Broward County Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Fort Lauderdale and Surrounding Communities
When negligence on a Broward County roadway, in a Fort Lauderdale business, or inside a Hollywood apartment complex leaves you injured, you need a lawyer who understands both Florida personal injury law and the local courts and insurance landscape that will shape your claim. I’m Eric J. Goldman, and for more than twenty years I have represented injured individuals throughout Broward County from my office in Fort Lauderdale. My boutique practice means you work directly with me — not a case manager — from the first phone call through final resolution.
If you have been hurt in Broward County and need to talk through your options, call (954) 536-7557 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Personal Injury Cases I Handle in Broward County
My Broward County personal injury practice covers the full range of accident and negligence claims, including:
- Auto Accidents — Collisions on I-95, I-595, the Sawgrass Expressway, the Florida Turnpike, US-1, and Broward’s surface streets, including rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, rideshare incidents, and hit-and-run claims.
- Slip and Fall Injuries — Falls at supermarkets, restaurants, the Galleria, Sawgrass Mills, Port Everglades cruise terminals, hotels, and condominium common areas.
- Premises Liability — Inadequate security, negligent maintenance, swimming pool incidents, and dog bites on residential or commercial property.
- Negligence Claims — Any situation in which another party’s failure to use reasonable care caused you harm.
- Wrongful Death — Claims brought by surviving family members when negligence took the life of a loved one.
What Makes Broward County Cases Different
Broward sits at the intersection of dense urban traffic, year-round tourism, and a heavy condominium and rental market. Each of those creates its own pattern of personal injury claims. The Port Everglades cruise corridor, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and seasonal congestion on I-95 and A1A produce some of the highest collision rates in Florida. Tourists unfamiliar with local roads, peak winter season traffic, and the mix of work trucks moving in and out of the port make Broward particularly hazardous.
Slip and fall claims in Broward are also shaped by the volume of multi-tenant retail, the age of certain Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood properties, and the frequency of rain that businesses fail to properly address. Building a successful claim often turns on preserving surveillance footage and maintenance records before they are overwritten or discarded — something I move on immediately after a new client retains me.
Florida Personal Injury Law That Applies to Your Case
The No-Fault Insurance System
Florida is a no-fault state for auto accidents. Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays the first $10,000 of medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of fault. When injuries are serious — permanent injury, significant scarring or disfigurement, or a permanent limitation of bodily function — you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim directly against the at-fault driver.
Comparative Negligence
Under Florida Statute 768.81, Florida applies a modified comparative negligence rule. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and following the 2023 tort reform, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault you cannot recover at all. Establishing the other party’s primary responsibility — through scene investigation, witness statements, expert reconstruction, and surveillance — is one of the most important things I do for every client.
Statute of Limitations
Under Florida Statute 95.11, you generally have two years from the date of a negligence-based injury to file suit (reduced from four years by the 2023 reform for incidents occurring after March 24, 2023). For wrongful death, the limitation is two years from the date of death. These deadlines are strict — miss them and your claim is gone.
Broward County Courts and Where Your Case Will Be Filed
Most Broward personal injury suits are filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, headquartered at the Broward County Courthouse on SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Smaller claims may proceed in the Broward County Court system. I am familiar with the local judges, the typical case timelines, and the major defense firms representing insurance carriers in this circuit. That practical knowledge often shapes negotiation strategy long before a case ever reaches trial.
Compensation You May Recover
Florida personal injury law permits both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for affected family members
Broward County Communities I Serve
From my Fort Lauderdale office I represent injured clients in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Plantation, Sunrise, Davie, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek, Margate, Tamarac, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and surrounding communities. Wherever in Broward County your accident happened, I can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a Broward County personal injury lawyer?
I handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fee unless I recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is always free.
How long will my Broward County personal injury case take?
Most cases resolve through settlement within several months to a year, but more serious claims that go to litigation in the 17th Judicial Circuit can take eighteen months or longer. I push every case forward as efficiently as possible without sacrificing value.
What if I was injured by an uninsured driver?
Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is often the source of recovery in these situations. Florida insurance carriers are required to offer UM coverage, and a surprising number of injured drivers have it without realizing the protection it provides.
Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company?
No. Not before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize your claim. Call me at (954) 536-7557 before agreeing to any recorded statement.
Talk to a Broward County Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you’ve been hurt anywhere in Broward County, you deserve representation focused on your case and your recovery — not on volume. I take a limited number of clients on purpose, because each one deserves direct attention. Call (954) 536-7557 or reach out through my contact page to schedule your free consultation.