An Overview of Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is the seventh-largest city in Florida and home to more than 5.5 million people. Located on the Atlantic coast in Broward County, and boasts 300 miles of navigable waterways, earning it the nickname of “Venice of America.” The city’s coastal location, semi-tropical climate, and abundant sunshine make it a popular tourist destination and spring break hotspot. In addition, to its famed beaches, other cultural, entertainment, and educational amenities draw visitors to the area including boating, deep-sea fishing, and shopping. More recently, It has established itself as a world-class international business center and supports a diverse range of industries from finance, marine, manufacturing, and insurance to real estate, high technology, avionics/aerospace, and television production.
Personal Injury Attorney Fort Lauderdale
Receiving compensation after being injured can be crucial to getting your life back on track. If your injury was caused by someone else’s lack of care, you might have legal options to recover compensation from them.
At Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer has handled personal injury cases in all of South Florida every single day. The personal injury attorneys from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato have the experience, determination, and financial resources to go up against even the biggest insurance companies and corporations out there also help in a tort claim.
These victories are for real people who have been accidentally injured or have lost a loved one to wrongful death- real people just like you. Justice, unfortunately, is not automatic; it takes hard work, research, and complicated legal procedures to determine every single liable party and to get you the compensation you deserve. During such a stressful time in your life, you shouldn’t have to worry about these burdens, too.
Why You Need an Experienced Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer on Your Side
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney has earned in litigation, including wrongful death litigation, and has been designated Lifelong Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This impressive title means that a trial lawyer has successfully obtained multi-million dollar verdicts in a court of law. Every personal injury attorney here has ample experience, and that translates into benefits for you.
Not every personal injury case needs an attorney to settle. However, if you don’t have one, you run the very serious risk of getting far less compensation than you deserve. The insurance company will want to settle for the absolute minimum amount possible, and without a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer, it can be difficult to know what to do. A competent injury lawyer can be like your navigator, steering you through these complicated legal storms and guiding you to a result even better than what you may have expected.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim in Fort Lauderdale?
Filing a personal injury claim with the responsible party’s insurance company may allow you to gain compensation after an accident. However, for the average person, the process of filing a claim may not be an easy task.
The following steps are generally involved in filing a personal injury claim. When you work with the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer from our firm will take care of all of these tasks for you.
Our Personal Injury Lawyer Fort Lauderdale Identify All Liable Parties
To receive compensation, the person or company you are filing a claim against (the defendant) must be liable for your injuries. Depending on the type of injury you were in and where it took place, there may be multiple liable parties.
Liable parties could include:
- A driver who caused a car crash
- The owner of a business you were visiting where you slipped and fell
- An insurance company
- Any other at-fault person who is responsible for your injuries
Determine How the Crash Has Affected Your Life
Once you have identified who should be held accountable for your injuries, it is time to assess how the crash has affected your life.
Your injuries may present the most obvious motivation for filing a claim. Other ways could include missed time at work or pain and suffering. The impact of a personal injury can be far-ranging. Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you determine how this will affect any compensation you may recover.
How Our Personal Injury Attorney Fort Lauderdale Help To File Your Claim
Filing your personal injury claim means meeting the statute of limitations, submitting your claim to the courts, and including all proper documentation. You will also want a strong foundation for your claim, including evidence to support it. Working with a personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato is one of the ways you can ensure you meet all of the legal requirements when seeking a settlement.
Our Expert Injury Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale Help In Injury Settlement
When both parties agree to a personal injury case, the claimant may reach a settlement offer and not have to participate in a personal lawsuit or trial. However, insurance companies may offer low settlements to keep you out of court and close the case quickly.
A personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help recognize low settlement offers and pursue the maximum amount of compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries. Claims that do not settle may be taken to court via a lawsuit. This can become a lengthy, drawn-out process. However, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato will be happy to defend your case at trial if necessary.
Common Injuries Handled by Our Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers
Any number of injuries can result in an unexpected injury. When an injury occurs that is not your fault, a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you fight for compensation.
The following incidents are some of the most common injury types that can lead to a personal injury claim and a settlement for the victim:
Auto Crash Injury
Car accidents remain some of the most common ways people receive injuries throughout the United States. There were more than 236,000 injuries caused by the Florida car crash in 2019, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) department. Injuries range greatly in an auto crash and may be affected by the type of crash, such as a rear-end collision or head-on injury. Common injuries sustained in car crashes include whiplash, broken bones, head trauma, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Our Fort Lauderdale car accident or Florida personal injury lawyers are here to help.
Truck Collision
Commercial trucks can be a hazard on the road due to their sheer size and weight in comparison to other motor vehicles. If a truck driver is driving carelessly, this could lead to an accident that can have devastating results for the injury victim. In a trucking collision, the trucker or trucking company may be held liable.
