Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer

The goal after a crash on I-95, Federal Highway, or Sunrise Boulevard is a recovery that covers every piece of the loss: the medical treatment, the missed paychecks, the car, and the pain that outlasts the paperwork. Spencer Morgan Law handles automobile accident claims for injured people in Fort Lauderdale, throughout Broward County, and across the State of Florida, and the firm does not charge a fee unless it recovers money for the client. A Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer has to work within a legal framework that is unusual in Florida, and the early decisions you make can shape the entire claim.

Florida is a no-fault state, which means your own insurance pays the first layer of medical bills no matter who caused the crash. It also now bars recovery entirely for a driver found mostly at fault, and it gives injured people a shorter window to sue than they had just a few years ago. Insurers in Broward County know these rules well and use them.

How Florida’s No-Fault System Shapes a Fort Lauderdale Crash Claim

Every registered Florida vehicle must carry personal injury protection coverage, and PIP is where almost every car accident claim begins. It pays 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses and 60 percent of lost wages, up to a combined $10,000, regardless of who caused the collision. A $5,000 death benefit is also part of the coverage. Two conditions trip up injured people more than any others. First, you must get initial medical care within 14 days of the crash, or PIP pays nothing for treatment. Second, the full $10,000 is available only when a qualified provider, such as a physician, dentist, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, determines you had an emergency medical condition. Without that determination, medical benefits stop at $2,500.

PIP is only the starting point. Because it is capped, serious injuries almost always exceed it, and the real recovery comes from a claim against the at-fault driver for the portion of your damages PIP does not cover, including pain and suffering where the injury qualifies. That claim depends on proving fault, and Florida’s fault rules changed significantly. A person found more than 50 percent responsible for their own injuries now recovers nothing. At 50 percent or less, the award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Before the 2023 reform, a partly responsible driver could still recover a reduced amount even at 80 or 90 percent fault. Today, an insurer that can push your share past the halfway mark ends the claim, so the fight over fault percentages is often the most important fight in the case.

Responsibility is also divided among defendants by their own shares. Each liable party answers only for its percentage of fault, rather than any one defendant being forced to cover the whole judgment. In a multi-vehicle pileup or a crash involving a commercial driver, a negligent employer, and a road hazard, identifying every contributor matters because a share left unassigned is a share you cannot collect.

Why Choose Spencer Morgan Law for Your Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Case

Attorney Spencer Morgan leads the firm, and the results on its record reflect the range of crashes Broward drivers actually suffer: a $1,000,000 auto accident settlement, a $1,000,000 semi-truck crash result, a $720,000 recovery that required reaching three separate insurance policies for two injured victims, and a long run of policy-limits recoveries, including cases where the insurer first denied liability. The firm has also recovered substantial sums in rideshare, hit-and-run, scooter, and bicycle collisions, which matters because those cases involve coverage questions an ordinary rear-end claim does not.

The firm treats the claim as more than a settlement demand. Its attorneys help clients get their cars repaired, pursue fair reimbursement when a vehicle is a total loss, sort out medical bills so they are resolved fairly, and arrange needed medical care. Client reviews return again and again to the same points: calls are answered, questions are explained, and clients are kept informed through the entire case. One client credited Spencer with talking to the insurance company effectively and maximizing a settlement, and another described a year-long case that ended in a strong resolution. Consultations are confidential, Spanish-language services are available, and you pay no fee unless the firm recovers for you.

What to Do After a Fort Lauderdale Crash, and the Mistakes That Cost Claims

Start with medical care, and do it quickly. The 14-day PIP window is absolute, and it is easy to miss when adrenaline masks pain in the first days. See a physician, urgent care provider, or emergency department promptly, and make sure the provider evaluates whether you have an emergency medical condition, because that determination is what unlocks the full $10,000 rather than $2,500. Broward residents typically go to a local emergency department or urgent care, and any licensed provider who can make the determination in writing serves the purpose. Do not wait to see whether the soreness fades.

Report the crash to the police agency with jurisdiction where it happened, whether that is the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, or the Florida Highway Patrol on the interstates and the Turnpike. Photograph the vehicles, the intersection, skid marks, and your injuries. Get names and insurance information from the other driver and contact details for witnesses. Say as little as possible about fault at the scene. Because a finding that you were more than half responsible defeats the claim, an offhand apology or a speculative comment to an adjuster can later be used against you.

Be careful with the other side’s insurer. Adjusters often call within days and request a recorded statement or offer a quick payment. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and early offers rarely account for future treatment. Your own PIP carrier does have cooperation requirements, so provide what it needs while leaving the liability discussion to your attorney.

Treatment arrangements deserve attention too. If a provider agrees to treat you in exchange for payment out of a future settlement, Florida law treats that as a letter of protection, whatever the paperwork calls it. In a lawsuit, you must disclose the arrangement and whether you were referred to the provider and by whom, as a condition of claiming those medical expenses. Where the injured person has health insurance, the amount that coverage would pay is admissible evidence of the value of past medical care. These rules affect how medical bills are presented to a jury, so tell your attorney about every treatment arrangement before you sign anything.

