Serving Hialeah and northwest Miami-Dade
Hialeah Personal Injury Lawyer
For nearly two decades I defended insurance companies. Now I represent only injured people in Hialeah and across Miami-Dade. I speak Spanish, and if I take your case, I handle it personally.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
Office: Miami, Florida · I meet Hialeah clients in person, by video, or by phone
I was hurt in an accident in Hialeah. What happens with my claim?
Before filing, I check which law applies and which court and county are proper. Many Hialeah cases go to Miami-Dade courts, but not all. What you do in the first days matters most: get medical care, get the crash report and save evidence before it's gone. The case review is free, and there are no fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Miami-Dade courts
Where Hialeah injury cases are heard
A Hialeah injury case is heard either in state court, in Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit, which serves Miami-Dade County, or in federal court, at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.
State court
In state court, claims for $50,000 or less, not counting interest, court costs and attorney's fees, generally go to county court. Larger claims generally go to circuit court (§ 34.01).
Circuit civil cases are heard at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, 20 NW 1st Avenue, in downtown Miami. County court also sits in Hialeah, at the Hialeah District Court, 11 E. 6th Street.
Sources: 11th Judicial Circuit · 11th Circuit: Circuit Civil · 11th Circuit: County Civil · Miami-Dade Clerk: Hialeah District Court · Miami-Dade Clerk: court locations · § 34.01, Fla. Stat.
Federal court
One of the Southern District of Florida's Miami courthouses is the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 400 North Miami Avenue. Some injury cases belong in federal court, depending on who the parties are and what the claims are.
Hialeah and Miami-Dade in numbers
Who lives in Hialeah, and how often Miami-Dade crashes hurt people
Hialeah has about 231,000 residents, and 95.1% are Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Across Miami-Dade, crashes kill about 5 people and seriously injure 21 every week, according to the county's Vision Zero program.
of Hialeah residents are Hispanic or Latino.
of residents age 5 and up speak a language other than English at home (2020–2024).
traffic deaths a week in Miami-Dade (Signal4 Analytics, 2024).
serious traffic injuries a week in Miami-Dade (Signal4 Analytics, 2024).
What this means for you
If you prefer Spanish, ask for service in Spanish or an interpreter. Before you sign anything or give a recorded statement, make sure you understand it.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hialeah · Miami-Dade Vision Zero fact sheet · Miami-Dade Vision Zero
Crash reports
Who has your crash report in Hialeah
Your Hialeah crash report is held by the agency that investigated the crash: the Hialeah Police Department, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office or the Florida Highway Patrol.
Hialeah Police
The City of Hialeah sends people to the Florida Crash Portal for crash reports online. The Police Records Unit is at 5555 E. 8th Avenue in Hialeah.
Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO)
On January 7, 2025, the Miami-Dade Police Department became the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. It polices unincorporated Miami-Dade and contract cities, and its Central Records Bureau keeps its crash reports.
Sources: Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, FY 2025-26 budget · MDSO Central Records Bureau
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
FHP Troop E covers Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. FHP Troop K patrols Florida's Turnpike.
Sources: FHP Troop E · FHP Troop K
How to get it
- Online: The state's Florida Crash Portal sells official crash reports from Florida law enforcement agencies. A report can take up to 10 days to show up. If it isn't there after that, contact the agency that investigated.
Sources: Florida Crash Portal · FLHSMV: traffic crash reports
- The first 60 days: Crash reports with personal information are confidential for 60 days after they're filed. The people involved and their authorized representatives can request them sooner by meeting identification and sworn-statement requirements. Some access restrictions continue after that.
Sources: § 316.066, Fla. Stat. · FLHSMV: traffic crash reports
- If I take your case: I get the report for you, and I check it for mistakes about who did what.
Hialeah situations
Three Hialeah situations, and what to do
In each of these three situations, the evidence that decides the case can disappear within days.
A hit-and-run, or a driver with no insurance
If the driver fled or had no insurance, your own PIP and, if you have it, your uninsured-motorist coverage may pay. Report the crash to the police and to your own insurer on time.
Save: Ask nearby businesses and homes for camera video right away, because it can be recorded over quickly. Write down any part of the plate, the color and the model of the car.
I look into: Cameras, witnesses and records that can identify the driver, and every policy that can pay.
In a Hialeah hit-and-run case, we tracked down the driver who fled and filed suit.
Every case is different; past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
A crash with a work van, delivery vehicle or truck on Okeechobee Road or the Palmetto
When the other vehicle is used for work, more than one policy may apply: the driver's, the company that owns the vehicle, and the business that hired it.
Save: The company name on the vehicle, any truck or USDOT number, and photos of the vehicle and its load.
I look into: Who owns the vehicle and who was operating it, the driver's records, and the truck's electronic data before it's lost.
A fall at a store, supermarket or shopping plaza
If you slip and fall on a spill or other substance on a business's floor, you generally must prove the business knew or should have known about it and should have fixed it (§ 768.0755).
