A Car Accident Can Affect Nearly Every Part of Your Life
A car accident can turn an ordinary drive home from work into a scene of crumpled metal, towing costs, hospital bills, missed work, and immediate uncertainty. You may be dealing with painful injuries, transportation problems, calls from the insurance company, concerns about paying for medical care, and questions about how the crash may affect your family and finances. If a collision has turned your week upside down, you are not alone.
The team at Cohen & Juda, P.A. has represented injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other injury victims throughout Plantation since 1999. Our attorneys focus on car accident and personal injury claims, and we bring familiarity with the local roads, Broward County courts, and the insurance adjusters who handle these matters.
Call us today at (954) 424-1440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We will represent you personally.
Key Takeaways
The following points summarize important considerations for a Florida car accident claim:
- Under Florida’s current modified comparative-fault rule, a person found more than 50 percent at fault generally cannot recover damages in an applicable negligence claim. A person found 50 percent or less at fault can still pursue compensation reduced by the assigned percentage of responsibility.
- Speaking with a car accident lawyer early can help preserve evidence and protect the ability to file before the deadline passes.
- Police reports, medical records, photographs, and witness statements may support the claim.
- A car accident lawyer in Plantation can review claims involving the at-fault driver’s insurer, uninsured motorist coverage, or underinsured motorist coverage.
- Cohen & Juda, P.A. can investigate the accident, gather evidence, review insurance coverage, communicate with adjusters, document your losses, and pursue a settlement or lawsuit when appropriate.
Common Injuries From Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause injuries that appear immediately or develop over the following hours or days. Common injuries include:
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries: These injuries can cause neck pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion.
- Concussions and other head injuries: Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory changes, nausea, or sensitivity to light.
- Herniated discs and back injuries: A crash can cause pain, numbness, weakness, or radiating symptoms in the arms or legs.
- Fractured bones: Broken bones can require surgery, rehabilitation, and time away from work.
- Spinal cord injuries: More serious collisions can cause nerve damage, reduced mobility, paralysis, or other lasting limitations.
Some injuries do not produce obvious symptoms at the scene. Seeking medical care soon after a crash can support your health and create medical records that connect your symptoms to the collision.
The injuries sustained in a car accident can lead to missed work, continuing treatment, rehabilitation, reduced mobility, and changes to daily life. A personal injury lawyer can help document how those injuries have affected your health, employment, finances, and daily activities.
Establishing Fault and Negligence After a Car Accident
Establishing fault after a crash usually involves showing that another driver failed to use reasonable care behind the wheel. Negligent conduct can include speeding, distracted driving, running a red light, following too closely, failing to yield, or driving while impaired.
Evidence such as police reports, photographs, witness statements, medical records, video footage, and vehicle damage can help show how the accident happened. In some cases, responsibility can extend beyond the driver to a vehicle owner, employer, company, or another party connected to the collision.
Florida follows a modified comparative-fault standard under Florida Statutes Section 768.81. Compensation is reduced by the injured person’s assigned percentage of fault. A person found more than 50 percent responsible generally cannot recover damages under this rule, while a person found 50 percent or less at fault can still pursue a reduced amount.
Florida’s Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit
Florida law generally gives an injured person two years from the date of a car accident to file a negligence lawsuit under Florida Statutes Section 95.11.
Missing the applicable deadline can prevent an injured person from filing suit, regardless of the strength of the evidence. Different notice requirements or filing periods can apply when a governmental entity, wrongful death claim, or another type of legal issue is involved.
Waiting can also make a claim harder to investigate. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, vehicles can be repaired, and witnesses can become harder to locate. Speaking with a car accident lawyer early gives the legal team more time to gather evidence, review insurance coverage, and assess the applicable deadline.
What Can a Car Accident Lawyer in Plantation, Florida Do?
A car accident lawyer can help protect your legal rights and guide you through the claims process. The attorney can investigate the crash, gather police reports and medical records, speak with witnesses, identify responsible parties, negotiate with insurers, and file a lawsuit when appropriate. Support from a car accident attorney can help you meet deadlines and pursue fair compensation while you focus on your recovery.
Florida’s no-fault system generally allows Personal Injury Protection coverage to pay part of certain medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. However, PIP may not address the full effect of serious injuries. Insurance adjusters often seek reasons to minimize or deny claims. A car accident lawyer can review additional coverage, assess whether the at-fault driver or another party may be liable, communicate with the insurance company, and pursue full and fair compensation when the facts and Florida law support it.
Benefits of Choosing Cohen & Juda for a Car Accident Claim
Cohen & Juda, P.A. offers personal, local representation backed by decades of experience handling personal injury cases and car accident claims in Broward County:
- Local courtroom familiarity: Our Plantation attorneys are familiar with Broward County courts, local filing procedures, and the legal process involved in a car accident claim.
- Insight from the other side: One of our attorneys previously represented insurance companies before shifting his practice to injured people. That background provides insight into how adjusters evaluate claims and where they often challenge liability or damages.
- No upfront attorney’s fee: Qualifying cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. Attorney’s fees depend on a monetary recovery under the written representation agreement.
- Help documenting your losses: From medical records and bills to wage statements and property damage records, a car accident lawyer can organize the information needed to present your claim while you focus on your recovery.