Bicycle Injury
The nature of bicycles means that cyclists are more exposed to other vehicle drivers while on the road, putting them at high risk of injury. When drivers fail to watch out for bicycles while on the roadway, they may end up striking a cyclist with their car. The lack of protection for bicyclists means that this injury often leads to serious injuries and may be fatal.
Motorcycle Crash
Like bicycles, motorcycles are exposed to more dangers while on the road than car drivers. Motorcyclists have to be extra cautious when driving for their own protection. Sometimes, this caution is not enough.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 80% of motorcycle crashes are fatal or lead to injuries for the motorcyclist.
Pedestrian Injury
Many car crashes that result in injury take place while victims are standing, crossing the street, or otherwise outside the vehicle (where they are known as pedestrians).
Slip and Fall Injury
Slipping or tripping and falling leads to more serious injuries than one may realize.
In the state of Florida, falls ranked as the first-leading cause of unintentional injury for emergency department visits in 2016, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Wrongful Death
Injuries that lead to an unexpected death can result in compensation for the victim’s surviving family members. A wrongful death personal injury settlement helps surviving family members pay for untimely costs or recover damages after the loss of their loved one.
Compensation from a wrongful death claim may help account for:
- Funeral costs
- Lost income
- Lost benefits
- Loss of companionship
- Emotional anguish
Dog Bite
Florida has strict laws for dog bite injuries. That is, a dog owner can be held liable for an animal attack even if he or she was unaware that the dog had a vicious nature.
However, if you or your injured loved one were negligent in any way at the time the dog bite occurred—such as trespassing on private property—this could reduce the dog owner’s liability, according to Florida Statutes § 767.04.
Workers’ Compensation
When you are injured at work, you need time off work to recover. Workers’ compensation benefits allow you to take the time you need to heal by providing payments for your treatments (if eligible) and lost wages. If your employer does not cooperate with your workers’ compensation claim, this could cost you. A personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you file a workers’ compensation claim or appeal a denial or cancellation of benefits.
Product Liability
Product defects, such as a faulty item you bought online or a prescription drug with unlisted side effects, can lead to disastrous injuries. Manufacturers and product designers have a responsibility to do everything in their power to ensure they churn out safe products for public use. When they fail in this responsibility, affected victims may be able to file a product liability claim to recover compensation.
Bus Accident Injury
For some, bussing is the only mode of transportation available. Still, bus riders deserve to arrive safely at their destination.
Bus crash victims may be able to file a personal injury claim against the driver, the bussing company, the driver who caused the bus crash, or other negligent parties.
Uber Accident Injury
Most Uber drivers work as contractors, meaning the Uber company may not necessarily be held responsible for a car injury victim’s injuries. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you file your claim against the appropriate party if you were hurt in an Uber injury.
Brain Injury
Brains are incredibly fragile, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur due to incidents ranging from slip and fall injuries to head-on collisions. TBIs can lead to long-term impairments and permanent brain damage. They can also be fatal. Personal injury claims allow brain injury survivors to seek compensation for the ways the injury has impacted their lives.
Construction Accident Injury
An alarming number of workplace injuries in the state of Florida take place in the construction industry.
According to the Florida Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP), the construction industry was responsible for the highest number of fatal workplace injuries from 2007 to 2011. Many construction injuries are the result of falls.
If you are uncertain whether the injury that caused your injuries will make you eligible to pursue compensation, call Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato now at (954) 633-8270.
A member of our client intake team can discuss your case and explain how a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale from our firm can assist you during your free initial consultation.
Laws That Can Affect Your Personal Injury Claim
Countless factors may affect your personal injury claim and any settlement amount you may recover.
Two of the factors that may have the greatest impact are Florida’s consideration of negligence and the statute of limitations for your claim.
Comparative Negligence
Most personal injury claims take negligence into consideration. Florida operates on a principle of comparative negligence, according to Florida Statutes § 768.81.
This means that any compensation you may receive will be reduced by the amount of fault you were assigned for the injury if any.
For example, if you are awarded a certain settlement amount, and the court decides you were 10% at fault for the accident, the compensation you recover will be reduced by 10%.
The Statute of Limitations in Florida
The typical statute of limitations on a personal injury claim in Florida is four years, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11.
However, different types of personal injury claims have different statutes of limitations or timeframes within which you must file your claim. These include:
- Workers’ compensation: 2 years (Florida Statutes § 440.19)
- Wrongful death: 2 years (Florida Statutes § 768.19)
Type of Damages You Recover With Our Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney
There are two main types of damages or compensation categories, you may be able to recover in a personal injury claim or lawsuit. These include economic damages and non-economic damages.
In rare cases, a third damage type, punitive damages, is awarded.
