Car Accidents

Introduction

Florida recorded over 400,000 motor vehicle crashes in 2023 according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) — and insurers open their defense files within hours of each one. If you were injured in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Plantation, or anywhere in Broward County, the insurance process that follows is more complex than most people expect. Florida requires all drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), but PIP covers only 80% of medical expenses up to $10,000 — rarely enough when injuries are serious. Rothenberg Law identifies every applicable insurance policy from the first consultation: your PIP, the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) protection, and any commercial policy if a rideshare, truck, or bus was involved. Call today. Acting quickly preserves evidence and protects your rights.

Car Accident Cases Rothenberg Law Handles in Fort Lauderdale

Rothenberg Law handles all types of motor vehicle accident cases in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County, including:

Rear-end collisions — the most common crash type on I-95, Broward Boulevard, and US-1

T-bone and intersection crashes — common at Sunrise Boulevard, Oakland Park Boulevard, and Commercial Boulevard

Head-on collisions — often involving impaired or distracted drivers

Hit and run accidents — Rothenberg Law pursues UM coverage when the at-fault driver flees

Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents — separate insurance tiers apply depending on driver status

Multi-vehicle pileups — multiple liable parties, multiple insurance policies

Drunk and impaired driver accidents — potential for punitive damages

Wrong-way driver crashes — frequently catastrophic on I-95 and I-595

Uninsured motorist accidents — UM/UIM coverage activation

Bus and public transit accidents — separate liability rules apply to Broward County Transit

How Rothenberg Law Is Different

Rothenberg Law identifies every insurance layer from the first call — PIP, liability, UM/UIM, and commercial policies. Most injured clients leave money unclaimed because they do not know how many policies cover them.

Florida is a no-fault state, which limits when you can step outside PIP and sue the at-fault driver directly. Rothenberg Law knows exactly when your injuries qualify to pursue the at-fault driver’s liability policy under Fla. Stat. § 627.737.

Rothenberg Law handles cases throughout Fort Lauderdale — including crashes on I-95, I-595, the Florida Turnpike, Federal Highway (US-1), Broward Boulevard, Oakland Park Boulevard, and Sunrise Boulevard — as well as Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Plantation, Davie, and all of Broward County.

Aaron Rothenberg handles every case personally — you will never be passed to a case manager or associate.
No fee unless Rothenberg Law recovers compensation for you.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Florida?

After a car accident in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, you may be entitled to recover:

Emergency medical treatment — ambulance, ER, and hospital costs

Ongoing medical care — orthopedic treatment, neurology, surgery, and physical therapy

Future medical expenses — for injuries requiring long-term care or multiple procedures

Lost wages — income lost during your recovery period

Loss of future earning capacity — if your injuries permanently affect your ability to work

Pain and suffering — compensation for physical pain and emotional distress

Property damage — vehicle repair or replacement

Punitive damages — available in cases involving drunk driving or reckless conduct

How We Handle Your Case — Step by Step

Call for a free consultation. We review the crash, your injuries, all involved parties, and all available insurance coverage.
We identify every applicable insurance policy and send formal preservation notices for all physical and electronic evidence, including dashcam footage, black box data, and traffic camera recordings.
We connect you with the right medical providers so your injuries are documented correctly from the start. Gaps in treatment give insurers grounds to reduce your recovery.
We investigate liability through police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction where the facts require it.
We negotiate directly with the insurance adjusters. If they refuse a fair settlement, we file suit in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit and prepare for trial.
We walk you through every line of the settlement or verdict disbursement before you sign anything.

Why Acting Quickly Matters After a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident

Traffic cameras, business cameras, and dashcam footage are typically overwritten within 24 to 72 hours. Once gone, that footage cannot be recovered.

The at-fault driver’s insurer assigns an adjuster to the case the same day the crash is reported. They are already building a defense.

Event data recorders (black boxes) in modern vehicles store pre-crash data that can be overwritten by subsequent drives.

Florida’s statute of limitations for car accident personal injury claims is two years under Fla. Stat. § 95.11. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim.

Witnesses’ recollections become less reliable quickly. Statements taken within days of a crash are far more valuable than those taken months later.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Florida?

Two years from the date of the crash for personal injury claims under Fla. Stat. § 95.11. Florida shortened this window from four years to two years as part of the 2023 tort reform changes. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) crash reports are public records and can be obtained immediately — Rothenberg Law requests the full report on the first day of every case.

Florida is a no-fault state — can I still sue the other driver?

Yes, under certain conditions. Florida’s no-fault system requires you to first use your PIP coverage, but if your injuries meet the threshold of a “permanent injury,” significant and permanent scarring, or significant limitation of a body function under Fla. Stat. § 627.737, you can step outside no-fault and pursue the at-fault driver’s liability coverage directly.

What is uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and does it apply to my case?

Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage pays compensation when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover your damages. Florida does not require UM coverage, but it is one of the most valuable protections you can carry. Rothenberg Law checks for UM coverage in every case from the first consultation.

How much does a car accident lawyer cost in Fort Lauderdale?

Rothenberg Law handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. The standard contingency fee in Florida personal injury cases is 33.3% before suit is filed and up to 40% if the case proceeds to litigation, per the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct. There are no upfront costs and no hourly charges.

What if the other driver was driving for Uber or Lyft at the time of the crash?

Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in liability coverage when a driver is actively transporting a passenger. When the driver is logged in but waiting for a request, a lower tier applies. Rothenberg Law handles rideshare accident claims throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County and identifies which policy layer applies in each situation.

Serving Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and South Florida

Rothenberg Law handles car accident cases throughout Fort Lauderdale and across Broward County — including Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Plantation, Davie, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, and Hallandale Beach. We regularly handle cases involving treatment at Broward Health Medical Center, Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, and Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston. Cases are litigated in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit Court and, where federal jurisdiction applies, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Speak With a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Today

If you or a family member was injured in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, call Rothenberg Law today.

Free consultation. No fee unless we recover compensation for you.

The sooner you call, the more evidence we can preserve and the stronger your case will be.