Florida has a lot of lawsuits because everyday disputes scale with the state’s huge population and record tourism, and because insurance and consumer laws historically made it relatively attractive to sue (for example, one-way attorney fees and assignment-of-benefits arrangements). Hurricanes, auto no-fault rules, ADA website cases, and aggressive legal advertising added fuel. Since late 2022 and 2023, however, major reforms have cut incentives and early data show litigation falling in several categories.
Florida’s scale naturally produces more disputes
Florida’s courts process large civil volumes partly because the state is big and busy: four of the nation’s fastest-growing metro areas are in Florida, and the state set an all-time visitation record in 2024 (about 143 million visitors), with 2025 off to another strong start. More residents and more visitors mean more contracts, accidents, and service interactions—hence more potential lawsuits.
Insurance and disasters have been a litigation engine
Hurricanes and storm losses historically drive many property-claim disputes. For years, Florida’s rules amplified this: one-way attorney fees in property cases and widespread assignment-of-benefits (AOB) made it easier for third parties to sue insurers. Lawmakers reversed course in December 2022 with SB 2-A, eliminating one-way fees and banning property AOB on new policies; regulators now report sharp declines in insurance lawsuits and notices to litigate.
Property insurance and AOB
SB 2-A and related measures targeted practices blamed for excessive filings (like AOB vendors suing directly). Post-reform snapshots from state and industry trackers show a meaningful drop in litigation activity tied to property policies.
Auto glass and PIP disputes
Florida’s no-fault system (PIP) creates frequent first-party benefit disputes. Auto glass claims in particular exploded over the last decade via AOB; in 2023, SB 1002 banned AOB for windshield repairs and curtailed inducements, and officials noted litigation plunging thereafter. PIP itself still requires $10,000 minimum coverage and remains a common friction point after crashes.
ADA website and consumer suits add volume
Florida federal courts see steady ADA Title III filings, including website-access cases; nationwide ADA suits rebounded to roughly 8,800 in 2024 with Florida among hot spots in the Eleventh Circuit. Consumer-protection claims (like FDUTPA) also contribute to civil caseloads in state and federal courts.
Legal advertising and litigation funding amplify visibility and access
Lawyer advertising is highly visible in Florida (think billboards and heavy TV/online rotations); Bar records show rising ad review volumes over recent years. At the same time, third-party litigation funding has drawn scrutiny from policymakers and academics for potentially encouraging marginal claims—another reason you hear more about lawsuits in the state.
Big 2023 tort reform changed the calculus
HB 837 (signed March 24, 2023) reshaped negligence suits: it shortened the statute of limitations from four years to two, moved Florida from pure to modified comparative negligence (a plaintiff over 50% at fault recovers nothing), tightened bad-faith standards, and limited attorney-fee exposure for insurers. Plaintiffs rushed to file before the effective date, then filings settled into a new, lower-incentive regime. Early datasets show declines across several insurance litigation categories.
Hurricanes and insurers: a continuing backdrop
Even with reforms, catastrophic weather will keep Florida’s insurance market litigious at times. Storm-quiet years helped financial results in 2023, while forecasters and analysts warn that active seasons can strain carriers, drive premium spikes, and trigger more disputes—conditions that historically translate into lawsuits.
What this means for residents and businesses
Reduce your lawsuit risk with better contracts and coverage
Use precise scopes of work, clear dispute clauses, and verify vendors. Review property and auto coverages (including flood, which is separate from homeowners) and align deductibles with cash reserves.
Treat websites and premises as compliance priorities
ADA-conformant websites and documented accessibility efforts cut exposure. On premises, maintain safety logs and follow security best practices—Florida’s 2023 law even gives certain multifamily properties a liability presumption if they implement specified measures.
Expect faster timelines on negligence claims
With a two-year statute of limitations and modified comparative negligence, claims should progress more quickly and settle closer to proportionate fault. Keep thorough incident records from day one.
FAQs
Did Florida really “cause” all these lawsuits?
Not exactly. Large population and tourism volume create baseline disputes. Historically plaintiff-friendly fee rules and AOB then amplified insurance litigation; those incentives have since been curtailed.
Are lawsuits now going down?
Early indicators show meaningful declines in insurance litigation after the 2022–2023 reforms, including drops in notices to litigate, property suits, and auto-glass filings.
Why do I still see so many lawyer ads?
Florida’s Bar reviews a high volume of ads across TV, radio, billboards, and digital—a reflection of a competitive plaintiff and defense market where advertising is a primary client-acquisition channel.