Economic Damages to Pay for Direct Costs from Personal Injury
Economic damages compensate injury victims for a loss they incurred due to the accident. They include both direct costs resulting from your injuries and ways the injury may have impacted your life in a non-monetary fashion.
Economic damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Projected medical expenses for future or long-term injury care
- Childcare during your recovery
- In-home aid care during your recovery
- Property Damage
- Lost wages
- Future lost wages based on your current pay
Non-economic damages to Pay for Indirect and Personal Costs from the Personal Injury
Non-economic damages do not have a direct value but still may be included in a personal injury case. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you estimate the value of your non-economic damages.
Non-economic damages may provide compensation for:
- Emotional anguish
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
Damages to Punish the At-Fault Party
The rarest type of damages, punitive damages, are awarded by a judge or jury solely to punish the at-fault party. These damages are seldom recovered and cannot be sought in a personal injury insurance claim.
When awarded, the judge or jury decides on an amount they feel is appropriate to deter the defendant from making the same mistake again.
For more information on how a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help calculate your damages, call our client intake team today at (954) 633-8270.
Possible Outcomes for Your Case
There are typically two possible ways to recover compensation in a personal injury case:
Reaching an insurance settlement and recovering compensation
Receiving a court award after filing a lawsuit and taking your case to trial
Maximize Your Compensation with Our Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorneys
No matter where you were injured, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato are capable of assessing your situation exactly to find out what you’re legally entitled to. Usually, there’s a lot more to this than one would expect, and your insurance company will often try to minimize these. But a Fort Lauderdale personal injury settlement should address compensation for every type of damage, including:
- Emotional damages
- Pain and Suffering– physical and mental
- Long-term or permanent disability
- Past and present lost wages
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Estimated future costs
Your opposing party will often push for a fast settlement and hope that they can avoid getting into many of these issues which may raise the full amount to which you’re entitled. Some Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers want to avoid trial at all costs, and because of this, they’ll accept lesser settlements to get out of doing so.
Is Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers From Our Firm Right For You?
There are many personal injury law firms and offices out there, but the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato is in a league of its own. Our investigators were among the first to discover the health impacts of Chinese Drywall, which resulted in an over 800 million $ global payout. We pledge this same dedication to each and every one of our clients and give you advantages like:
Our Trial Experience:
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys will prepare your case as if it were going to trial, even if a settlement is the expected outcome. If the settlement isn’t what you deserve, we’re not afraid.
Our Personal Injury Experience:
Every personal injury attorney at Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato works exclusively as a plaintiff’s lawyer. We’ve handled complicated, high-stakes cases, and we can handle yours, too.
Our History of Success:
We’ve won multi-million dollar verdicts for all sorts of clients with all sorts of different situations. Working with one of our personal injury attorneys gives you the best chance to get what you deserve.
Our Contingent Fee Payment Structure:
You won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case. Our payment structure can be explained in more detail by an attorney in person, right from the start of your representation.
What Type of Cases Does Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers Take?
There are many different types of accidents and injuries, and many have complicated ruling systems that are not very straightforward. Often, there are also many parties involved who could be held liable, from drivers to municipalities, manufacturers, and even the government. Here are some examples of the various cases our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers at Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato has experience with:
- Commercial Carrier / Truck collision
- Premises Liability (slip/trip & falls)
- Negligence Security
- Negligence of Daycare Provider
- Animal Attacks
- Medical Malpractice
- Misdiagnosis
- Emergency Room Errors
- Tire Defects
- Auto Defects
- Wrongful Death
- Catastrophic Injuries
- TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
- Automobile Accidents Injury
- Hit and Run Accident Injury
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Motorcycle Crash
- Pedestrian Hit Injury
- Boating Crash
- School Bus Collision
- Aviation Tragedies
- Mesothelioma
- Railroad Worker Injuries
- Car Crash
- Repetitive Stress Disorders
- Construction Injury
- Swimming Pool Incident
- Broken Bones and Fractures
- Defective Products
- Public Transit Accidents
- Taxi Cab Crash
- Bus Accidents
- Train Collision
- Bike Crash
- Workers’ Compensation
Is it Worth Getting a Personal Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?
Personal Injuries from auto injury are particularly common in Florida. The 2010 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a total of 2,445 people died in 2010 in Florida as a result of auto injuries.
At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, our expert lawyers understand you have questions and you want answers quickly. You want to know the worth of your insurance claim and how long it will take to get a fair settlement. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can give you straightforward answers and help determine your out-of-pocket expenses, medical payments coverage, property damage, and lost wages. We’ll even assist you in completing the necessary paperwork.
How Our Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorneys Support Your Case
A Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can provide you with several advantages, including:
Ensuring You Understand Your Legal Rights and Options
The personal injury lawyers at our law office strive to help clients understand all of their legal rights and options throughout the entire claims and lawsuit process.
