Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer

Injured in Fort Lauderdale? You Have Options

Fort Lauderdale is Broward’s county seat and home to its main courthouse, close to Port Everglades and the airport. Locals share the roads with commuters, airport travelers, cruise passengers and beachgoers. When someone else’s carelessness leaves you hurt, the claim that follows can feel just as confusing as the crash itself.

Linder Diaz Law helps injured people in Fort Lauderdale understand their rights and pursue fair compensation. We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, so there are no upfront costs and no fee unless we win. Call or text (305) 853-8628 at any hour.

Fort Lauderdale Corridors Where Injuries Happen

Fort Lauderdale’s traffic comes from many directions at once. Some of the areas where injuries are common include:

• Las Olas Boulevard, from the downtown shopping and dining district east toward the beach and A1A, with heavy foot traffic and drivers looking for parking.
• The beach and A1A, where tourists, cyclists, scooter riders and drivers all share the road.
• SE 17th Street and Eisenhower Boulevard, one of the entrances to Port Everglades, busy on cruise days.
• I-95 and I-595, including the I-595 approach to the port’s Eller Drive entrance.
• U.S. 1 (Federal Highway), which runs through the city and past Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport.
• Broward Boulevard and other east–west roads that connect downtown with the rest of the county.

With so many visitors relying on rideshare, we often see Uber and Lyft accident claims here. Florida requires rideshare companies and drivers to carry specific insurance depending on whether the app was on and whether a ride was accepted, so the details of the trip matter.

Busy nightlife and late-night traffic also lead to hit-and-run crashes. If the driver who hit you is never found, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you have it, may be the main source of compensation for your injuries. Report the crash right away and keep the case number.

Fort Lauderdale Police Crash Reports

Crashes inside city limits are generally investigated by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. On interstates or in unincorporated areas, a different agency, such as the Florida Highway Patrol or the Broward Sheriff’s Office, may handle the report. Look at the agency name on the information exchange form you received.

FLPD’s Records Unit is at 1300 W. Broward Blvd. According to the department, reports may be requested by mail or in person, and phone, fax and email requests are not accepted. Anyone requesting a crash report must complete a sworn statement explaining why they are entitled to it, and mail requests need a signed and notarized copy.

FLPD also points people to the state’s Florida Crash Portal, where reports can be purchased online. Florida keeps crash reports confidential for 60 days, except for the people involved, their lawyers and certain others. When you hire us, we request the report for you.

The Courthouse in Downtown Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is home to the Broward County Judicial Complex at 201 SE 6th Street, the main courthouse for Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit. If your claim cannot be resolved with the insurance company and a lawsuit becomes necessary, a Fort Lauderdale case would be filed in Broward County.

Most injury cases settle without a trial. But knowing the local court system, and being ready to use it, gives you leverage in negotiations. To understand how settlement values are discussed, see our guide on car accident settlements.

Visiting Fort Lauderdale When You Were Hurt

Many people injured in Fort Lauderdale don’t live here. They flew in, came for a cruise or were visiting family. If that is you, a few points are worth knowing.

• Florida’s rules generally apply to a crash that happens here, including the two-year deadline for most negligence claims arising on or after March 24, 2023.
• Florida-registered vehicle owners must carry PIP. Which PIP policy, if any, applies to an out-of-state visitor depends on their own insurance and the vehicles involved, so have your policy reviewed.
• You can work with us from home by phone, email and video after you leave Florida.

Injuries also happen outside of cars, in hotels, restaurants and shops. If you were hurt by a spill or hazard on someone’s property, our page on slip and fall claims explains what Florida law requires you to prove.

For Example (Hypothetical): A Rideshare Crash on the Way to the Port

For example (hypothetical): a couple takes a rideshare from their hotel to Port Everglades. On SE 17th Street, a car runs a red light and strikes their vehicle. One of them suffers a shoulder injury that needs surgery, and they miss their cruise.

Because the rideshare driver had accepted the trip, Florida law requires at least $1,000,000 in coverage for that period, plus PIP. The at-fault driver may have their own insurance as well. A lawyer would request the FLPD report, identify every policy that may apply, and gather medical records, receipts and travel costs. How much any claim is worth depends on the facts, including whether the injury meets Florida’s permanent injury threshold.

The First Days After an Injury

• Get medical care within 14 days if a motor vehicle was involved, or PIP may not pay your medical bills. Read more about the PIP 14-day rule.
• Photograph everything: the vehicles, the street, signals, your injuries and anything that caused a fall.
• Save receipts for medical care, transportation and any travel changes.
• Be cautious with adjusters. You do not have to give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer.
• Remember shared fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, Florida law bars recovery.

Meeting With Us From Fort Lauderdale

Our office is at 1909 Tyler Street, Suite 503, in downtown Hollywood, just south of Fort Lauderdale. Most clients head south on I-95 or U.S. 1 (Federal Highway), past the airport, to Hollywood Boulevard. See directions and parking on our Hollywood office page.

If you can’t travel, we can meet by phone or video, or come to you. Office meetings are by appointment, including weekends. We serve clients in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian and Ukrainian, and you will speak directly with Alexandra.

Ready to talk? Reach us through our contact page for a free consultation.