Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer - Experienced Legal Representation

Car accidents can abruptly disrupt your life. One moment, you’re living your normal routine; the next, you’re dealing with injuries, mounting medical bills, insurance headaches, and countless uncertainties.

As terrible as the accident itself might be, the aftermath can be even worse. Injury victims often feel frustrated and confused. They know they didn’t cause the wreck, yet are not sure how to obtain the compensation they feel they deserve.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale and requires assistance in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to, you have come to the correct place. At David I. Fuchs Injury Law, we provide clarity, guidance, and relentless legal support as an auto accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and learn about your rights.

David I. Fuchs Injury Law’s History of Legal Representation for Car Accident Cases

When choosing a car accident lawyer, experience and compassion matter. Here’s why we believe David I. Fuchs Injury Law is the right choice for you.

• Over 30 years of experience: From minor fender benders to catastrophic wrecks, we’ve handled thousands of cases with a stellar track record.
• Proven results: With settlements reaching as high as $2.1 million, our results reflect his dedication to helping clients get every dollar they deserve.
• Personalized attention: We take the time to understand your needs and offer personalized attention that many larger firms cannot provide.

Hiring an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney is to your benefit. Call our office at (954) 568-3636 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. We are ready to assess your legal options at no cost. Follow #DavidtheLAWMAN on TikTok @davidfuchsflainjurylaw to stay up to date on all things personal injury and more.

Trusted Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers On Your Side

We’ve been advocating for car accident victims across Florida since 1991, when our founding attorney, David I. Fuchs, was admitted to the Florida Bar. Our firm provides personalized attention to each client, as no case is the same. Our team at David I. Fuchs Injury Law is known for strong legal representation and compassionate service.

Recent Car Accident Case Settlements

When you choose a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer, you want someone who understands how to fight formidable opposition and win. David I. Fuchs is that lawyer. We know how to determine fault for a car wreck and fight back against insurance company tactics.

These are just a few of the settlement results David I. Fuchs Injury Law has delivered for clients:

• $1.8 million for the victim of a traumatic brain injury
• $325,000 for a client hurt in a multi-vehicle accident
• $250,000 in a car accident case
• $225,000 for the family of a victim in a wrongful death lawsuit
• $120,000 in a car wreck case in Broward County
• $2.1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit

What Clients Say About David I. Fuchs Injury Law

“David and his office do a phenomenal job in understanding one’s plight. He and his staff have a tireless work ethic, offering clients like myself invaluable experience taking care of so much for those who don’t understand one’s rights and the process. He’s helped me and some friends and secured great results. I’d recommend David to anyone.” — Rich K.

“Mr. fuch is a hard nosed lawyer who worked tirelessly for his clients and always goes the extra mile to keep in touch and keep you informed of what is going on with your case I highly recommend Mr. Fuchs” — Andy N.

“I like to say thank you to Jessica for all of her hard work. I went through three different cases one right after the other and Mr. Fuchs was on top of each one. I learned to be patient because the combination of the three was complicated. I appreciated the office and all the work they did for me and the explanation of each step. I would recommend this law office.” — Linda W.

Auto Accident Cases We Handle in Fort Lauderdale

The Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney at David I. Fuchs Injury Law handles several types of vehicle accidents, including:

• Car accidents: Incidents involving two or more passenger vehicles.
• Truck accidents: Accidents that involve one or more large trucks or commercial vehicles, often in collision with passenger vehicles, including motorcycles. Attorneys handling truck accidents must be familiar with federal laws governing commercial vehicles.
• Motorcycle accidents: These can involve two or more motorcycles colliding with each other, other passenger vehicles, trucks, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Florida has specific laws that apply to motorcycle riders.
• Pedestrian accidents: These occur when a motor vehicle or a bicyclist hits a pedestrian.
• Bicycle accidents: Accidents where a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, truck, or other commercial vehicle strikes a bicyclist. Attorneys must be knowledgeable about both state and local laws that govern bicyclists.
• Drunk driving accidents: These can involve any type of motor vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist. Additional negligence may apply in some situations.
• Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) accidents: Accidents involving rideshare vehicles may be subject to additional laws, and the insurance implications can be complex, especially depending on whether the rideshare driver was actively providing services.

