. If the jury finds you 40% at fault, you recover 60% of your proven damages. At 51%, you recover nothing.

### No-fault insurance and the 14-day rule

Florida is a no-fault state. Every Florida policy must include $10,000 of PIP, which pays 80% of reasonable medical bills no matter who caused the crash. PIP covers medical care only if you receive initial care within 14 days of the crash, and medical benefits drop to $2,500 if a provider finds no emergency medical condition.

To claim pain and suffering from the other driver, the injury must meet the threshold in Fla. Stat. § 627.737, such as a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring, or death. The guide to [who pays medical bills](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/money/who-pays-medical-bills/) explains what happens when PIP runs out.

## Getting a crash report in Tampa

Crash reports in Tampa may come from the Tampa Police Department, another local agency or the Florida Highway Patrol, but they all end up with FLHSMV, the state's official crash record keeper.

1. **Wait for the report.** An officer who writes a long-form crash report must submit it within 10 days after finishing the investigation. FLHSMV says reports may take up to 10 days to become available.
2. **Order it online.** Use the [Florida Crash Portal](https://services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing/): $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee per order. The download link is emailed to you.
3. **Expect a privacy check.** For the first 60 days after filing, a report showing personal details is released only to the people involved, their lawyers and insurers, and certain agencies. Mail and in-person requesters sign a sworn statement that they will not use it to solicit crash victims.

The [police report guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) covers how to check a report for mistakes.

## Claims against the city or county

If a City of Tampa vehicle, a Hillsborough County road crew or a state agency such as the Florida Department of Transportation was involved, Fla. Stat. § 768.28 applies. It waives sovereign immunity only on these terms:

| Step | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| Notice | Written claim to the agency within 3 years; state agencies also need notice to the Department of Financial Services, cities and counties do not |
| Waiting period | No lawsuit until the claim is denied in writing or 6 months pass without a final decision |
| Lawsuit deadline | 4 years for negligence; 2 years for wrongful death |
| Payment limits | Generally $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident; more usually needs a claims bill from the Legislature |

The longer lawsuit deadline against a government body does not mean the claim can wait: the notice and the waiting period both have to fit inside it.

## Crashes in Hillsborough County

FLHSMV's 2024 Traffic Crash Facts report counted 26,269 crashes in Hillsborough County, with 17,359 people injured and 180 killed. Deaths fell from 230 in 2023. FLHSMV notes its totals can change as late reports come in.

## Where a lawsuit is filed

Under Fla. Stat. § 47.011, a lawsuit may be filed where the defendant lives or where the claim arose, so a crash in Tampa can be heard in Hillsborough County even if the other driver lives in Pinellas or Pasco.

- **Hillsborough County Court** hears civil cases up to $50,000. The Hillsborough Clerk's guide puts the small claims line at $8,000.
- **Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit** hears larger claims.

## Finding a lawyer in Tampa

The Hillsborough County Bar Association runs a [Lawyer Referral & Information Service](https://hillsbarlrs.com/) at (813) 221-7780. Panel lawyers give a consultation of 30 minutes for $35, but the fee is waived for certain types of cases, including personal injury. The bar says its panel lawyers are screened, carry malpractice insurance and are in good standing with The Florida Bar. You can check any lawyer in The Florida Bar's [member directory](https://www.floridabar.org/directories/find-mbr/).

## FAQ

### How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Tampa?

Generally 2 years for a negligence claim and 2 years for wrongful death. A claim against a government body needs written notice within 3 years and a lawsuit within 4 years.

### Do I need to see a doctor within 14 days for PIP to pay?

PIP medical benefits are paid only if you receive initial care within 14 days after the crash. Care that starts later is not covered by PIP.

### How do I get a Tampa police crash report?

Order it from FLHSMV's Florida Crash Portal for $10 plus a $2 order fee. In the first 60 days, only the people involved, their lawyers, insurers and certain agencies can get it.

### Can I recover if I was partly at fault for a crash in Tampa?

Yes, if your share is 50% or less. Your damages are cut by your percentage, and at 51% or more you recover nothing.

### Is there a free lawyer referral in Tampa for injury cases?

The Hillsborough County Bar's referral service normally charges $35 for a consultation of 30 minutes, but the fee is waived for certain types of cases, including personal injury.

## Sources

- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 627.737](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.737) — tort threshold for pain and suffering
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 47.011](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/47.011) — where actions may be filed
- [Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida](https://www.fljud13.org/) — Hillsborough County courts
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 95.11(5)(a)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/95.11), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 627.736(1)(a)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.736), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 768.81(6)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/768.81), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 768.28](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/768.28), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Traffic Crash Reports](https://www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2024 (Traffic Crash and Injury History by County)](https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/2024-Crash-Report.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 34.01(1)(c)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/34.01), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 95.031(1)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/95.031), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 316.066](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/316.066), checked October 29, 2026
- [Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, County Civil](https://www.hillsclerk.com/court-services/county-civil), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Insurance Requirements](https://www.flhsmv.gov/insurance/), checked April 21, 2021