Personal Injury
If you have been injured by another person's carelessness or recklessness, the law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP can help you recover damages and move on with your life.
Our Community
The Collier County Accident and Injury Attorneys of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP are Here to Help You.
Collier County, Florida is located in the Southwestern region of Florida at the southern end of the Gulf Coast. The county has a total area of 2,305 square miles of which, 2,025 square miles is land and 280 square miles is water. This makes Collier county the second largest county in the state of Florida after Palm Beach County. There are 37 miles of coastline in the county offering escape, serenity, and relaxing beachside fun. Virtually the entire southeastern portion of the county lies within the Big Cypress National Preserve, the first National Preserve in the National Park System.
Collier County is bordered by Hendry County to the north, Broward County to the east, Miami-Dade County to the southeast, Monroe County to the south and Lee County to the northwest. Incorporated cities and towns in Collier County include Everglades City, Marco Island and Naples. Its county seat is unincorporated East Naples.
Collier County, FL was created on July 7, 1923 from Lee County. It was named for Barron Collier, a real estate developer who had moved into the area and became a prominent land owner. He promised to build the Tamiami Trail in exchange for the state legislature naming a county after him. Collier would be proud of his namesake county today. Visitors flock to Collier County, Florida to enjoy the white sand beaches, exceptional accommodations, family attractions, world-class dining, arts and culture, and excellent shopping.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Collier County, FL had 311,926 residents in 2007. There were 120,000 households in Collier County and the average household size was 2.6 people. Families made up 67 percent of the households in Collier County.
The county's public schools are operated by the District School Board of Collier County, also known as Collier County Public Schools. The School District of Collier County includes 50 schools, two charter schools, and two technical schools for adults and high school students. Institutions of higher learning in and near Collier County include: Ave Maria University, Edison State College and Hodges University.
The Collier County Sheriffs Office provides safety to the citizens of Collier County. The deputies were originally known as the Southwest Mounted Police. They started their patrols after the completion of the Tamiami Trail in 1928. Each officer mounted his Harley Davidson motorcycle and patrolled his areas while officers' wives remained at the station helping to meet the needs of travelers.
The Board of County Commissioners is the chief legislative body of the county. The five elected officials on the board are dedicated to providing services to protect the health, safety, and quality of life of the citizens of Collier County.
Three hospitals serve the health care needs of Collier County, Florida: Collier Regional Medical Center, NCH Healthcare System and Physicians Regional Medical Center.
Collier County, Florida is easily accessible via automobile. Major highways include: Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley in the section between Naples and Ft. Lauderdale; U.S. Route 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail; State Road 29; State Road 84; and State Road 951. Travelers by air can choose from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, the Naples Municipal Airport, Marco Executive Airport, Everglades Airpark or the Immokalee Regional Airport. Collier Area Transit (CAT) provides public transportation within the county.
The Florida State Courts System is divided into 20 judicial circuits or areas of jurisdiction. Florida has two appellate courts. Florida's Supreme Court, the state's highest court, hears civil and criminal appeals from the lower courts. The court also answers constitutional questions and rules on the validity of statutes and on the construction of the state or U.S. constitutions. The state's five District Courts of Appeal, headquartered in Tallahassee, Lakeland, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Daytona Beach, hear all matters not directly appealable to the Supreme Court, as well as final actions of state agencies.
Florida has a two-tier trial court system of Circuit and County courts. The state's Circuit Courts hear felonies, family law matters, civil cases involving amounts over $15,000, probate, guardianship and mental health issues, juvenile dependency and delinquency issues and appeals from County Court. The state's County Courts hear misdemeanors, small claims of up to $5,000, and civil cases of up to and including $15,000 in controversy, as well as traffic cases. Examples of civil matters include hospital negligence, surgical malpractice, automobile accidents, truck accidents, work injury, dog bites, and professional liability lawsuits.
More information can be obtained from the Collier County Clerk's website. Collier County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Collier County Courthouse is located at Building L, 6th Floor, 3301 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112.
