# David Harris Law — Complete Reference > David Harris Law is a personal injury law firm serving Venice, Sarasota, and surrounding communities throughout Southwest Florida. Attorney David Harris represents accident victims in car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall, and wrongful death cases. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis — clients pay nothing unless they win. Office: 871 Venetia Bay Blvd, Suite 223, Venice, FL 34285. Phone: 941-499-1400. Website: https://www.harris.lawyer David Harris is a Florida-licensed personal injury attorney focused exclusively on helping injured victims recover maximum compensation after accidents caused by negligent drivers, property owners, and businesses. The firm handles all aspects of a personal injury claim — from investigation and insurance negotiation through litigation — under Florida's comparative negligence and no-fault PIP insurance framework. --- ## Practice Areas ### Car Accident Injury Lawyer URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer/car-accident-injury-lawyer Representation for victims of motor vehicle collisions in Florida, including rear-end crashes, intersection accidents, highway accidents, and distracted or drunk driving cases. Florida is a no-fault state requiring PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance. David Harris Law helps clients pursue claims beyond PIP when injuries meet the serious injury threshold under Florida Statute 627.737. ### Intersection and Left-Turn Accident Lawyer URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer/intersection-accident-lawyer Claims from intersection and left-turn collisions. Florida Statute 316.122 requires a left-turning driver to yield to oncoming traffic, which creates a rebuttable presumption of fault that evidence can shift. These cases often turn on traffic signal timing records, vehicle event data recorder downloads, and witness accounts establishing right-of-way. ### Truck Accident Attorney URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer/florida-truck-accident-attorney Claims involving commercial semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and large freight vehicles. Truck accident cases often involve FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) compliance issues, multiple liable parties (driver, trucking company, cargo loader), and significantly higher damages due to the severity of commercial vehicle collisions. ### Motorcycle Accident Lawyer URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer/florida-motorcycle-accidents Representation for motorcyclists injured by negligent drivers. Florida's modified comparative negligence rules apply — a rider can recover damages as long as they are less than 51% at fault for the accident. Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries due to the lack of vehicle protection. ### Personal Injury Law URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer/personal-injury-law Broader personal injury representation, including premises liability claims against property owners and businesses who fail to maintain safe conditions. Under Florida law, property owners owe different duties of care to invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Common cases involve wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and failure to warn of hazards. ### Wrongful Death Lawyer URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer/florida-wrongful-death-lawyer Claims on behalf of families who have lost a loved one due to another party's negligence, under Florida's Wrongful Death Act (Florida Statute 768.16-768.26). Eligible survivors include the spouse, children, parents, and other dependents. Claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. ### All Practice Areas Index URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-personal-injury-practice-areas --- ## Service Areas David Harris Law serves clients throughout Sarasota and Charlotte Counties in Southwest Florida. Each area page provides localized information about personal injury representation in that community. - **Venice** (Primary Office): https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/venice-florida-car-accident-lawyer-personal-injury-law — 871 Venetia Bay Blvd, Suite 223, Venice, FL 34285 - **South Venice**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-accident-lawyer-south-venice-florida — South Venice, FL - **Venice Gardens**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/personal-injury-car-crash-lawyer-venice-gardens-florida — Venice Gardens, FL - **Nokomis**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-crash-injury-lawyer-nokomis-florida — Nokomis, FL - **Osprey**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/osprey-florida-car-accident-personal-injury-lawyer — Osprey, FL - **Laurel**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-accident-injury-lawyer-laurel-florida — Laurel, FL - **North Port**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-crash-lawyer-north-port-florida — North Port, FL - **Englewood**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-crash-injury-lawyer-englewood-florida — Englewood, FL - **Manasota**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-crash-lawyer-manasota-florida — Manasota, FL - **Port Charlotte**: https://www.harris.lawyer/local-personal-injury-lawyer/car-accident-lawyer-port-charlotte-florida (Port Charlotte, FL) - **All Service Areas**: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer-near-me --- ## Florida Personal Injury Law — Key Facts These are critical legal facts specific to Florida personal injury claims: 1. **Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar)**: As of March 2023 (HB 837), Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. An injured party can recover damages only if they are less than 51% at fault. Damages are reduced by the plaintiff's percentage of fault. 