Coral Gables looks quiet, but state highways run straight through it, and the University of Miami puts thousands of students on foot, bikes and scooters beside US-1. Those two facts drive most of the injury cases we see from the city. Lavent Law, P.A. has represented injured people in South Florida since 2014. Our office is in North Miami Beach, and most Coral Gables clients start with a phone or video call. The first consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Call (305) 257-9464.
Accidents we see in Coral Gables
Miami-Dade’s Vision Zero data, as reported by NBC 6, ranked Coral Gables sixth among the county’s cities in 2023 for crashes that killed or seriously injured someone: 57 crashes, 63 people.
US-1 (South Dixie Highway). Fast, multilane traffic runs along the university with the Metrorail line beside it. A county study of this stretch singled out the crossings at Granada Boulevard, Ponce de Leon Boulevard and the LeJeune Road junction as problem spots for people on foot. The pedestrian bridge at University station helps, but plenty of people still cross at street level. See our pedestrian accident page.
LeJeune Road and Bird Road. Both are state roads that carry heavy traffic through the city. Their intersection, near Merrick Park and two schools, had several serious-injury crashes in 2023 alone. Turning crashes are typical; see intersection crashes.
Students on scooters and bikes. Most UM students live off campus, and many commute by scooter, bike or on foot across US-1 and LeJeune. When a driver hits a rider, the case usually turns on speed, lighting and whether the driver was paying attention. See scooter accidents and bicycle accidents.
Sidewalks and tree roots. The tree canopy is part of why people love the city, and the roots underneath it lift sidewalk slabs. A fall on a raised slab can be a claim against the city, which comes with its own notice rules (see below and our page on road defects).
Miracle Mile, Merrick Park and the trolley. The shopping districts produce falls in stores and restaurants; see mall injuries and restaurant injuries. Injuries on the free city trolley are claims against a government entity; see bus accidents.
After an accident in Coral Gables
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Coral Gables Police investigate crashes in the city, including on state roads like LeJeune Road. Ask the officer how to get the report number.
Doctors Hospital on University Drive has a 24-hour emergency room. People with the most serious injuries are often taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial, the county’s Level I trauma center. Keep every discharge paper.
If it was a car accident, get medical care within 14 days. Florida’s no-fault coverage (PIP) will not pay for treatment if your first visit comes after that.
If you fell on a sidewalk, photograph the slab before anyone repairs it, with a shoe or a coin next to the edge to show the height. Note the nearest address or cross street.
When an insurance adjuster calls, you do not have to give a recorded statement, and you should not give one before you have talked to a lawyer.
When the city is responsible
Sidewalks, street trees, city vehicles and the trolley belong to the city, and Florida law treats claims against a city differently from claims against a person or a business. You must give the city written notice of the claim before you can sue, the city has time to investigate it, and the law limits how much can be recovered from a government entity. These claims can be brought, but the paperwork has to be right and on time.
Florida law in brief
Deadline. Most negligence claims must be filed within two years of the injury. Claims against the city or county follow the notice rules above.
Shared fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. Expect the other side to argue that a pedestrian or rider should have seen the car.
Car accidents. Your own PIP pays first, up to $10,000. A claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering generally requires a permanent or similarly serious injury.
Falls in businesses. An owner is responsible when it knew or should have known about the hazard and did not fix it or warn you. For spills and other substances on the floor, Florida law specifically requires proof of that notice.
How we work with Coral Gables clients
We start with the evidence that disappears first: store and traffic camera video, the crash report, 911 records and witness information. For a fall on public property, we get the city notice out early. If you need treatment, we can help you find doctors, including providers who will wait for payment until the case is resolved. When treatment is complete, we document your bills, lost income and how the injury has affected your daily life, and we negotiate with the insurer. If the insurer will not make a fair offer, we file suit.
You work directly with the attorney handling your case, in English or Russian, by phone, video or in person.
Nearby communities
We also serve Miami, Coconut Grove, South Miami and the rest of Miami-Dade, including Miami Beach and North Miami Beach, where our office is.
Frequently asked questions
I tripped on a sidewalk lifted by a tree root. Can I sue the city?
Possibly. The city has a duty to maintain its sidewalks, and a raised slab it knew about or should have found can support a claim. Because it is a claim against a government entity, written notice comes first, and the amount you can recover is limited by law.
I was hit on a scooter near UM. Who pays?
The driver’s insurance, if the driver caused the crash. If you or a relative you live with owns a car, your own PIP and uninsured motorist coverage may also apply. Keep your ride receipt or app history and photos of the scooter.
Where would my case be filed?
Most injury cases settle without a lawsuit. When one is filed, smaller claims can be heard at the Coral Gables branch courthouse on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, while larger cases go to circuit court in downtown Miami.
How long do I have to file?
For most negligence claims, two years from the date of the injury. Claims against the city have separate notice requirements, so call early.
What does it cost?
Nothing up front. The fee is a percentage of what we recover, and there is no attorney fee if there is no recovery.
Address
Phone