Each type of accident follows general personal injury laws. However, certain accidents have additional laws that personal injury attorneys should know when handling these cases. Our law firm has experience in all of the above-listed types of vehicle accidents and offers a personalized approach, as we are committed to achieving results for our Fort Lauderdale clients.

Why You Should Consult a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents in Fort Lauderdale are regrettably common. From downtown Fort Lauderdale to busy stretches like I-95 or Oakland Park Boulevard, the roads can be chaotic.

• More than 40,000 car accidents occurred in Broward County in 2023.
• Nearly 24,000 individuals sustained injuries, ranging from minor cuts to life-altering trauma.

After a crash, you need someone knowledgeable about Florida’s distinct car accident laws and insurance regulations.

A car accident lawyer helps you take on insurance companies that prioritize profit over paying claims while fighting for the compensation you need to recover. With David I. Fuchs Injury Law, you get an experienced attorney who listens, cares, and delivers results.

We understand the toll these accidents take and have recovered millions for clients just like you.

Where Are Fort Lauderdale’s Most Dangerous Roads?

Some of Fort Lauderdale’s roads see a disproportionately high percentage of accidents. Knowing these trouble spots can help drivers stay vigilant:

• Interstate 95: One of the deadliest highways in Florida, accidents happen frequently near Exits 27-32 in particular.
• U.S. 441 and Oakland Park Blvd.: Heavy traffic and frequent speeding make these hotspots for crashes.
• Las Olas Blvd. and Sunrise Blvd.: Busy tourist areas add congestion, creating the perfect conditions for collisions.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Why do car accidents happen? Most crashes are preventable and result from recklessness or negligence. Below are some of the most common causes on Fort Lauderdale’s busy streets.

Speeding

When drivers exceed the limit, they compromise their reaction time. Speeding is a leading cause of serious car accidents, frequently resulting in devastating injuries.

Impaired Driving

Driving while intoxicated is one of the most dangerous and illegal things to do. Even a small amount of impairment can lead to poor judgment and severe crashes.

Distracted Driving

Texting, checking GPS, or eating while driving can be deadly. Although Florida prohibits sending or reading text messages while driving, many drivers still ignore these laws, putting others at risk.

What Are the Most Common Types of Fort Lauderdale Car Accidents?

Understanding the common types of accidents can help you identify fault and understand your legal rights.

Rear-End Collisions

Distracted driving and tailgating are the two main causes of rear-end collisions. In most cases, the person who hit you in the rear is at fault. Common injuries may include whiplash, soft tissue injuries, head, neck, and shoulder injuries, and face and eye injuries if you are not wearing a seatbelt.

Side-Impact Collisions

T-bone crashes, or side-impact collisions, often happen at intersections or when someone is leaving a residential or commercial driveway. Injuries can range from bumps, bruises, and cuts to broken bones, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, depending on the angle of impact and the speed at which the at-fault driver hit you.

Sideswipe Accidents

Generally, sideswipe accidents happen when another driver merges into your lane. Distracted and reckless driving can cause a sideswipe accident, as well as another vehicle pushing the person who hit you into your lane. To determine fault, investigators will look at who had the right-of-way and whether the drivers involved were driving safely.

Rollover Accidents

Several factors can cause rollover accidents, including:

• Driving too fast for the road conditions
• Losing control of a vehicle at high speeds
• Sharp turns
• The type of vehicle
• Sideswipe accidents
• Strong winds
• Overcorrecting
• Cutting the steering wheel too sharply at higher speeds

A taller vehicle, such as a truck or an SUV, has a higher risk of rolling over. Rollover crashes often cause serious injuries and are complex.