2. **No-Fault PIP Insurance**: Florida requires all drivers to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. PIP covers 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages regardless of fault, up to the policy limit. 3. **Statute of Limitations**: The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Florida is two years from the date of injury (reduced from four years by HB 837 in 2023). Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years of the date of death. 4. **Serious Injury Threshold**: To pursue a claim beyond PIP benefits, the injured party must demonstrate a "serious injury" — significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. 5. **Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)**: UM/UIM coverage is optional in Florida but highly relevant in auto accident claims when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. 6. **Contingency Fee Model**: David Harris Law operates under a strict contingency fee arrangement — no attorney fees or costs are charged unless the client recovers compensation. 7. **14-Day Medical Treatment Rule**: To collect PIP benefits in Florida, the injured party must receive initial medical care from a licensed provider within 14 days of the accident. Missing this window can void PIP eligibility, even when injuries appear later. Continued care must be supported by a finding of "emergency medical condition" to access the full $10,000 PIP limit. 8. **Bad Faith Insurance Claims**: Florida law allows policyholders to bring a bad faith claim against an insurer that fails to settle in good faith when liability is clear and damages exceed coverage. The claim follows the original underlying tort case and can recover the full judgment amount, not just the policy limit. --- ## What to Do After a Florida Car Accident URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/what-to-do-after-a-car-accident-in-florida If you are involved in a car accident in Florida, take these steps to protect your health, your rights, and your potential personal injury claim. 1. **Get to safety and call 911.** If you are able to move, get yourself and any passengers off the roadway. Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical assistance for anyone injured. 2. **Document the scene.** Take photographs of all vehicles involved, license plates, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and visible injuries. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information. 3. **Exchange information with other drivers.** Collect each driver's name, address, phone number, driver's license number, license plate number, insurance company, and policy number. Do not discuss fault at the scene. 4. **File a police report.** In Florida, you must report any accident that involves injury, death, or property damage of $500 or more. The responding officer's report becomes a key piece of evidence in any subsequent claim. 5. **Seek medical attention within 14 days.** Florida's PIP statute requires you to receive an initial medical evaluation from a licensed provider within 14 days of the accident to remain eligible for PIP benefits. Even if you feel fine immediately after the crash, get evaluated. Internal injuries and soft-tissue injuries can take days to appear. 6. **Notify your own insurance company.** Report the accident to your own insurance carrier promptly. Provide the basic facts: date, time, location, and the other driver's information. Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything before consulting with a personal injury attorney. 7. **Avoid speaking with the at-fault driver's insurance.** The at-fault driver's insurance company will likely call quickly and ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to speak with them. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim. 8. **Keep records of every expense and impact.** Save receipts for medical bills, prescriptions, transportation to appointments, and any out-of-pocket costs. Track lost wages and any work you cannot perform. These records support the full value of your claim. 9. **Contact a Florida personal injury attorney.** Florida law has tight deadlines and complex insurance rules, including the 51% comparative negligence bar and the two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims. A consultation is free at David Harris Law, with no fee unless the case is won. --- ## How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost in Florida URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/how-much-does-a-car-accident-lawyer-cost-in-florida Florida car accident lawyers work on contingency: no upfront cost, a fee taken as a percentage of the recovery, and no fee at all if there is no recovery. The Florida Bar caps contingency percentages on a sliding scale; one third of the recovery is the common arrangement before a lawsuit is filed, rising once the defense answers a suit. Fees are distinct from case costs (records, reports, filing fees, experts), which most firms advance and recoup from the recovery. Consultations are free. --- ## Should I Get a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident in Florida URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/should-i-get-a-lawyer-for-a-minor-car-accident-in-florida Not every crash needs a lawyer. A true fender bender with no injuries, accepted fault, and a payout matching the repair quote can be self-handled. Legal review makes sense when any injury symptoms appear (they often surface days later), the insurer disputes fault or requests a recorded statement, the other