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Snowbirds, families & visitors from Canada

Canadians Injured in Florida

Being Canadian doesn't weaken your Florida claim — but the insurer will act as if it does the moment you cross the border home. I spent nearly two decades on their side. I handle the Florida side; you heal at home, wherever home is.

— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney

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5.0 Google (80) AV Preeminent 20+ years litigating No fees or costs unless you recover Senior attorney, not a case manager
Hurt in Florida but don't live here? You don't have to stay

Reviewed by Emanuel Galimidi, Esq. — former insurance-defense attorney · Last updated September 2026

I'm Canadian and was hurt in Florida — can I still make a claim?

Yes. Your claim is governed by Florida law because the injury happened here, and the at-fault party's insurance is responsible whether you live in Ontario, Quebec, or Miami. You generally have two years to file (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)). Your provincial health plan pays only a small fraction of U.S. medical bills, and if your travel insurer paid, it will usually expect reimbursement from any recovery — but a Florida claim can recover the full medical cost, lost income, and pain and suffering, which Florida does not cap in an ordinary negligence case. The case moves forward after you go home: treatment with your Canadian doctors, records exchanged electronically, negotiations handled by your lawyer, and a deposition, if one is needed, frequently by video.

Canadians hurt in Florida — the facts that matter

⏱
Deadline to file
2 years from the injury for most Florida negligence claims
🍁
Your provincial plan
Pays only a small share of U.S. bills — the claim covers the rest
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Your treatment
Continue with your doctors in Canada; the records travel
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What it costs
Free consultation · no fees or costs unless you recover

What they do

What the insurer does once you're back in Canada

Distance is their favourite defence. The moves are predictable.

The 'you've gone home' slowdown

Calls go unreturned and the file sits, on the bet that a claimant two thousand kilometres away will eventually give up.

Doubting Canadian records

They question provincial records, currency conversions, and whether your Canadian doctors 'really' connected the injury to the Florida crash.

Settling around your travel insurer

An offer sized to cover the travel-insurance lien and little else — so the insurer is repaid and you are left with nothing for your injury.

After an injury

What to do before you fly home — and after

Get care in Florida first

An ER or urgent-care visit documents the injury here. After a car crash, seeing a doctor within 14 days also protects no-fault benefits.

Notify your travel insurer and keep everything

Open the claim, save every letter and explanation of benefits — what they paid becomes part of the Florida claim.

Keep treating in Canada

Follow up promptly with your own doctors and keep every receipt, in whatever currency. Gaps in care are what the adjuster looks for.

Don't give a recorded statement

The adjuster will call, often while you're still travelling. Politely decline; that conversation is a lawyer's job.

Florida law

The Florida rules that decide a Canadian's claim

2-year deadline

Florida generally gives you 2 years from the injury to file a negligence lawsuit — regardless of where you live. Government defendants and cruise lines have shorter clocks.

Florida law, Florida court

The injury happened here, so Florida law governs and the case is filed in the Florida county where it happened. Florida does not cap pain-and-suffering damages in an ordinary negligence case, unlike the thresholds and deductibles common in Canadian provinces.

Comparative fault

You can still recover if you are 50% or less at fault; your share reduces the award. The adjuster's percentage is an opening position, not a ruling.

Snowbird cars and PIP

Your Canadian auto policy generally extends to the U.S. and its accident benefits can pay medical costs regardless of fault. One trap: if you keep a car in Florida for more than 90 days in a year, Florida requires you to carry Florida PIP on it — a gap that catches many snowbirds.

Related pages: Injured visiting Florida (all visitors) · Car accidents · Uninsured motorist coverage · Slip & fall

A recent result

Their offer wasn't the real number.

$575K

Car accident · their opening offer: $0

One of several recent recoveries handled by the firm. Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more results →

Client reviews

What clients say

5.0 · 80 Google reviews
★★★★★
Google

“A highly professional law office. Mr. Galimidi is very honest and puts great effort into his work for you — he always gets back to you by email or phone. A phenomenal attorney with a heart for people.”

— Sarah · Google
★★★★★
Google

“Emanuel is one of the best attorneys in South Florida. Schedule a call with him before going with anyone else — he will fight for you, and you want someone seasoned handling your case.”

— James · Google
★★★★★
Avvo

“The attention to detail Emanuel has is second to none. Knowledge is power, and he has an abundance of knowledge.”

— Omar · Avvo

Individual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.

Questions people ask

Canadians injured in Florida — FAQ

Do I have to come back to Florida for my case?

Usually not. The investigation, records, and negotiation all happen while you're home, and if a lawsuit is filed, a deposition can typically be done by video or timed with your next winter in Florida. A trial would require attendance, but most cases resolve well before that.

Will OHIP, RAMQ, or my provincial plan cover my Florida bills?

Only a small portion — provincial plans reimburse out-of-country care at roughly the rate they would pay at home, which is far below U.S. hospital charges. The difference, plus lost income and pain and suffering, is what the Florida claim against the at-fault party is for.

My travel insurer paid the hospital — is there anything left for me?

Yes. The travel insurer is entitled to be repaid from the recovery for what it advanced, but your claim is for far more than the medical bills: lost income, future care, and pain and suffering. Negotiating that reimbursement down is part of the job.

Can I treat with my doctors in Canada?

Yes, and you should — promptly. Their records, bills, and imaging become evidence in the Florida claim. Records in French are translated; bills in Canadian dollars are converted. What matters is continuity of care.

My car has Ontario or Quebec plates — whose insurance applies?

The at-fault driver's Florida liability policy is the primary target. Your own Canadian policy generally follows you into the U.S. and its accident benefits can pay medical costs regardless of fault; if the at-fault driver has little or no insurance, your policy's uninsured-motorist coverage may respond. Which policy pays what depends on your wording, so send it early.

Will you work with my lawyer in Canada?

Gladly. Some clients already have a Canadian lawyer handling accident benefits or a travel-insurance dispute at home. I handle the Florida liability claim and coordinate so the two don't work against each other.

How long do I have to file?

Generally 2 years from the injury. Cruise-ship injuries usually carry a one-year deadline under the ticket contract, and claims against a government agency need early written notice — so it's worth a call before you leave Florida.

Tell me what happened. The consultation is free.

You'll talk to a senior attorney who spent nearly two decades on the other side — not a case manager. No fees or costs unless you recover.

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