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Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer
At Newman Injury Law, PLLC, we represent drivers and passengers injured in crashes across South Florida. Our founder has been practicing civil litigation since 2010 and handles auto injury cases from the initial claim through settlement or trial. We know Florida’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection rules, we understand how the serious injury threshold works, and we have dealt with the same insurance carriers that are now handling your claim. Call today to speak with our Fort Lauderdale, FL car accident lawyer who will give you a direct read on where you stand.
Why Choose Newman Injury Law, PLLC for Car Accident Cases in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
Civil Litigation Experience with Auto Injury Cases
Our founder, Jared K. Newman, is an experienced civil litigation attorney who has dedicated his practice to representing people injured by the negligence of others. He earned his J.D. from South Texas Law in 2009 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 2006. Auto collision cases require a specific mix of medical evidence, insurance law knowledge, and willingness to try cases when insurers refuse to pay fairly.
Track Record That Reflects the Work
Our personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL has recovered millions of dollars for clients dealing with serious injuries. Car crash settlements depend on how well the case is documented in the early weeks, how medical records are developed over time, and how prepared the claim is for litigation if the insurer refuses to negotiate reasonably.
Familiar with South Florida Courts and Carriers
Jared is an active member of the Broward County Bar Association and the Dade County Bar Association. Broward traffic patterns, the regional hospitals injured drivers end up at, and the insurance carriers that dominate South Florida auto policies all factor into how we build each case.
No Fees Unless We Win
You pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Consultations are free. The contingency structure keeps our incentives aligned with yours throughout the life of the case.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I had a great experience working with this attorney in helping me with an automobile accident case. From the very beginning, Jared and his staff were very professional, knowledgeable, and extremely supportive throughout my case. They communicated with me every step of the way and always made sure I understood what was happening. Any time I had questions or concerns, they responded promptly and clearly. I felt confident knowing my case was in good hands. I highly recommend Jared Newman to anyone looking for someone who is responsive, reliable, and genuinely cares about their clients.” (Grisel Rodicio)
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Fort Lauderdale
Car crashes vary widely in how they happen, who is at fault, and how the insurance coverage plays out. The investigation and strategy depend on the specific type of collision. Our firm handles the following categories of auto injury claims:
- Rear-end collisions. Rear-end collision cases often face the presumption of fault against the trailing driver, though Florida law recognizes exceptions when the lead driver stopped suddenly or operated with defective brake lights.
- Intersection and left-turn crashes. Red-light running, failure to yield while turning left, and stop-sign violations produce many serious injury cases in Fort Lauderdale. Traffic camera footage and witness accounts drive liability determinations.
- Highway and multi-vehicle crashes. I-95, I-595, and Florida’s Turnpike produce high-speed collisions that often involve multiple vehicles and complex liability questions. Multi-car accident fault analysis in these cases requires accident reconstruction and careful review of each driver’s conduct.
- Distracted driving collisions. Texting, phone use, and in-vehicle technology continue to cause serious crashes. Cell phone records and vehicle data can prove distraction was a factor.
- Drunk and impaired driver crashes. Drivers under the influence produce some of the most catastrophic injuries. DUI accident damages are often higher because impaired conduct may support punitive damages in addition to compensatory recovery.
- Hit-and-run cases. When the at-fault driver flees the scene, pursuing uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy becomes essential.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents. Florida does not require bodily injury liability coverage on standard auto policies, which means many drivers carry minimal or no coverage at all. Your own UM coverage often becomes the primary source of recovery.
- Rideshare accidents. Rideshare accident cases involve layered insurance that depends on whether the Uber or Lyft driver was offline, waiting for a ride request, or actively transporting a passenger at the time of the crash.
- Rental car crashes. Accidents involving rental vehicles raise distinct coverage questions depending on whether the renter purchased coverage from the rental company, relied on their personal auto policy, or had coverage through a credit card.
- Teen driver accidents. Young and inexperienced drivers cause a disproportionate share of crashes, and their parents’ insurance policies are often the primary coverage in these cases.
- Pedestrian and bicyclist impacts. When a motor vehicle strikes someone outside a vehicle, the injuries are usually severe and liability often clearly favors the injured person.
Florida Legal Requirements for Car Accident Cases
Florida operates under a no-fault auto insurance system. Under Section 627.736, drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection coverage that pays 80 percent of medical bills and 60 percent of lost wages, up to the $10,000 policy limit, regardless of who caused the crash. PIP covers you and your passengers in most scenarios. However, accessing the full 80 percent requires treatment within 14 days of the crash for an “emergency medical condition” as determined by a qualifying provider. Miss that window and your benefits may be capped at $2,500.
To step outside PIP and pursue full damages against the at-fault driver, Florida requires that you meet the serious injury threshold. The injury must be permanent, involve significant scarring or disfigurement, or cause the loss of an important bodily function. Without meeting that threshold, your recovery is generally limited to what PIP pays.
The statute of limitations for most Florida negligence actions is now two years from the date of the crash under Section 95.11, reduced from the prior four-year window by legislation effective March 2023. Florida also applies a modified comparative negligence rule under Section 768.81, under which a driver more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover at all. Below that threshold, recovery is reduced proportionally. Florida crash reports are available through the FLHSMV and often serve as the starting point for liability analysis by both sides.
What Damages Are Recoverable in a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Case?
Compensation in a Fort Lauderdale car accident case typically falls into economic damages, non-economic damages, and occasionally punitive damages. What you can recover depends on whether your injuries meet the serious injury threshold and what insurance coverage is available.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses. Past and future medical expenses include ambulance transport, emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, imaging, medications, and assistive devices. Lost wages and lost earning capacity cover the time you missed from work and any permanent effect on your ability to earn income. The NHTSA crash statistics consistently show that serious crashes cause long-term costs that extend well beyond the initial hospitalization. Common car accident injuries often include soft tissue damage, spinal injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and injuries that do not show symptoms until days or weeks after the crash.
Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and inconvenience. Once you clear the serious injury threshold, these damages become available in the tort claim against the at-fault driver. Florida juries evaluate non-economic damages based on the evidence of how the injury has actually affected your life. Consistent medical treatment, credible testimony from people who knew you before the crash, and detailed documentation of your limitations all support higher awards.
Property damage is handled separately from bodily injury claims and covers the vehicle itself, items damaged inside the vehicle, and rental car costs while your vehicle is being repaired. Settling car accident claims out of court often involves parallel negotiations on the property damage and bodily injury sides.
Punitive damages may apply when the at-fault driver acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Drunk drivers, drivers fleeing from police, and drivers racing on public roads may trigger punitive exposure. Florida caps most punitive damages at three times the compensatory award or $500,000 under Section 768.73, with exceptions for particularly egregious conduct. Insurance carrier tactics often make the difference between accepting the first offer and pursuing the full scope of damages that Florida law actually allows.
Contact Newman Injury Law, PLLC
If you have been injured in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County, we would like to hear what happened. Consultations are with Newman Injury Law, PLLC are free, and there is no fee unless we win your case. We will review the crash report, medical records, and insurance information, then give you an honest read on the value of your case and the next steps.
Crash evidence fades quickly. Skid marks wash away, witness memories blur, vehicle damage gets repaired, and surveillance footage gets overwritten. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer and find out where you stand.