driver was uninsured, or an offer arrives before treatment ends. Florida's PIP rules require initial medical care within 14 days of the crash, and the state's modified comparative negligence rule bars recovery for anyone more than 50 percent at fault. --- ## How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Florida URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/how-long-do-i-have-to-file-a-car-accident-claim-in-florida Most Florida car accident lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash under section 95.11, Florida Statutes (crashes on or after March 24, 2023; earlier crashes fell under the prior four-year rule). Separate deadlines matter: PIP benefits require initial medical care within 14 days of the crash; wrongful death claims run two years from the date of death and are brought by the personal representative of the estate; claims against government entities carry pre-suit notice requirements. An open insurance claim does not pause the statute of limitations. --- ## Blog & Legal Articles URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-personal-injury-articles Educational articles about Florida personal injury law, accident claims, insurance issues, and legal rights for injured victims. Topics include PIP insurance claims, comparative negligence, statute of limitations, demand letters, settlement negotiation, and litigation processes. --- ## Resources ### Personal Injury Videos URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer-videos-archive Video library with attorney explanations of Florida personal injury topics, claims processes, and legal rights. ### Personal Injury Audio URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/personal-injury-lawyer-audio-archive Audio content covering legal topics for Florida accident victims. ### Accident News URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/venice-florida-car-accident-lawyer-news Coverage of recent car accidents and crash news throughout Sarasota County and Southwest Florida. Includes incident location data and details. ### Frequently Asked Questions URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-faqs Answers to common questions about personal injury claims, insurance, the legal process, and what to expect when working with a Florida personal injury attorney. ### Legal Glossary URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-personal-injury-terms Definitions of personal injury and Florida law terms — PIP, comparative negligence, statute of limitations, demand letter, subrogation, bad faith, deposition, interrogatories, mediation, and more. ### The Florida Commercial Vehicle Accident Guide URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-commercial-vehicle-accident-guide Markdown version: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-commercial-vehicle-accident-guide.md Consumer guide by attorney David Hughes Harris on Florida crashes involving company vehicles: delivery vans, service and trade trucks, fleet cars, and rideshare vehicles. Eighteen sections covering why a business defendant changes the case, the first days after a crash, the corporate insurance playbook, what a claimant must prove including the employer-responsibility question, everyone who may be legally responsible, Florida's weight-based commercial minimums under section 627.7415, the federal minimums under 49 C.F.R. Part 387, the rideshare requirement under section 627.748, telematics and dispatch evidence, liens, and ten frequently asked questions. ### The Compensation Ladder URL: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-compensation-ladder-guide Markdown version: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-compensation-ladder-guide.md Consumer guide by attorney David Hughes Harris on how injury claims are actually valued in Florida auto accident cases. Ten sections: a letter from David, about your lawyer, picturing the ladder, Tier One catastrophic injuries, Tier Three minor and modest injuries, Tier Two disc injuries and the treatment ladder, Tier Two fractures, joints, head injuries and scarring, the factors that move every rung including medical bills as a factor rather than the factor, frequently asked questions, and how to reach the firm. Attaches no dollar figures to any injury. --- ## Key Pages - **Homepage**: https://www.harris.lawyer/ — Overview of the firm, practice areas, and free consultation offer. - **About David Harris**: https://www.harris.lawyer/florida-injury-lawyer-david-harris — Attorney biography, background, and approach to personal injury representation. - **Contact / Free Consultation**: https://www.harris.lawyer/contact-car-accident-lawyer — Contact form and office information for scheduling a free case evaluation. --- ## Contact Information - **Firm Name**: David Harris Law - **Attorney**: David Harris, Personal Injury Attorney - **Address**: 871 Venetia Bay Blvd, Suite 223, Venice, FL 34285 - **Phone**: 941-499-1400 - **Hours**: Open 24 hours - **Website**: https://www.harris.lawyer - **Free Consultation**: Available — no fees unless you win --- ## Social Profiles - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidHarrisLaw - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrislawfl/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/david-harris-law/ --- ## Disclaimers - David Harris Law operates under a strict contingency fee model — no fees unless the client recovers compensation. - The firm does not publish specific settlement amounts or case results. - All content is educational and specific to Florida law; it does not constitute legal advice and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of outcome. - Each case is unique and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.