Miami Catastrophic Injury Attorney
When an injury changes everything — how you work, how you live, how your family functions — you do not need a volume law firm. You need a lawyer who took your case instead of nine others.
I am Dennis Gonzalez Jr., a Miami trial attorney. My personal injury practice is deliberately narrow: I accept only catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases — the cases where the stakes are permanent and the insurance company has brought its best people. I turn down most injury cases that come through my door so that the families I do represent get what high-stakes litigation actually demands: my full attention.
Free, Confidential Case Evaluation
Speak directly with the attorney — not a case manager.
Cases We Accept
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) — from concussions with lasting cognitive deficits to severe brain damage;
- Spinal cord injuries — paralysis, surgical-level spine damage, permanent nerve injury;
- Wrongful death — representing the families left behind;
- Trucking and commercial vehicle collisions — 18-wheelers, fleets, rideshare, and delivery vehicles;
- Amputation, severe burns, and permanent disfigurement;
- Negligent security and premises liability — serious injuries on commercial property;
- Cruise ship and maritime injuries — Miami is the cruise capital of the world, and claims against cruise lines follow special federal rules and short contractual deadlines.
Why Catastrophic Cases Are Different
A catastrophic case is not a bigger version of a fender-bender. The defense is different: when exposure reaches seven or eight figures, carriers assign senior adjusters, retain their own medical experts, conduct surveillance, and staff the file with experienced trial counsel from day one. The proof is different: your case is built on life care planners, economists, neuropsychologists, accident reconstructionists, and treating physicians whose opinions must survive expert challenges. And the stakes are different: an undervalued settlement is not a disappointment — it is a lifetime of unfunded medical care.
The number that matters: the insurance company’s first offer is based on what they believe you will accept before you understand what your future care actually costs. Closing that gap is the entire job of experienced counsel.
Florida’s New Rules Punish Delay
Florida’s 2023 tort reform (HB 837) changed the landscape for serious injury cases. Most negligence claims must now be filed within two years — half the previous deadline. And under modified comparative fault, a plaintiff found more than 50% at fault recovers nothing, which means defense teams now build entire strategies around shifting blame across that line. Early investigation — preserving vehicle data, surveillance video, and witness accounts — is often the difference between a fully valued case and a compromised one. I covered these changes in detail in my analysis of Florida’s tort reform.
How I Work
Because the caseload is limited, every client gets direct access to me — my cell, not a call center. Every case is prepared from day one as if it will be tried, because insurance companies pay trial value only to lawyers genuinely prepared to try the case. Fees are contingent: you pay nothing unless we recover for you. And if your case falls outside what I handle, I will tell you honestly on the first call and connect you with the right lawyer at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a “catastrophic” injury in Florida?
There is no single statutory definition for civil cases, but in practice it means an injury with permanent, life-altering consequences: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage or paralysis, amputation, severe burns, permanent organ damage, or death. The common thread is that the victim’s life — and usually the family’s — never returns to what it was.
How long do I have to file a catastrophic injury lawsuit in Florida?
For most negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury. Some claims are even shorter — cruise ship tickets typically require suit within one year. Exceptions exist, so speak with an attorney immediately rather than assuming your deadline.
What is my case worth?
No honest lawyer can tell you at intake. Value depends on liability strength, available insurance and assets, past and future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and human damages. What I can tell you is how the process of proving each element works — and that early lowball offers rarely reflect any of it.
What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. Catastrophic cases are handled on contingency: attorney’s fees and costs are paid from the recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fee.
The insurance company already made an offer. Should I take it?
Do not accept or sign anything before understanding your future medical needs. A release is permanent — once signed, you cannot come back for more when the next surgery becomes necessary.
What if my loved one died in the accident?
Florida’s Wrongful Death Act allows certain survivors — typically the spouse, children, or parents — to recover through a claim brought by the estate’s personal representative. These cases carry their own procedures and deadlines, and they should be evaluated promptly.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover if you are 50% or less at fault, with your recovery reduced by your percentage of fault. But if a jury puts you at 51%, you recover nothing — which is exactly why the defense fights so hard over fault allocation, and why early evidence preservation matters so much.
Do you handle cases in Spanish?
Sí. Toda la representación está disponible completamente en español. Visite nuestra página de abogado de lesiones personales en Miami.
A catastrophic injury or loss in your family?
Free, confidential evaluation — English y Español. No fee unless we recover.
Contact us online • Dennis Gonzalez Jr., P.A. • 11401 SW 40th St, Suite 250, Miami, FL 33165
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information about Florida law and is not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship is created by visiting this page. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Deadlines described are general statements that may not apply to your situation — consult a licensed Florida attorney promptly.