Head-On Collisions

The most dangerous type of motor vehicle accident is a head-on collision. It often causes severe and catastrophic injuries or even death. Causes of head-on collisions include:

• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other illicit substances
• Medical emergencies

Because of the type of injuries you might suffer in a head-on collision and the higher risk of injuries manifesting hours or days later, it is important to retain an experienced car accident attorney to guide you through the process, protect your rights, and help recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Fort Lauderdale?

After a wreck, your safety and well-being matter most. Follow these steps to protect yourself both legally and physically:

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you don’t feel hurt immediately, some injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, may not present symptoms right away. Thus, it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible.

File a Police Report

A police report is critical for building a strong case. It provides an objective account of what happened and identifies key details, like witnesses and vehicle positions.

Document Everything

Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and vehicle damage. Maintain detailed records of medical expenses, missed work, and other accident-related costs.

Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies Alone

Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Their goal is to protect their bottom line, not help you. Discuss your case only with a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer first.

Delayed Symptoms in Minor Crashes

Even a minor car crash can cause injuries that manifest hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. Even if you think your injuries are minor, report the accident and get medical help to start the process of getting the compensation you deserve.

Doctors may be able to locate car accident injuries that are not immediately visible, such as internal injuries and burns. Additionally, psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, often take weeks or even months to show up.

For Which Injuries Can You Seek Compensation?

Car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, all of which deserve compensation when another driver is at fault. Some common examples include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns and lacerations
• Broken bones
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional trauma and PTSD

Each injury has life-changing implications, and David I. Fuchs Injury Law works tirelessly to help you get compensated accordingly.

What Compensation Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You Recover?

Every car accident case is unique. But there are consistent categories of compensatory damages and non-compensatory damages that victims can seek.

Economic Damages (Tangible Losses)

Economic damages cover the direct costs of the accident:

• Medical expenses: From ER visits and surgeries to rehabilitation and long-term care, medical costs can quickly skyrocket.
• Lost wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you could recover lost income. Severe cases may even include compensation for diminished earning capacity.
• Property damage: Reimbursement for vehicle repairs or replacement costs is another essential component.

For example, we once helped a Fort Lauderdale client recover $120,000 in damages after a car accident caused temporary disability and totaled their vehicle.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the emotional and psychological impact of car accidents. These include:

• Pain and suffering: Chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life, and compensation should reflect this burden.
• Mental anguish: Anxiety, PTSD, and depression stemming from a car accident can severely impact your quality of life.
• Lost enjoyment of life: If injuries prevent you from enjoying activities that once brought you joy, you may also recover damages.

Wrongful Death Damages

If a motor vehicle accident results in a fatality, surviving family members may recover compensation for funeral and burial costs, loss of consortium and companionship, loss of future earning capacity, and emotional distress.

Punitive Damages

Some accident victims may recover punitive damages. However, you must be able to show that the at-fault driver’s actions or inactions were grossly negligent. Some examples of driving that a court may consider gross negligence include driving under the influence and reckless driving.

Punitive damages are not available to everyone, and the court does not award them to make you whole. Instead, the court may order punitive damages as a punishment for the at-fault driver’s actions or inactions of gross negligence.

Proving Negligence or Fault in a Florida Auto Accident Case

To prove negligence, an accident victim must prove the driver was negligent. Our legal team at David I. Fuchs Injury Law will guide you through the process of determining negligence for a car accident lawsuit or personal injury case. The four elements of negligence include:

• A duty of care: Every driver on the road has a duty of care to exhibit safe driving practices and follow all traffic laws and regulations.
• Breach of the duty of care: The defendant (at-fault driver) breached the duty of care.
• Proximate causation: The defendant’s actions or inactions caused the accident that caused you injury and loss.
• Damages: You suffered monetary damages due to your injuries and losses.

