Car Accident Lawyer Fort Lauderdale
Car accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale. Leeder Law handles HB 837 claims, rental car crashes, and serious injuries across Broward County. No fees.
Broward County records roughly 38,000 traffic crashes a year, according to the FLHSMV Crash Dashboard, and Fort Lauderdale's corridors account for a large share of them. When one of those crashes involves you, the insurance process starts right away, and it will not pause for you to recover.
Florida's 2023 tort reform (HB 837) changed the rules in ways most crash victims don't know yet. The modified comparative fault threshold dropped from 51% to 50%. That one change can wipe out your entire claim if an insurer pins even half the blame on you.
A car accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale residents trust knows how to push back before that happens. Leeder Law handles car accidents across Broward County, from Flagler Village to Coral Ridge, and takes every case on contingency. That means you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
What HB 837 Means for Fort Lauderdale Crash Claims
Florida's HB 837 took effect on March 24, 2023, and it reshaped personal injury litigation in ways most Fort Lauderdale drivers haven't heard about yet.
Under the old rule, you could recover damages even if you were up to 51% at fault. Now the bar is 50%. If an insurer argues you share equal blame for a crash near Las Olas Boulevard, you recover nothing.
HB 837 also cut the bad-faith statute of limitations, the window to sue an insurer for mishandling your claim, from 5 years to 2 years. That shorter timeline changes how fast your car accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale team must move.
Sean Goldstein, Esq., of Leeder Law operates as a licensed legal practice across South Florida law-firm services, and he personally leads your claim as your point of contact while his team supports the work behind the scenes. Understanding these 2023 changes is now essential for any Broward County crash case.
- Trucking Accidents. Commercial carrier crashes on I-95 and SR-84 involve federal FMCSA regulations on Hours of Service and vehicle maintenance. Our team handles trucking accidents from evidence preservation through trial.
- Rideshare & Uber/Lyft Crashes. Uber and Lyft coverage shifts depending on whether the driver is in Period 1, 2, or 3 of their app session. We untangle those layered policies in every uberlyft accidents case.
- Slip, Trip, and Fall Claims. Property owners along the Riverwalk and inside Flagler Village mixed-use buildings owe a duty of care under OSHA walking-working surface standards. We handle both slip and falls and trip and falls.
- Wrongful Death. Florida's wrongful death statute allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for lost support and services. Our attorneys manage every wrongful death case with full attention to the 2-year filing deadline.
- Products Liability & Medical Malpractice. Defective auto parts and negligent medical care both produce serious injuries. Leeder Law pursues products liability and medical malpractice claims across Broward County.
- Preserve Evidence Immediately. Modern vehicles carry an EDR (event data recorder, often called a black box) that logs speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds before a crash. We send a preservation letter to all parties within 24 to 48 hours of being hired. Waiting longer risks data being overwritten or the vehicle being repaired.
- Build the Demand Package. We gather all medical records, bills, wage-loss documentation, and accident reports. The demand package typically takes 60 to 90 days to complete after treatment ends or reaches maximum medical improvement. A complete package produces stronger opening offers from adjusters.
- Submit the Demand Letter. The demand letter goes to the at-fault driver's liability insurer. Florida law gives the insurer 30 days to respond. Under HB 837, bad-faith claims must be pursued within 2 years, so we track every deadline from this point forward.
- Negotiate or Mediate. Most Broward County cases resolve at this stage through direct negotiation or formal mediation. The 17th Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale requires mediation before trial in most civil cases. Many cases settle within 6 to 12 months of the crash date.
- File Suit If Needed. If the insurer's offer is inadequate, we file suit in Broward County Circuit Court. Florida's 2-year statute of limitations (personal injury) and the separate 2-year bad-faith window both run from the date of injury. We track both clocks from day one.
Settling Early vs. Pursuing Full Litigation
| Factor | Early Settlement | Full Litigation |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 3–6 months | 12–24+ months |
| Pain & Suffering Recovery | Often undervalued by adjuster | Jury-assessed full value |
| 2-Year Filing Deadline | Applies whether or not you settle early, 2 years from the crash | Calendared from day one; suit is filed before it runs if the insurer stalls |
| EDR / Black Box Evidence | Rarely requested by insurer | Subpoenaed and entered into record |
| Best For | Clear liability, minor injuries | Disputed fault, serious injuries |
Rental Cars, Tourists, and the Insurance Gap on A1A
Fort Lauderdale draws millions of tourists each year through Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale Beach, and many of them drive rental cars. A crash involving a rental vehicle on A1A or near Hugh Taylor Birch State Park raises a question most drivers never think about: which policy actually pays?
The rental company's liability coverage is primary only if the renter declined the collision damage waiver (CDW). Credit card CDW coverage is usually secondary and covers property damage, not bodily injury. Florida PIP follows the driver, not the car, so your own policy pays first for medical bills.
Pain and suffering still flows from the at-fault driver's liability coverage. That may be the rental company's policy, the renter's personal auto policy, or both. NHTSA crash data shows rental-vehicle crashes produce serious injuries at rates similar to privately owned vehicles.
Sorting out these layers quickly is exactly where a car accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale team adds real value.
High-Crash Corridors in Fort Lauderdale
Not all Fort Lauderdale roads carry the same risk. Oakland Park Boulevard sees high crash rates tied to heavy commercial traffic and frequent left-turn conflicts at signalized intersections. Broward Boulevard near the I-95 interchange is a consistent hotspot for rear-end and sideswipe crashes during peak commute hours. SR-84 west of downtown concentrates truck traffic heading to and from Port Everglades.
The CDC's motor vehicle safety data shows that urban corridor crashes with mixed commercial and passenger vehicle traffic produce higher injury severity rates than highway crashes at speed. Rio Vista and Victoria Park residents crossing these corridors face real exposure every day.
If you were hurt on any of these roads, the specific location matters for establishing liability. Our team also handles animal attacks, child injuries, and motorcycle accidents that arise from the same Fort Lauderdale traffic environment.
Frequently asked questions
How does HB 837 affect my Fort Lauderdale crash claim?
How long does a Fort Lauderdale car accident case take?
What if a rental car hit me near Fort Lauderdale Beach?
Does Florida PIP cover pain and suffering in Fort Lauderdale?
What is the filing deadline for a car accident claim in Fort Lauderdale?
Can Leeder Law handle my Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident?
What Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods does Leeder Law serve?
Other Practice Areas in Fort Lauderdale
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This page is for general informational purposes and is not professional, legal, or medical advice. Sean Goldstein can advise on your specific situation, contact us for a consultation. Licensed: FL Bar #1018013.