Car Accident Lawyer West Palm Beach

Florida's HB 837 changed everything for car accident victims in West Palm Beach. Signed in 2023, it cut the statute of limitations from 4 years to 2 years. It also replaced pure comparative fault with a modified rule. Under the new rule, if you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. Advice that still cites the old 4-year window is now out of date, and relying on it can cost you your case. Sean Goldstein handles car accidents under the new standard. We know the 15th Judicial Circuit, the high-crash corridors on I-95 and Okeechobee Blvd, and how Palm Beach County insurers respond after HB 837. If you need a car accident lawyer West Palm Beach residents can trust with post-reform cases, act now. The 2-year clock starts the day of the crash.

What HB 837 Means for West Palm Beach Crash Victims

Florida's HB 837 took effect on March 24, 2023. It made 2 major changes that affect every car accident claim filed in Palm Beach County today. First, the statute of limitations for negligence dropped from 4 years to 2 years. Second, Florida moved from pure comparative negligence to modified comparative negligence. Under the old rule, even a plaintiff who was 90% at fault could still recover 10% of damages. Under the new rule, a plaintiff found more than 50% at fault gets zero. That single shift makes early evidence collection worth far more than it used to be. Our firm sends preservation letters for vehicle EDR data (the black-box recorder that logs speed, braking, and steering) within 24 to 48 hours of intake. Florida has no statute that says who owns or may access EDR data. Under State v. Worsham (Fla. 4th DCA 2017), that data carries privacy protection, which is exactly why a written preservation demand matters. Delayed letters risk spoliation, meaning the data gets overwritten. For victims near Flamingo Park or El Cid, local tow yards and body shops do not hold damaged vehicles for long. Once a vehicle is repaired or scrapped, that physical evidence is gone.

High-Crash Corridors in West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach sees heavy crash volume on 3 specific corridors. I-95 through the city carries over 200,000 vehicles per day at key interchange points. Okeechobee Blvd and Southern Blvd (SR-80) generate frequent multi-vehicle crashes near the Palm Beach Lakes commercial zone. Crash location matters for more than accident reports. FDOT maintains traffic cameras along I-95 and state roads. Footage is often overwritten in 24 to 72 hours. A car accident lawyer West Palm Beach victims hire quickly can request that footage before it disappears. Local roads through neighborhoods like Northwood and SoSo also see rear-end and pedestrian crashes. These city streets fall under West Palm Beach municipal jurisdiction, which adds a separate records request process. According to NHTSA crash data, Florida consistently ranks among the top 5 states for traffic fatalities, underscoring the real risk on Palm Beach County roads every day.

Uninsured Drivers and UM/UIM Coverage in Palm Beach County

Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. The CDC injury data confirms that traffic crashes remain a leading cause of serious injury across all age groups. In Palm Beach County, that risk is compounded when the at-fault driver carries no insurance or minimum limits. Florida Statute 627.727 governs uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Many drivers unknowingly sign a waiver that reduces or eliminates their UM benefit at the time they buy their policy. If you were hurt by an uninsured driver near Grandview Heights or on I-95, your own UM policy may be your only real source of recovery. Our firm reviews UM waivers on every intake. We also handle motorcycle accidents and other serious injury claims where overlapping coverage issues arise. Acting within the 2-year window under HB 837 is the same for UM claims as it is for direct negligence claims.