Important Evidence When Determining Fault in Fort Lauderdale

Some of the key types of evidence when determining fault in a Fort Lauderdale car accident include:

• Police reports or accident reports
• Eyewitness testimony
• Expert witnesses
• Medical records
• Video footage from dashcams, traffic cameras, and security cameras
• Accident reconstruction reports

What if I Was Partially at Fault for the Crash?

The state of Florida’s laws changed in 2023. The state now follows a modified version of comparative negligence, which means that if you were more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages. However, if you were less than 50 percent at fault, you can recover partial damages.

If the at-fault driver was 100 percent at fault, you can recover 100 percent of the damages due.

How Comparative Negligence Can Impact Your Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Claim

Assuming you were 50 percent or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover fair and reasonable compensation. For example, if you settle for or the jury awards you $100,000 and you are 30 percent at fault for the accident, you can recover $70,000, as comparative negligence laws reduce your share of compensation by the percentage of fault the court assigns to you.

What to Do if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, you should get as much information as possible from the driver, including contact information, insurance information, the vehicle’s license plate number and VIN, and a description of the vehicle.

Take photos of the damage and keep notes of what you believe caused the accident and what happened at the scene. Consider alternative ways to recover damages.

• You can file a personal injury protection claim with your insurance company.
• You can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver

Dealing With the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

Insurance companies, including your own, are in business to make a profit. Every claim they pay decreases their bottom line. Thus, insurance companies will always find reasons to deny your claim or offer you a pittance.

They will use many tricks, including:

• Twisting your words to make statements against you
• Delaying the claims process
• Telling you they cannot pay more than a certain amount
• Monitoring your social media to obtain evidence that your injuries are not as bad as you claim

These are just a few of the tricks insurance companies use. Working with our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys from the beginning helps protect your claim. When you contact insurance companies, including your own, to report the accident, only give them your contact information: the date and location of the accident and your attorney’s contact information. This information is enough to start the insurance claims process without jeopardizing your claim.

Florida’s “No-Fault” Insurance System

Florida’s no-fault insurance system requires drivers to use their personal injury protection (PIP) insurance first, regardless of who caused the accident. However, for severe injuries, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party beyond PIP limits.

We’re deeply familiar with Florida statutes governing these claims and know how to maximize your compensation.

Time is Limited

Florida law places strict deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, on car accident claims. The general statute of limitations for negligence-based car accident claims is two years from the date of the accident. This deadline applies to both personal injury claims and property damage claims. Waiting too long to take action could mean forfeiting your right to compensation. The sooner you get started, the stronger your case will be.

Fighting Insurance Company Tactics

But what if your medical bills and other damages exceed your insurance policy’s limits? What if your injuries are permanent, and you can no longer work or live your everyday life? If that’s the case, you’ll probably need the help of our car accident lawyers.

You might think the insurance company will do the right thing after a car wreck leads to a severe injury. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. Insurance companies fight to protect their profits, even if that means an accident victim doesn’t receive the money they have coming to them.

You must take action against the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. You must file a lawsuit if that provider refuses to pay what you deserve. Taking on an insurance company isn’t a job for the average person.

Only a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer will have the skill and experience needed for you to have a chance of winning.

David I. Fuchs Injury Law has seen just about every insurance company tactic there is. We know how to defeat these often questionable tactics.

How Can a Lawyer Protect You From Insurance Tactics?

Insurance companies deploy many strategies to avoid paying fair compensation. Here are some of the most common tactics used and how David I. Fuchs Injury Law fights back.

Low-Ball Offers

Insurers often make settlement offers that don’t even cover medical bills. We advocate that our clients don’t accept less than what their case is worth.

Trick Questions From Adjusters

Adjusters may try to get you to admit fault or misrepresent your claim. When we handle your case, all communications go through our office to protect your rights.

We Are Ready to Fight for Your Compensation. Speak With a Fort Lauderdale Lawyer Today.

If you’ve been in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, you don’t have to face this battle alone. At David I. Fuchs Injury Law, we are here to stand up for you, fight for your rights, and secure the compensation you deserve.

Call us now at (954) 568-3636 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free case review.