Save: Ask for an incident report and keep a copy or a photo of it. Photograph the floor, what was on it and your shoes. Write down employees' names.
I look into: The store's video before it's recorded over, cleaning and inspection logs, and earlier falls in the same spot.
Case types
Hialeah cases I handle
I handle these injury cases in Hialeah and across Miami-Dade.
Car accidents
Rear-end, side-impact and expressway crashes.
Truck accidents
Work vans, delivery vehicles and cargo trucks.
Motorcycle accidents
PIP doesn't cover riders, so other coverage matters more.
Uber & Lyft accidents
Passengers, drivers and people hit by a rideshare car.
Pedestrian accidents
Hit in a crosswalk, a parking lot or at a bus stop.
Bicycle accidents
When passing a cyclist in the same lane or an unseparated bike lane, Florida drivers must leave at least 3 feet.
Slip and fall
Falls in stores, supermarkets, plazas and restaurants.
Uninsured motorist
When the other driver has little or no insurance.
Wrongful death
When a family loses someone to another's carelessness.
Catastrophic injury
Brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and severe burns.
Florida law
Florida deadlines and rules
Four Florida rules shape most Hialeah injury claims.
14 days to get care
If PIP applies to you, Florida's no-fault insurance generally pays medical benefits only if you get initial care within 14 days of the crash (§ 627.736). Coverage limits apply. Don't wait to see if the pain goes away.
2 years to file
Most Florida negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023 must be filed within 2 years (§ 95.11(5)(a)). Other deadlines may apply.
The 50% rule
In most Florida negligence lawsuits filed after March 24, 2023, your share of fault reduces what you recover, and if you're more than 50% at fault for your own harm, you recover nothing (§ 768.81). Medical negligence cases are an exception.
Your own policy can pay
If the driver who hit you has little or no insurance, your own uninsured-motorist coverage may pay. Report the crash to your own insurer on time, and review your coverage before you give anyone a recorded statement.
Wondering what your claim is worth? Start here →
Next steps
What to do in the first days
Get checked within 14 days
Go to the ER, urgent care or your doctor. Tell them every part that hurts.
Get the crash report
Write down which agency came to the scene and the report number.
Save the evidence
Photos of the vehicles, the scene and your injuries. Witness names and numbers. Any camera you see nearby.
Talk to a lawyer first
Before you give the other side's insurer a recorded statement or sign a release. Don't miss notice deadlines or your duty to cooperate with your own insurer.
Areas we serve
Hialeah and nearby communities I serve
I represent injured people in Hialeah and in these nearby communities:
- Hialeah
- Hialeah Gardens
- Miami Lakes
- Palm Springs North
- Medley
- Miami Springs
- Country Club
Track record
Results from a lawyer who knows the other side
The firm has recovered real money for injured Floridians, including confidential settlements and settlements for the most the policy pays.
Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.See more results →
Client reviews
What clients say
“They brought exceptional legal skill, compassion, and genuine care to our case. We never felt like just another client. This firm didn’t just represent us — they stood beside us. We will always be grateful.”
— Tony Neal · Google“The kind of attorney everyone hopes to find — honest, thorough, dedicated. My situation didn’t even become a case, yet he patiently walked me through every option.”
— Rev. Sonia · Avvo“Emanuel is a very detailed professional. His communication skills are excellent. Thank you!!”
— Jorge Sanchez · Google“Emanuel is a talented attorney and an even better person. His clients will always come first, and he always acts with the utmost integrity. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with a personal injury case in South Florida.”
— Robert Meyer · GoogleReviews reflect individual clients’ experiences. Prospective clients may not obtain the same or similar results. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Hialeah FAQ
Do I have to come to the office?
No. We can meet by video or phone, and if your injuries keep you from traveling, I'll come to you.
How much does it cost?
You pay nothing up front. My fee comes out of the money I get for you (this is called a contingency fee). The case review is free, and you pay no attorney fees or costs unless the firm wins money for you.
Will I work with you directly, or with an assistant?
With me. I personally handle every case I take, and you talk to me, not a case manager.
How long do I have to file?
Most Florida negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023 must be filed within 2 years (§ 95.11(5)(a)). Other claims, including claims under your own insurance policy, can have different deadlines. Claims against the government require written notice and a waiting period before a lawsuit (§ 768.28). Don't wait to find out which applies to you.
Which court will my case be in?
Often a Miami-Dade court, in the 11th Judicial Circuit, but it depends on the venue rules for your claim. For ordinary damages claims, county court generally handles up to $50,000, not counting interest, court costs and attorney's fees. Larger claims generally go to circuit court. Some cases belong in federal court, at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.
Tell me what happened. The case review is free.
You'll talk to me, a senior attorney who spent nearly two decades working for the insurance companies. Not a case manager. No fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Call 786-442-2873