Car accidents can happen anywhere cars and drivers share the road. Intersections, however, pose a particular hazard since cars are moving in multiple directions. Each driver must focus their attention on the safe operation of their vehicle and on carefully observing traffic signs and signals. Some intersections along Sunrise Boulevard and Andrews Avenue are frequently cited as Ft. Lauderdale’s riskiest intersections
If another driver’s negligence caused a collision on one of the most dangerous intersections in Ft. Lauderdale for car accidents, you could be entitled to financial compensation. AFort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can help you build a strong case for financial recovery. Most will do so atno upfront cost to you, and a law firm team member will review your case for free.
These Ft. Lauderdale Intersections Have a History of Serious Accidents
According toFlorida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) statistics, Broward County saw 40,286 accidents, including 24,548 resulting in accident victim injuries and 206 resulting in fatalities in 2023.
Car crash Florida statistics often cite the following corners as the most dangerous intersections in Fort Lauderdale, FL:
- Sunrise Boulevard and Andrews Avenue
- Sunrise Boulevard and Federal Highway
- SE 17 Street and Andrews Avenue
- Davie Boulevard and SW 31 Avenue
- Las Olas Boulevard and A1A
- NE 26th Street and Federal Highway
Intersection safety and attention to detail are important parts of safe driving. Failure to adhere to the rules of the road or pay sufficient attention to detail can lead to dangerous, even deadly, auto collisions.
Factors That Make Ft. Lauderdale Intersections Dangerous for Drivers
A primary reason an intersection can pose an increased risk of danger is heavy traffic. Driver error, negligence, and aggression during heavy traffic will increase the likelihood of a car crash.
Additional contributing factors include visibility issues and the challenges they create. Crowds, trees, double-parked cars, weather, and other issues that create visual challenges can lead to misjudgments that lead to collisions
Commonly Reported Causes of Intersection Accidents
If you are seeking compensation for an accident, identifying how it happened is important. To recover damages, its cause has to be negligence on the part of another driver or entity. Somecommon causes of driver-error accidents in Ft Lauderdale intersections can include:
- Trying to beat a yellow light
- Pausing (rather than stopping) at a stop sign
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Distracted driving
- Speeding or recklessness
- Drug or alcohol overuse
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield the right of way
Car accidents can also be caused by vehicle defects or poor road conditions. Examples include
- Faulty brakes
- Faulty signaling lights
- Road design
- Non-functional road signs
- Faulty vehicle design or manufacture
A car accident attorney can help you prove that he at-fault driver’s negligence caused your accident. Your accident attorney can also investigate, collect evidence, and negotiate a favorable settlement.
Types of Injuries and Damages Victims May Face
Our auto accident attorneys in Fort Lauderdale have assisted many clients following devastating accidents, helping them obtain compensation for such losses as:
- Emotional trauma: Victims may also experience emotional distress, mental anguish, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
- Financial losses: The medical bills for treating injuries could be more than any family can bear, but they may also face lost wages, property damage, and a long recovery.
Physical injuries: Common injuries we see include whiplash, fractures,traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage.
How to Prove Negligence Caused a Ft. Lauderdale Intersection Accident
Recovering damages from a car crash in Florida means proving that another person or entity caused your accident. Establishing theelements of negligence means proving:
- The at-fault driver owed you a duty of care
- Their actions breached their legal obligation
- Their actions directly caused your accident
- The accident caused financial consequences
These elements can be proven with a robust evidence collection. Car accident lawyers can help you understand the type of evidence your case needs. They can also help you collect and organize evidence and submit it to the appropriate insurance company.
Evidence That Can Prove the Legal Components of Car Accident Negligence
No two auto accident cases are the same, nor will they have identical evidence collections. In general, theevidence you can use to prove third-party negligence includes:
- Police report
- Photos and video
- Witness statements
- Vehicle inspection reports
- Truck black-box records
- Blood alcohol concentration test
- Medical records and bills
- Insurance correspondence
- Employment records
- Forensic evidence
Yourpersonal injury attorney can recover evidence for you so you can focus on getting better. They may also have an easier time accessing evidence and can handle emotionally triggering evidence, like death certificates and autopsy reports.
Compensation You Can Recover for an Intersection Accident in Ft. Lauderdale
The person or entity whose negligence caused your accident can be held liable for compensating you. According toFlorida Statutes § 768.81, your financial recovery can include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future income loss
- Loss of future earning ability
- Property damage or loss
- Diminished property value
- Disability and disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If your family lost a loved one in an intersection accident, you could be entitled to a range of wrongful death damages. In addition to funeral and burial expenses, you can also recover damages for lost financial and household support, as well as loss of consortium, care, and companionship.
Legal Options Available to Victims
After your accident, you do have options for compensation. First, all drivers in Florida must carry apersonal injury protection (PIP) policy. This insurance policy covers a portion of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. However, it does not provide anything beyond that.
To seek compensation beyond your PIP, you must reach aserious injury threshold that would allow you to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver.
And depending on the circumstances in your case, you may also file claims against third parties, such as a city for poor road design, vehicle manufacturers fordefective products.
You Could Have as Little as Two Years to File Your Florida Car Accident Lawsuit
You generally have two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, according toFlorida Statutes § 95.11. Similarly, if a government or municipal agency is liable for your accident, you generally have six months to provide written notification of your injury claim, according toFlorida Statutes § 768.28.
If your lawsuit is not filed on time, you could be barred from filing it, or the insurance company could refuse to negotiate. Any of these outcomes could leave you carrying the financial burden for an accident you did not cause. A car accident attorney in your area can help you get financial compensation by filing your personal injury lawsuit on time.
Call (954) 633-8270 for Help With Your Ft. Lauderdale Intersection Accident Claim.
If you or someone you love was injured in an intersection accident, our law firm can help you pursue financial compensation. We will investigate your accident, collect data on the intersection where it occurred, and fight for fair and appropriate compensation.
Find out how hard we will fight for you after a collision in one of the most dangerous intersections in Ft. Lauderdale for car accidents. Contact our consultation team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato to get started now.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the most dangerous intersections in Fort Lauderdale?
Some of the busiest intersections include I-95 interchanges, Sunrise Boulevard, and US-1. These high-traffic areas see more crashes due to congestion, speeding, and distracted driving. A local car accident lawyer can use knowledge of these accident-prone areas to support your claim. - Can I file a lawsuit if my injuries go beyond what PIP covers?
Yes. Florida law allows you to step outside the no-fault system and file a personal injury lawsuit if you meet the “serious injury threshold,” such as permanent injury, significant scarring, or death. - What if poor road design or malfunctioning traffic lights caused the crash?
You may have a claim against a government entity or municipality responsible for road maintenance. These cases require strict deadlines and notice requirements, so it’s important to contact an attorney quickly. - How long do I have to file a claim after an intersection accident in Fort Lauderdale?
Under Florida law, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, certain claims against government entities may require action in a much shorter time frame. - What damages can I recover after an intersection car accident?
Victims may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and in some cases, punitive damages if the driver acted with extreme recklessness. - Do I need an attorney if the insurance company offers me a settlement?
Yes. Insurance companies often try to settle quickly for less than your case is worth. A Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can calculate your full damages, negotiate with insurers, and, if necessary, take your case to trial to fight for maximum compensation.