We will explain your legal options in a way you can understand, so you can make informed decisions for your case.
Providing Prompt Communication and Legal Support
Working alongside a lawyer from our firm also ensures you receive communication for your claim in a fast, efficient manner. We will keep you informed while completing the difficult parts of the claim so that you can focus on healing.
Working Hard to Build a Foundation for Your Claim
When you call on a personal injury attorney, you deserve to be connected to someone who knows personal injury law and who can put that knowledge to work for your claim.
Our lawyers know the details and evidence they must gather to support a strong claim, and they will work to collect all available evidence to build your case for compensation.
Some of the evidence we may examine and use to support your claim could include:
- Eyewitness accounts
- Expert reports
- Police report
- Pictures of the scene of the accident
- Insurance reports
- Medical records
Offering Local Solutions
Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can provide help to residents all over Broward County and the Fort Lauderdale area.
We can assist those who were injured in an accident on The Strip or Las Olas Boulevard, those who were hurt on Florida’s Turnpike, or those injured at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park.
We help personal injury victims in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, such as those from:
- Lauderhill
- Lauderdale Lakes
- Coral Heights
- Oakland Park
- Wilton Manors
- Coral Ridge
- Central Fort Lauderdale
At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we have decades of experience with Florida law and we’re not afraid to take on the big insurance companies. If you’ve been involved in an auto crash or any other personal injury case, contact us immediately and we’ll answer all of your questions, explain your rights, and help you to achieve justice.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer For More Help
Call 1-954-633-8270 to schedule a consultation with our law firm or fill out our free consultation form to schedule a private consultation with one of our attorneys.
FORT LAUDERDALE PERSONAL INJURY FAQs
1. What is personal injury protection (PIP) insurance?
Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is also known as a no-fault policy. It is the policy that covers your treatment and a portion of your lost wages after a car crash in FL. PIP will only pay up to the limits of your policy or as high as the law allows based on your injuries. You may need to take additional action to recover compensation if you suffered moderate to severe injuries. For more information call the personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale.
2. How can insurance companies mess up your injury claim?
Insurance company adjusters may care more about their company’s bottom line than the health of their policyholders. They may want to pay out as little as possible, even if that leaves injury victims holding the bill for their care or other expenses. Insurance adjusters may look for any reason to reduce the value of your claim. Our injury lawyers can help protect you from this.
3. How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Fort Lauderdale?
Florida Statute 95.11 gives injury victims in Florida four years from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit, if eligible. While this law does not apply directly to insurance claims, not having the ability to file a lawsuit can make it difficult or impossible to recover a fair payout. For this reason, it is a good idea to get started with your case as soon as possible after your injuries are stable.
4. How does the personal injury claim process work in Fort Lauderdale?
If you meet the qualifications to file a fault-based claim, we can begin gathering evidence to support your personal injury claim. We will then file a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company and attempt to negotiate a fair settlement based on the evidence we provide. If this is not possible, we can file a lawsuit against them and take the case to court.
5. Why is having a personal injury lawyer important in Fort Lauderdale?
Insurance companies are businesses, and their employees may be tasked with paying out as little as possible to protect the company’s bottom line. They may look for reasons to reduce the value of your case or offer you less than you deserve. Having a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney on your side can help you recover a just settlement based on the facts of your case.
Personal Injury Locations Served
- Miami
- Fort Myers
- West Palm Beach
- Boynton Beach
- Boca Raton
- Tamarac
- Jupiter
- Lakeland
- Cape Coral
- Deerfield Beach
- Delray Beach
- Hallandale
- Hialeah
- Miami Beach
- Hollywood
- Pompano Beach
- Aventura
- Lake Worth
- Port Charlotte
- Weston
- Port St Lucie
2101 W. Commercial Blvd. Suite 1500 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: 954-522-5800, Fax: 954-767-0960
Police Departments Serving Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale Police Department
1300 W Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Fort Lauderdale Police Department
2020 Wilton Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
Fort Lauderdale Police Department
4601 SW 30th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Courts Serving Fort Lauderdale, FL
US District Court Clerk
299 E Broward Blvd STE 108, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, United States
Broward County Clerk of Courts
201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, United States
Hospitals Serving Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kindred Hospital South Florida – Ft. Lauderdale
1516 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Broward Health Imperial Point
6401 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Medical Office Building
5601 N Dixie Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital
1600 S Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, United States
Fort Lauderdale Psychiatric
2901 W Cypress Creek Rd # 124, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
CONTACT TODAY
If you or a loved one has been the victim of negligence or misconduct, please do not hesitate to contact among the best attorneys in South Florida at Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today to receive expert guidance about your legal options, as well as free and confidential case evaluation.
