Have you been involved in a Fort Lauderdale car accident? Do you believe that another person’s negligence was responsible for causing your injuries? If so, you may be entitled to an award of monetary compensation. At Lavent Law, P.A., our experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys can help you maximize the financial award you receive.
Call us today to request a free consultation with our skilled team. We will review your case, explain your legal options, and answer any questions you may have. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t have to pay anything in legal fees until we recover money on your behalf. You get to focus on getting better while we handle your complex personal injury case. You have a short window of time in which you can act, so do not hesitate to call us today for help.
Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
More than 178,000 people call Fort Lauderdale home. However, on any given day, the city’s population swells significantly thanks to a booming tourism economy. As the city continues to thrive, its roads are becoming more congested and dangerous. Over the past few years, the number of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale has been on the rise:
- 2012: 3,265
- 2013: 4,382
- 2014: 4,515
- 2015: 5,009
- 2016: 5,372
- 2017: 5,443
In the first quarter of 2018, there have already been 1,387 car accidents in Fort Lauderdale, putting the year on track to the be most dangerous on record.
Fatal Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
Car accidents in Fort Lauderdale are not only common, but also deadly. In fact, the number of fatal accidents in Fort Lauderdale became such a problem that, in 2015, the city became the first in Florida to sign onto the Vision Zero initiative. By joining Vision Zero, Fort Lauderdale pledged to “end all road deaths by 2035.”
Despite this pledge, the number of injury-causing and fatal car accidents in Fort Lauderdale has only increased:
- 2012: 2,481 (26 fatalities)
- 2013: 2,833 (15 fatalities)
- 2014: 2,855 (21 fatalities)
- 2015: 3,064 (24 fatalities)
- 2016: 3,099 (27 fatalities)
- 2017: 3,217 (21 fatalities)
Car accident statistics for the first part of 2018 seem to indicate that the roads are more dangerous than ever. In the first four months of the year there have already been 1,170 reported car accident injuries and 9 deaths.
Common Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Injuries
In 2017, 60 percent of all traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale resulted in at least one injury. Commonly reported car accident injuries include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Lacerations
- Bruising
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Degloving injury
- Amputation
- Catastrophic injury, including paralysis, and
- Wrongful death.
At Lavent Law, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys can help you recover compensation for your car accident injuries. No injury is too big or too small. Call us today to request a free consultation with our skilled team.
Causes of Fort Lauderdale Car Accidents
Why are car accidents so common in Fort Lauderdale? Research shows that while car accidents can happen for any number of reasons, certain causes are reported more frequently than others:
Speeding: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 27% of all fatal car accidents are caused because a driver was speeding. Fort Lauderdale’s roads are built for speed and drivers seem to have no problem taking advantage. Since traffic is often congested in the city, drivers are eager to make up for lost time whenever possible. Unfortunately, this eagerness to speed often results in car accidents in the city.
Drunk Driving: Fort Lauderdale’s roads are lined with restaurants, bars, and resorts. Instead of choosing to call an Uber or take public transportation, some people make the decision to get behind the wheel. In Broward County, there are an average of 238 alcohol-related car accidents each year. Nearly 63 percent of the accidents result in an injury while more than 8 percent of these accidents are fatal.
Road Conditions: Fort Lauderdale’s roads are not always in the best condition. This can be attributed to the tens of thousands of miles that are driven on the city’s roads each and every day. Unfortunately, dangerous road conditions sometimes contribute to car accidents.
Pedestrians: Fort Lauderdale is one of the most dangerous places in the country for pedestrians. The city’s roads were built with passenger cars in mind, and not the safety of pedestrians. Accidents involving pedestrians have become more commonplace in recent years, thanks to the popularity of mobile electronic devices. Rather than making sure it is safe to cross the road, pedestrians’ eyes are glued to their screens. In 2017, there were 203 pedestrian accidents in Fort Lauderdale, 12 of which were fatal.
Why Should I File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
At Lavent Law, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys know that an unexpected injury can be devastating. You may be struggling with a painful injury and faced with mounting medical bills. If you’re forced to miss time at work, the financial pressures can be incredibly overwhelming.
Research shows that the average bodily injury claim after an accident is more than $15,500. At the same time, most Americans do not have enough in savings to cover the cost of a $500 emergency. Filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover monetary damages after your accident can help to minimize the financial burdens of your accident.
What kind of damages can you recover from your Fort Lauderdale car accident lawsuit? In most cases, you’ll be entitled to an award of both economic and non-economic damages, including those for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement, and
- Embarrassment.
Have you been injured in a Fort Lauderdale car accident? Call the attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. today for help.
When Do I Have to File a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Claim?
If you’ve been injured in a Fort Lauderdale car accident you have the right to file a lawsuit for damages. However, it is important to understand that you only have a limited amount of time to act. In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 4 years from the date of your accident. If you do not file your claim within 4 years you will not be able to recover the money you need and deserve.
There may be certain times when the statute of limitations will be different. For example, if there is a delay in the discovery of your accident-related injury, you may have additional time to file a claim. On the other hand, claims against the government will require filing a claim much sooner. You can make sure that your claim is filed within the applicable statute of limitations by contacting an experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney immediately after your accident.
The attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. will fight to make sure that you get the money you deserve. Call us today to learn more.
Call Our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorneys Today
A car accident can change your life in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, insurance companies will do everything in their power to limit the amount of money you receive after an accident. At Lavent Law, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys will fight to hold negligent parties responsible for their actions. We will not rest until we make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with our passionate personal injury attorneys. We will thoroughly review the details of your accident, assess the strength of your case, and answer any questions you may have. Remember, you only have a short window of time in which you can file a legal claim for damages. Do not hesitate to call us today for help.