Meet James D. Payer - How I Became a Personal Injury Lawyer
James D. Payer is a seasoned South Florida personal injury attorney with over 30 years of experience fighting for injury victims across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. From his early days working in law firms as a teenager to earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami, James has dedicated his career to helping individuals recover the compensation and support they deserve.
Before law school, James earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Stetson University and became a certified CPA. While at the University of Miami School of Law, he discovered his passion for representing accident victims, excelling in courses focused on tort law. Since graduating in 1995, he has exclusively represented injury victims, trying more than 100 cases before judges and juries throughout Florida.
James handles a wide range of personal injury cases, including car and truck accidents, Uber and Lyft collisions, workers’ compensation claims, brain injuries, and wrongful death cases. He has secured verdicts as high as $10 million and is recognized as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum—honors awarded to fewer than 1% of personal injury attorneys in the United States.
More than 30 years ago, James and his late brother, Christian Payer, founded Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers to provide hands-on, personalized legal representation in an industry increasingly dominated by large, impersonal firms. Today, James continues that mission, treating every client like family while delivering aggressive advocacy tailored to each individual case.
Notable Injury Cases
$10
MILLION
Work Injury / Truck Accident
JURY VERDICT
Represented a garbage truck helper who was run over by a co-worker who was driving the truck and ran a stop sign. We filed a negligence complaint and obtained a $10M jury verdict.
$2.69
MILLION
Electrocution of Tree Trimmer
SETTLEMENT
Settlement of case against FPL for failing to properly trim trees away from powerlines. Client was electrocuted while trimming a palm tree and sustained 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body, loss of his left eye and severe disfigurement.
$2.15
MILLION
Motor Vehicle Crash
SETTLEMENT
Settlement of a motor vehicle crash case against the uninsured motorist umbrella policy of the driver who lost control of the vehicle they were traveling in coming back from NC resulting in the client sustaining a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) that required multiple surgeries, weeks in the hospital and lengthy rehab to regain his pre-accident physical abilities.
$1.48
MILLION
Work Injury
JURY VERDICT
Represented a worker who was not provided the appropriate safety goggles and was struck in the eye with a nail from a nail gun while working for an uninsured contractor. Injuries included a detatched retina requiring surgery and a long recovery.
$1
MILLION
Work Injury
SETTLEMENT
Settlement of a work accident case for a client who was a warehouse worker for a large aviation company (bought out by Boeing) when he tripped and fell over a pallet striking the back of his head on the concrete floor resulting in TBI and severe spinal cord damages that resulting in mylopathy that limited his ability to walk. We also got him $536,000.00 in medical and lost wage benefits prior to settlement.
$675
THOUSAND
Work Injury
SETTLEMENT
Settlement of a workers’ compensation case where my client sustained a multiple herniated disks in his lower back that caused foot drop and neuropathy into his lower extremities. The initial surgery performed by the workers’ compensdation doctor was a failure and I was able to get my client to a spine surgeon iat the University of Miami Spine Institute to perform corrective surgery that allowed him to regain most of his bodily funhctions and avoid permanent paralysis. Also got him $670,658.00 in medical and lost wage benefits prior to settlement.
What Happens After You Become a Payer Law Client
At Payer Law, every client receives a free consultation without time limits. James and his team take the time to fully understand the facts of your case, explain your rights, and set realistic expectations—ensuring that even cases with similar circumstances are handled with a strategy unique to you. While specific results cannot be guaranteed, James brings relentless dedication, extensive experience, and a proven track record to every case he handles.
Payer Law Client Testimonial
Professional Memberships & Associations
- Florida Bar Association Member Since: 1996
- Florida Workers’ Advocates Member Since: 2000
- Florida Justice Association (EAGLE Member) Member Since: 1997
- American Bar Association Member Since: 1999
- Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association Member Since: 2000
Awards & Honors
- Million Dollar Advocates
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates
Education
- Juris Doctor, University of Miami School of Law, 1995
- Inter American Law Review
- B.B.A., Stetson University, Deland, FL, 1991
Practice Areas
Jurisdictions Admitted To Practice
- State of Florida, 1996
- United States District Court – Middle
- District of Florida, 1996
- United States District Court – Southern District of Florida, 1996
12000 Biscayne Blvd STE 503
Miami, FL 33181
(305) 363-7099
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
What Clients Have to Say About Working With James D. Payer
What a wonderful experience it was to be represented by Mr Payer. Lysette was always a joy to speak with. I fired Morgan and Morgan when I found them.
Jeffrey B.
Payer Law Client
Mr. Payer and the staff are great. They make you feel like family and are very sensitive to your situations. No better worker’s compensation/Personal Injury Attorney in Miami.
Joes R.
Payer Law Client
James Payer is one of the finest attorney’s I’ve ever known and a truly honorable man.Thanks for the great representation both times.
Stephen H.
Payer Law Client
I am very satisfied with James Payer and Payer Law. They are very professional and helpful for everything. Highly recommend this Law office.
Alejo M.
Payer Law Client
I hired James to represent us as a result of an injury at school. My Payer was very professional and helpful. I highly recommend him and his firm.
Andros G.
Payer Law Client
Mr. Payer is a very professional and responsive lawyer. He was able to negotiate a satisfactory outcome for myself and my family. Thank you Payer Law!
Isamariela D.
Payer Law Client
Great experience. Great staff. I strongly recommend mr payer hard working lawyer very happy with the results in a short period of time..
Claudio boyett
Claudio B.
Payer Law Client
Mr. Payer was my Attorney in my Workers Compensation Case. He was very professional and his staff was always willing to help. I recommend him highly.
Elianise P.
Payer Law Client
Payer Law and his staff are like no other. They understood how difficult it was to be injured and out of work. I couldn’t be happier with my settlement.
Jaleesa S.
Payer Law Client
James Payer is an excellent attorney! Very impressed and satisfied with overall representation from the firm. Wonderful staff. I’m glad I chose Payer Law.
Yessenia M
Payer Law Client
Payer Law is the best injury law firm there is. They helped me get a great settlement after a car accident. Mr. Payer and his staff truly care about their clients. They treated me like family and you don’t find that often. I highly recommend them! A+++
Alejo M.
Payer Law Client
I highly recommend Mr. Payer for any workers compensation cases. Him and his staff are very professional and welcoming, he handled two of my cases and I am very pleased with his results.
Oscar C.
Payer Law Client
With great pleasure I want to thank attorney James D. Payer for assisting me with my case. The process was smooth and your staff was awesome. You will always be in my reference. Thank you.
Olivia J.
Payer Law Client
I am so thankful for all the help I received from Mr. Payer and his staff, following my car accident. They were thorough, efficient, and best of all, they treated me like family. Thank you, Payer Law, for winning my case!
Lourdes M.
Payer Law Client
I had the most amazing experience with Payer Law. Thank you attorney payer and his amazing staff for a wonderful experience and excellent settlement on my car accident case that happened a couple months ago. And thank you Genesis for being helpful through this process.
Billy M.
Payer Law Client