- Negotiation and litigation when appropriate: Many claims resolve through settlement discussions. When an insurer does not offer an appropriate amount, our attorneys are prepared to file a lawsuit and pursue the matter in court. We will represent you personally.
How the Car Accident Claim Process Works in Florida With Cohen & Juda
The car accident claim process can involve several stages, from medical treatment and documentation through settlement discussions or litigation:
- Seek medical care: Schedule a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Florida law generally requires initial medical services and care within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident for Personal Injury Protection benefits to apply. Medical records can also help connect your injuries to the collision.
- Report and document the accident: Contact law enforcement if an accident report was not completed at the scene. Gather photographs, witness contact information, insurance details, repair records, and other evidence while it remains available.
- Meet for a free consultation: Speak with a car accident lawyer about the facts, available insurance coverage, and possible paths toward compensation.
- Investigation and demand: Your lawyer can gather medical records, wage documentation, police reports, and evidence of fault, then prepare a demand package explaining the injuries, losses, and compensation being pursued.
- Negotiation: Many claims are resolved through discussions with the insurance company. The timeline depends on the severity of the injuries, length of treatment, disputed fault, available coverage, and the insurer’s position.
- Litigation when appropriate: If the insurer does not offer a reasonable settlement, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and move the case toward discovery, mediation, or trial. Cohen & Juda, P.A. will represent you personally throughout the process.
Car Accident Matters Handled by Cohen & Juda in Plantation
Our firm handles a broad range of car accident matters in Plantation, including:
- Rear-end and intersection collisions
- Multi-vehicle crashes on I-595, University Drive, and Sunrise Boulevard
- Rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers
- Commercial vehicle and delivery truck collisions
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Wrongful death claims arising from fatal crashes
Each situation involves different questions about liability, insurance coverage, and available compensation. A case review with Cohen & Juda, P.A. can help clarify which policies and claims apply to your crash.
Why Work With Cohen & Juda, P.A.
Cohen & Juda, P.A. has represented injured people throughout Plantation since 1999, and each partner has practiced in this field for 30 years. Attorney Gary Juda previously represented insurance companies before shifting his practice to injured drivers, giving our firm insight into how adjusters build their files and where they often dispute liability, injuries, or compensation.
We keep clients informed, return calls, and explain each stage of the case in plain language. Because our office is located in Plantation, near the West Regional Courthouse, we are familiar with the local legal process and Broward County courts. During an already stressful time, we provide personal guidance and direct representation.
Cohen & Juda, P.A. Will Represent You Personally in Your South Florida Car Accident Case
If a car accident has left you dealing with injuries, missed work, medical bills, or a mountain of paperwork, you do not have to sort it out on your own. Call us today at (954) 424-1440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
We will listen to what happened, answer your questions, and explain the options available under Florida law before you decide whether our firm is the right fit for you. We will represent you personally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Lawyers in Plantation
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer in Plantation?
Cohen & Juda, P.A. handles accepted Plantation car accident cases on a contingency fee basis under a written agreement. Clients do not pay an upfront attorney’s fee, and attorney’s fees depend on a monetary recovery under that agreement.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Florida?
Florida law generally gives an injured person two years from the crash date to file a negligence lawsuit under Florida Statutes Section 95.11. Different deadlines can apply in certain matters, so waiting too long could prevent you from pursuing compensation.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Florida follows a modified comparative-fault rule. You can still pursue compensation if you are found 50 percent or less at fault, although the amount is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. A person found more than 50 percent at fault generally cannot pursue damages under this rule.
Will my car accident case go to trial?
Many car accident claims resolve through negotiations with the insurance company before trial. If the insurer does not offer a reasonable settlement, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and pursue the case through mediation or trial when appropriate.
What does Florida’s no-fault insurance cover?
Personal Injury Protection generally pays 80 percent of covered medical expenses and 60 percent of qualifying lost income, subject to policy terms, statutory requirements, deductibles, and available limits. PIP does not cover pain and suffering.
Is my information kept private during a consultation?
Cohen & Juda, P.A. treats confidential attorney-client communications according to applicable legal and ethical duties. Certain information may need to be shared with insurers, medical providers, opposing parties, or the court while pursuing the claim, but your attorney can discuss those steps with you.
What happens if the at-fault driver has no insurance?
Florida does not require each ordinary driver to carry bodily injury liability coverage. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if included in your policy, could provide a source of compensation. A car accident lawyer can also investigate whether another person or company shares responsibility.
How soon should I see a doctor after a crash?
Florida’s no-fault law generally requires initial medical services and care within 14 days after a crash for Personal Injury Protection medical benefits to apply. Prompt medical care can also create records connecting your injuries and symptoms to the collision.
What if my injuries worsen after I file a claim?
A settlement usually resolves the covered claim in full, so accepting one before your condition becomes clearer can affect your ability to pursue additional compensation later. Your lawyer can review your treatment, prognosis, and timing before settlement discussions conclude.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor fender bender?
A minor fender bender does not necessarily require legal representation. However, a free consultation with an auto accident lawyer can help clarify whether delayed injuries, disputed fault, property damage, or resistance from the insurance company make legal support worth considering.
Legal Disclaimer
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Cohen & Juda, P.A. Each car accident case involves different facts, and how a claim resolves depends on the specific circumstances involved. Please contact our office directly to discuss your individual situation.