How much of a $25,000 settlement will I get?

It depends on your fee agreement, case costs, and any medical liens. From a gross settlement, the contingency fee and case expenses are deducted, and outstanding medical bills or liens are resolved, often at negotiated reductions. We work to reduce liens so more of the settlement reaches you, and we account for every dollar in writing.

What should I avoid saying to the insurance company?

Do not guess, speculate about fault, or say you feel fine before a medical evaluation. Do not agree to a recorded statement for the other driver's insurer without counsel. Stick to basic facts, and let your lawyer handle communications so an offhand comment is not used to shrink your claim.

Sarasota Personal Injury Law Firm

Q: How much do personal injury lawyers charge in Florida?

Most Florida personal injury lawyers, including Greg Linehan Law, work on a contingency fee. You pay nothing up front, and the fee is a percentage of the recovery, set by written agreement consistent with Florida Bar rules. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. We explain the exact terms in writing before you sign anything.

Q: What is the 51% rule in Florida?

Under section 768.81, Florida Statutes, you cannot recover damages if you are found more than 50 percent at fault for your own injury. At 50 percent fault or less, you can still recover, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers often overstate a victim's share of fault, so this issue is worth contesting.

Q: How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida?

For most negligence claims that accrued on or after March 24, 2023, the deadline is two years from the date of the injury under section 95.11, Florida Statutes. Some claims, such as those against government entities, involve shorter notice requirements. Confirm your specific deadline with an attorney promptly.

Q: Do I really need to see a doctor within 14 days of a Sarasota car accident?

Yes, if you want your PIP benefits. Section 627.736, Florida Statutes requires initial medical services within 14 days of the crash for your personal injury protection coverage to pay. Delaying care also gives the insurer room to argue your injuries came from something else.

Q: Where is your Sarasota office?

We are at 455 N Lime Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237, just east of downtown between Fruitville Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, a few blocks east of US-301. If your injuries prevent travel, we can arrange a phone consultation instead. Call 941-559-4529 to set a time.

Greg Linehan Law is a personal injury law firm in Sarasota, Florida, located at 455 N Lime Ave, just east of downtown. Attorney Greg Linehan has represented injured people in Sarasota County for 29 years. The firm handles car accidents, motorcycle crashes, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, and other injury claims on a contingency fee basis.

If you were hurt in Sarasota and need answers, call 941-559-4529 for a free case review. You speak with our team directly, and Greg handles your case personally. No call centers, no case managers you never met, no getting passed around.

Visit Our Sarasota Office

Our office sits at 455 N Lime Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237, between Fruitville Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, a few blocks east of US-301. We are minutes from downtown Sarasota, the Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center on Ringling Blvd, and Payne Park.

From I-75: take Exit 210 for Fruitville Road, head west about five miles, then turn right on N Lime Ave.
From US-41 (Tamiami Trail): take Fruitville Road east, cross US-301, then turn left on N Lime Ave.

Areas We Serve Around Sarasota

We represent injured people throughout Sarasota County and the surrounding Gulf Coast. That includes downtown Sarasota, Gillespie Park, the Rosemary District, Southside Village, Gulf Gate, Palmer Ranch, Siesta Key, Lido Key, and St. Armands, plus nearby communities in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Osprey, Nokomis, and North Port.

Most of our cases arise on the roads local drivers know well: I-75, US-41, US-301, Fruitville Road, Bee Ridge Road, and Clark Road. If your crash happened anywhere in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, which covers Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties, we can help.

Injury Cases We Handle in Sarasota

Greg Linehan Law handles injury claims caused by another person’s negligence anywhere in Sarasota County. Every case listed below is handled from our Lime Ave office, and every consultation is free. Select a practice area to see how we approach that case type, what compensation may be available, and what deadlines apply.

Florida Deadlines and Rules That Affect Your Sarasota Case

Florida gives most injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a negligence lawsuit under section 95.11, Florida Statutes. Miss the deadline and the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, no matter how strong it is. Two other Florida rules shape nearly every Sarasota injury claim.

The 50 percent bar. Florida follows modified comparative negligence under section 768.81, Florida Statutes. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault for your own accident, you recover nothing. At 50 percent or less, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault. Insurance adjusters know this rule and use it, which is why fault arguments need to be answered early with evidence.

The PIP 14-day rule. Florida is a no-fault state. Your own personal injury protection coverage pays first, up to $10,000, but only if you receive initial medical care within 14 days of the crash under section 627.736, Florida Statutes. Waiting to see a doctor can cost you the benefits you already paid for.

These rules changed significantly in 2023, and older information online still shows a four-year deadline. Do not rely on it. Call us and we will tell you exactly which deadline applies to your situation.

Sarasota’s Roads Keep Our Courts Busy

Sarasota County has averaged roughly 6,500 traffic crashes per year in recent reporting years, peaking at 7,065 in 2022, with about 4,000 people injured annually, according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data. Statewide, FLHSMV reported 366,300 crashes and 157,636 injury crashes in 2025 alone.

Behind each number is a person dealing with emergency bills from Sarasota Memorial Hospital, missed paychecks, and an adjuster calling before the tow truck leaves. Injury claims filed in Sarasota County are heard at the Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center downtown, and Greg has tried cases in that courthouse for nearly three decades.

Why Sarasota Residents Choose Greg Linehan Law

Clients choose our firm for three reasons: 29 years of local experience, direct access to the attorney handling the case, and a team that has worked together for more than 15 years. Greg built the firm on a simple philosophy: honest answers, personal attention, and no backing down when a fight is necessary.

Local trial experience. Greg has represented Sarasota injury victims since the 1990s and knows the local courts, adjusters, and defense firms.
You work with Greg. Your case is not handed off. You get direct communication and straight assessments at every stage.
No fee unless we recover. Injury cases are handled on contingency. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

What to Do After an Accident in Sarasota

After a Sarasota accident, get medical care first, even if you feel fine, and do it within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits. Report the crash, photograph everything you safely can, get witness contact information, and decline to give recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer until you have spoken with a lawyer.

Then call us at 941-559-4529. The earlier we get involved, the more evidence we can preserve: intersection camera footage, vehicle data, and witness memories all fade fast.

Talk to a Sarasota injury lawyer today.

Call 941-559-4529 OR Request your free case review online. There is no cost to speak with us, and no fee unless we recover for you. Greg Linehan Law, 455 N Lime Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237.

Sarasota Personal Injury Law Firm Serving Our Community for Nearly 30 Years