Miami-Dade Personal Injury Lawyer Representing Clients Across South Florida
Miami-Dade County’s density, its tourist volume, and its complex network of expressways make it one of the most dangerous places in Florida to drive, work, and live when others fail to use reasonable care. I’m Eric J. Goldman, a Fort Lauderdale-based personal injury attorney with more than twenty years of experience representing injured individuals throughout South Florida — including clients hurt in Miami, Coral Gables, Aventura, Doral, Hialeah, and the surrounding communities of Miami-Dade County.
My practice is intentionally small. You will deal directly with me, not a paralegal queue, from your first call to the resolution of your claim. To talk through your case, call (954) 536-7557 for a free consultation.
Miami-Dade Personal Injury Cases I Handle
My practice covers the full range of personal injury and negligence claims that arise in Miami-Dade County:
- Auto Accidents — Crashes on I-95, the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826), the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), the Don Shula Expressway, the Florida Turnpike, US-1, and the surface streets of downtown Miami, Brickell, and the surrounding municipalities. This includes rideshare, taxi, and commercial vehicle collisions.
- Slip and Fall Injuries — Falls at Dadeland Mall, Aventura Mall, Brickell City Centre, Miami International Airport, condominium common areas, restaurants, and hotels throughout Miami Beach and the Magic City.
- Premises Liability — Inadequate security in high-density apartment complexes, swimming pool incidents at hotels and condominiums, balcony and elevator failures, and dog attacks on residential property.
- Negligence Claims — Any incident in which another party’s failure to exercise reasonable care caused you harm.
- Wrongful Death — Claims by surviving family members when negligence resulted in the loss of a loved one.
What Makes Miami-Dade Personal Injury Cases Unique
Few places in the country combine the traffic density, tourist volume, language diversity, and high-rise residential footprint of Miami-Dade. Each of those creates challenges for injured plaintiffs that don’t exist elsewhere.
The Palmetto, the Dolphin, and the Don Shula carry some of the heaviest commercial-truck and commuter volume in Florida. Miami International Airport’s traffic spills onto NW 36th Street and LeJeune Road around the clock. Cruise traffic from PortMiami floods downtown on turn-around days. Tourists driving rental cars without familiarity with Florida’s no-fault system contribute to a higher-than-average rate of contested liability claims, where preserving dashcam, surveillance, and rideshare GPS data within days of the incident is often decisive.
Miami-Dade’s premises liability landscape is also distinctive. Aging high-rises, post-Surfside scrutiny of structural and safety conditions, and the sheer density of restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues mean negligent maintenance claims arise frequently — and require fast, organized investigation.
Florida Personal Injury Law That Applies to Your Miami-Dade Case
No-Fault PIP Coverage
Florida’s no-fault system requires every driver to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection coverage, which pays for initial medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. To pursue compensation beyond PIP — and to recover for pain and suffering — your injuries must meet Florida’s serious injury threshold: permanent injury, significant scarring or disfigurement, or a permanent limitation of bodily function.
Comparative Negligence After the 2023 Tort Reform
Under Florida Statute 768.81, Florida is now a modified comparative negligence state. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident, you recover nothing. Insurance carriers are using this rule aggressively to push fault onto injured plaintiffs. Building the liability case against the at-fault party is one of the most important things I do in every Miami-Dade claim.
Statute of Limitations
For negligence-based injuries occurring after March 24, 2023, you have two years from the date of the injury to file suit under Florida Statute 95.11. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. These deadlines apply strictly, and Miami-Dade cases are often complicated by issues like delayed discovery of injuries or difficulty identifying corporate defendants, both of which need to be addressed well before the limitations clock runs out.
Miami-Dade Courts
Personal injury claims in Miami-Dade are generally filed in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, which sits at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse on Flagler Street in downtown Miami. Smaller cases may be heard in Miami-Dade County Court. I know the local landscape — including the defense firms that handle most large insurance carrier cases — and I use that knowledge to shape negotiation strategy from the start.
Compensation Available in Miami-Dade Cases
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income and diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Miami-Dade Communities I Serve
I represent injured clients across Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Aventura, Doral, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Bay Harbor Islands, Sunny Isles Beach, Key Biscayne, South Miami, West Miami, and surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Miami-Dade lawyer specifically, or can a Fort Lauderdale attorney handle my case?
A Florida-licensed attorney can represent you anywhere in the state. My Fort Lauderdale office is roughly 35 minutes from downtown Miami, and I regularly handle cases filed in the 11th Judicial Circuit. What matters more than office location is the attorney’s experience with the type of claim, the local courts, and the insurance carriers involved.
Do you handle cases for Spanish-speaking clients?
Yes. My office works regularly with Spanish-speaking clients and can arrange translation for case-related communications and proceedings.
What if my accident happened at PortMiami or Miami International Airport?
Claims involving federal facilities, port authorities, or government-owned property may involve additional notice requirements and sovereign immunity considerations. The deadlines on these claims are often much shorter than two years. Contact me immediately if your injury occurred on government property.
What does it cost to hire you?
I work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases — no attorney’s fee unless I recover compensation for you. The consultation is free.
Speak with a Miami-Dade Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured anywhere in Miami-Dade County, call my office at (954) 536-7557 or reach out through my contact page. I will personally evaluate your case and explain what your options look like under Florida law.