If you’re reading this, something has probably gone wrong. Maybe it was a crash on the way home, a fall you never saw coming, or a phone call about someone you love. You may be hurting, missing work, and already hearing from an insurance company before you’ve had a chance to catch your breath. That’s a lot to carry, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Since 1997, our Orlando personal injury attorneys have sat down with families across Central Florida and helped them understand what comes next. Below are the kinds of cases we handle, but you don’t need to know which one fits. Just tell us what happened, in your own words and in English, Español, or Tiếng Việt, and we’ll help you understand where you stand. The conversation is free, and there’s no pressure to decide anything that day.
- Serving Central Florida since 1997
- English · Español · Tiếng Việt
- Free consultation
- No fee unless we recover compensation*
Types of Cases We Handle
Select the area that matches your situation, or call us and we will point you to the right one.
Car Accidents
Florida is a no-fault state, so your own PIP coverage pays the first $10,000 of medical bills no matter who caused the crash. That coverage runs out fast, and it does not cover pain and suffering. We handle the insurance calls, gather the crash report and medical records, and build the claim for everything PIP leaves behind. If you were hurt on I-4, the 408, or a side street in your own neighborhood, start here.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riders in Florida are not required to carry PIP coverage, which changes everything about how your medical bills get paid. That surprises a lot of riders at the worst possible moment. Motorcycle injuries also tend to be severe, and insurance companies often argue the rider was at fault before they have seen a single piece of evidence. We push back on that with the crash reconstruction and the records.
Dog Bites
Florida Statute 767.04 makes a dog owner responsible for a bite even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. There is no "one free bite" rule here. Most claims are paid by the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, which means you are usually not taking money out of a neighbor's pocket. Bites to children and facial injuries need fast documentation, so call before the wound heals.
Truck Accidents
A crash with an 18-wheeler is not a bigger car accident, it is a different kind of case. Federal safety rules govern driver hours, maintenance, and cargo loading. The trucking company, the driver, the cargo owner, and the maintenance contractor may all share responsibility. Electronic logging data and dashcam footage can be overwritten within weeks, so the preservation letter needs to go out early.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
Central Florida is one of the most dangerous places in the country to walk or ride a bike. When a car hits a person, there is no crumple zone, and injuries are usually serious. If you were on foot or on a bicycle, your own auto PIP coverage may still apply even though you were not in a car. Many people do not know that and never file. We look at every policy that could cover you.
Workers' Compensation
A workplace injury claim runs under Florida Chapter 440, and it works differently from an injury lawsuit. You do not have to prove anyone was at fault, but you also give up the right to sue your employer in most cases. Benefits get denied, cut off, or underpaid all the time, and the deadlines are short. If your claim was denied or your doctor was chosen for you, that is worth a conversation.
Medical Malpractice
Not every bad outcome is malpractice. The question under Florida law is whether the provider fell below the accepted standard of care and whether that caused your harm. Before a case can even be filed, Chapter 766 requires a pre-suit investigation and a written opinion from a qualified medical expert. That process takes time and money, so we review these carefully before taking them on.
Wrongful Death
Florida's Wrongful Death Act, Chapter 768, lets certain family members recover for the loss of a spouse, parent, or child caused by someone else's negligence. The claim is brought by the personal representative of the estate, and the law is specific about which survivors can recover and for what. We know this is the last thing you want to think about right now. We will handle the legal side and keep the pressure off your family.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Under Florida Statute 768.0755, a store is not automatically responsible because you fell. You have to show the business knew about the hazard or that it had been there long enough that they should have known. That is why incident reports, inspection logs, and surveillance video matter so much, and why those records tend to disappear if nobody asks for them. Report the fall in writing and call us the same week if you can.
Personal Injury Claims
Some injuries do not fit neatly into a category: a neck or back injury, a concussion, a whiplash claim, an injury on someone else's property, or a case involving a defective product. If someone else's carelessness hurt you and you are not sure what kind of case it is, this is the right place to start. Florida generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file, and evidence gets harder to find long before that.
Immigration Law
We help Central Florida families with family-based petitions, green cards, visas, and the path to citizenship. Immigration paperwork is unforgiving, and a missed deadline or a wrong box can set a case back years. We walk through the requirements with you in plain language, in English, Español, or Tiếng Việt, so you know what is being filed and why.
Vietnamese-Speaking Legal Services
Attorney Andy Nguyen represents Vietnamese-speaking clients across Central Florida in injury, car accident, and immigration matters, in Vietnamese, not through a phone interpreter. If English is not the language you want to discuss your case in, you should not have to translate your own medical history. Chúng tôi nói tiếng Việt.
Not Sure Which Area Fits Your Situation?
You do not need to know the legal category before you call. Most people describe what happened — “I got rear-ended on Colonial and my neck has not been right since,” or “I slipped at a grocery store and nobody would give me an incident report” — and we take it from there. A free consultation costs you nothing and does not commit you to anything.
How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer at Maaswinkel Law?
Nothing. Consultations are free. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee, which means we are paid from the recovery and not up front. You may still be responsible for case costs and expenses.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Florida?
For most negligence claims, Florida law now gives you two years from the date of the injury. Some claims have shorter deadlines, and claims against a government entity have their own notice requirements. Do not wait to find out which one applies.
Do I have a case if the accident was partly my fault?
Possibly. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover if you are found 50% or less at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance adjusters know this and will try to shift blame early.
What if I do not speak English?
We handle cases in English, Español, and Tiếng Việt. You will speak with someone in your own language, not an interpreter on a phone line.
Do you only take cases in Orlando?
No. Our office is in Orlando and most clients are in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties, but we represent clients throughout Florida.
How a Case Works at Maaswinkel Law
- Free case review — You tell us what happened. We tell you honestly whether you have a claim.
- Investigation — We gather the crash report, medical records, witness statements, and any video before it is gone.
- Claim and negotiation — We deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better.
- Settlement or suit — Most cases settle. If the offer is not fair, we are prepared to file.
Talk to an Orlando Injury Attorney
Tell us what happened and we will tell you where you stand. Consultations are free, and we answer in English, Español, and Tiếng Việt.
*No fee unless we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for costs and expenses. Contingency fees are subject to the limits of Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The information on this page is general information about Florida law, not legal advice, and contacting Maaswinkel Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.