Finally, mind the deadline. For crashes that happened on or after March 24, 2023, the time to file a negligence lawsuit is two years. Older claims keep the former four-year period, but anyone injured recently should treat two years as the working limit. If a government vehicle was involved, such as a city truck or county bus, separate notice requirements apply, and recovery is capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident unless the Legislature passes a claim bill.

Types of Fort Lauderdale Crash Cases Spencer Morgan Law Handles

• Interstate and Highway Collisions: High-speed crashes on I-95, I-595, and the Turnpike produce the most severe injuries, often with multiple vehicles and several insurance policies to reach.
• Semi-Truck and Commercial Vehicle Crashes: Freight moving through Port Everglades and along the I-95 and I-595 corridors puts large trucks beside passenger cars, and these cases can involve the driver, the carrier, and others who share fault.
• Rideshare Accidents: Uber and Lyft trips to and from the airport, Las Olas, and the beach raise questions about which insurance applies depending on whether the driver was waiting, en route, or carrying a passenger.
• Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Drivers: When the at-fault driver flees or carries little coverage, your own uninsured motorist coverage may become the main source of recovery.
• Bicycle, Scooter, and Pedestrian Collisions: Dense traffic on Federal Highway, Sunrise Boulevard, and the beach corridor exposes riders and walkers to serious injuries even at modest speeds.
• Rear-End Collisions With Delayed Injuries: Knee, shoulder, wrist, and cervical spine injuries often surface or worsen weeks after impact, and surgery can follow months later.
• Wrongful Death After a Crash: Surviving family members may pursue claims within two years of the death, and every beneficiary, including the estate, must be identified in the complaint.
• Policy-Limits and Multi-Policy Claims: When damages exceed one policy, the firm looks for additional coverage that can be stacked to fund the recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Claims

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

For crashes occurring on or after March 24, 2023, the deadline for a negligence lawsuit is two years. Earlier crashes keep the previous four-year period. Wrongful death claims also generally carry a two-year limit measured from the date of death.

Who pays my medical bills right after a crash?

Your own PIP coverage pays first, covering 80 percent of medical expenses and 60 percent of lost wages up to a combined $10,000, no matter who caused the crash. You must seek initial care within 14 days, and the full amount requires an emergency medical condition determination.

What if I was partly at fault?

If you were 50 percent or less at fault, you can still recover, reduced by your percentage. If you were found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing in a typical negligence claim. This is why disputes over fault percentages carry so much weight.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor crash?

Not every fender bender needs one, but injuries that seem minor often develop. A claim can also be worth far more than an early offer suggests. The firm has recovered six-figure amounts in cases involving minimal vehicle damage, so a quick consultation costs nothing and tells you where you stand.

What does it cost to hire Spencer Morgan Law?

You pay no fee unless the firm recovers money for you. Consultations are confidential, and you can discuss the specifics of your case before deciding anything.

Can I recover more than my PIP limit?

Yes. PIP is a first-party benefit with a cap. When another driver caused the crash, you can pursue a claim against that driver for damages beyond what PIP covers, and depending on the injury, that can include pain and suffering.

What is a letter of protection and will it hurt my claim?

It is any arrangement where a provider treats you in return for payment from a future settlement or judgment. It is not improper, but Florida law requires disclosure of the arrangement and any referral source if you claim those expenses in a lawsuit. Discuss any such arrangement with your attorney first.

The at-fault driver has minimal insurance. What are my options?

Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if you carry it, may fill the gap. The firm has also recovered where multiple policies were available, so a careful search for all applicable coverage is part of any serious case.

What if the crash involved a rideshare vehicle?

Coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time, and the rideshare company’s policies may apply. The firm has recovered for Uber passengers and in cases against ride-share companies, and these claims require identifying the right policy early.

How long does a Broward County car accident case take?

It depends on injury severity and whether the insurer disputes liability. Cases that settle before suit can resolve in months, while contested cases filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit take longer. Clients who need ongoing treatment often wait until their medical picture is clear before settling.

Will a hit-and-run ruin my claim?

No. The firm has recovered policy limits in hit-and-run cases. Prompt reporting to police, preserving any video or witness information, and notifying your own insurer all strengthen the claim.

Serving Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Car Accident Clients

Spencer Morgan Law represents crash victims from downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas through Victoria Park, Rio Vista, Coral Ridge, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and the beach communities. Across Broward County, the firm serves clients in Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Plantation, Sunrise, Davie, Coral Springs, Weston, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, and Hallandale Beach. The firm also helps drivers from neighboring Miami-Dade County, including Miami, Hialeah, and Miami Beach, and clients injured elsewhere in the State of Florida. Whether the crash happened on a neighborhood street or a major interstate, the firm can evaluate your claim.

Talk With a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Today

The clock on your PIP benefits and your lawsuit starts at the crash, and the insurer is already building its position. A Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney at Spencer Morgan Law can review what happened, explain how Florida’s fault and no-fault rules apply to you, and tell you plainly what the claim may be worth. Call the firm to schedule a confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we recover for you, and Spanish-language services are available.