When a car accident has left you injured and stuck dealing with an insurance company that is looking for ways to pay you as little as possible, you need attorneys who know how to push back. Our car accident lawyers at Miller & Jacobs Accident Attorneys handle the legal fight so you may focus on recovering.
We have recovered more than $150 million for personal injury clients across Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, and every corner of Broward County, and we handle every case on a contingency fee basis. Call (954) 784-2277 today for a free consultation.
Table of contents
- How Our Broward County Car Accident Lawyers Handle Your Case
- How Does Florida's No-Fault Insurance System Work After a Car Accident
- How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Broward County
- How Does the 51% Fault Rule Affect a Car Accident Claim in Broward County
- What Compensation May Be Available After a Car Accident in Broward County
- FAQs for Broward County Car Accident Lawyers
- Call Broward County Car Accident Lawyers Ready to Take Action on Your Case
How Our Broward County Car Accident Lawyers Handle Your Case
Our auto accident attorneys combine aggressive, trial-ready litigation with a hands-on approach that starts the moment you reach out.
Founding attorneys Mark J. Miller and Rick S. Jacobs are both former prosecutors who have tried a combined 230-plus jury trials to verdict. That courtroom experience strengthens our position in negotiations, because insurance companies recognize when the attorneys across the table are prepared to go to trial.
Former Prosecutors Who Understand Both Sides
Mark Miller tried more than 70 jury trials as a prosecutor and in insurance defense before co-founding our firm. Rick Jacobs tried more than 160 jury trials with a 98% conviction rate in Miami-Dade County.
Both attorneys understand how insurers and defense teams build their cases, and that perspective shapes every demand letter, deposition, and courtroom argument we prepare on your behalf.
What Happens When You Contact Our Firm
From the first call, we move fast to build your case. Our approach to car accident injury claims in Broward County includes the following steps:
- Deploying investigators to document the crash scene, collect traffic camera and surveillance footage, and interview witnesses before evidence fades
- Reviewing every applicable insurance policy, including the at-fault driver's liability coverage and your own PIP, UM/UIM, and MedPay policies
- Coordinating with your doctors to document your injuries and connect your treatment directly to the crash
- Handling all communication with adjusters and defense attorneys so you never have to negotiate on your own
We take every car crash case on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost to speak with us and no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our office in Pompano Beach sits at 1600 S. Federal Highway, Suite 1101, just minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale. Call (954) 784-2277 to get started.
How Does Florida's No-Fault Insurance System Work After a Car Accident
Florida uses a no-fault insurance system, meaning your own insurance pays first after a car crash regardless of who caused it. Under Florida Statute § 627.736, every vehicle registered in Florida must carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage. PIP pays 80% of your medical expenses and 60% of your lost wages, up to that $10,000 limit.
The 14-Day Treatment Rule
Failing to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident typically results in a complete loss of PIP benefits. This deadline is strictly enforced, and most cases that miss it lose coverage entirely. Seeing a doctor promptly after a Broward County auto accident protects both your health and your right to insurance benefits.
When You Need to Step Outside the No-Fault System
PIP only covers $10,000, and it does not pay for pain and suffering. For serious injuries, you need to file a claim against the at-fault driver's bodily injury liability insurance. Florida Statute § 627.737 allows you to pursue that claim if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold. The qualifying categories under that statute include:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, such as mobility, vision, or organ function
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, confirmed through medical evidence
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement visible on prominent areas of the body
- Death, which allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim
Meeting this threshold requires strong medical documentation from the start. Insurance companies and defense attorneys challenge threshold claims aggressively, which is why your medical records need to clearly connect your injuries to the crash and support a finding of permanence.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Broward County
You have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. Florida Statute § 95.11, as amended by House Bill 837, reduced this deadline from four years to two years for negligence claims accruing on or after March 24, 2023. Missing that deadline bars you from ever recovering compensation for your injuries, no matter how strong your evidence is.
Why the Clock Moves Faster Than You Expect
Building a car crash injury case involves multiple time-consuming steps that all need to happen within that two-year window. Waiting to begin the process means risking the loss of evidence and limiting your legal options. The following tasks all take time:
- Completing medical treatment or reaching maximum medical improvement so the full cost of your injuries becomes clear
- Gathering the police crash report, witness statements, and any available traffic camera or surveillance footage before recordings get overwritten
- Filing PIP and liability insurance claims and negotiating with adjusters who are trained to minimize what they pay
- Preparing and filing a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair resolution before the deadline runs out
If your crash involved a government vehicle or happened on a road maintained by a Broward County municipality, additional notice requirements apply and further shorten your effective timeline.
How Does the 51% Fault Rule Affect a Car Accident Claim in Broward County
Florida's 51% fault rule bars you from recovering any compensation if a court or jury finds you more than 50% responsible for your own car accident. Under Florida Statute § 768.81(6), if your share of fault falls at or below 50%, a court reduces your award by that percentage. If it exceeds 50%, your recovery drops to zero.
How Insurers Use Comparative Fault to Minimize Your Claim
Insurance adjusters in Broward County auto accident cases almost always argue that you share some fault for the crash. Their goal is to inflate your percentage of responsibility high enough to either reduce the payout or eliminate your claim entirely. Common blame-shifting tactics include:
- Claiming you were following too closely, speeding, or failed to brake in time before the collision
- Arguing that you were distracted by a phone or another passenger at the time of the crash
- Using your own recorded statements from early conversations with the adjuster against you
- Pointing to pre-existing medical conditions as the true cause of your pain and symptoms
Even weak arguments carry real weight under this system because crossing the 51% threshold wipes out your entire claim. Avoiding recorded statements with the other driver's insurer and preserving strong evidence from the crash scene are two of the most effective ways to protect yourself.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Car Accident in Broward County
Compensation after a car accident in Broward County depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of your evidence, and the insurance coverage available. Economic damages cover your out-of-pocket financial losses, while non-economic damages address the personal toll of the injury.
Damages in a Broward County Auto Accident Claim
Most vehicle accident claims in Broward County involve the following categories of compensation:
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and projected future care related to the crash
- Lost wages from time missed at work during recovery, along with reduced earning capacity if the injuries prevent you from returning to the same type of work
- Pain and suffering, reflecting the physical pain of the injury and recovery and the emotional distress of living with lasting consequences
- Property damage to your vehicle and any personal belongings inside it at the time of the crash
In cases involving extreme negligence, such as a drunk driver or a hit-and-run, courts may also award punitive damages. Our attorneys evaluate whether the facts of your case support that type of claim during the free consultation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.
FAQs for Broward County Car Accident Lawyers
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Broward County?
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a negligence-based lawsuit in Florida. This deadline applies throughout Broward County and the rest of the state under Florida Statute § 95.11. Missing the two-year window permanently bars your claim, regardless of the strength of your evidence.
How does PIP work after a car accident in Florida?
Florida uses a no-fault insurance system. Your own PIP coverage pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages up to $10,000, regardless of who caused the crash. You must see a doctor within 14 days of the accident to qualify for these benefits. PIP does not cover pain and suffering or vehicle damage.
What is the serious injury threshold in Florida?
Florida Statute § 627.737 requires your injuries to meet a specific threshold before you may pursue a pain and suffering claim against the at-fault driver. Qualifying injuries include permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent loss of a bodily function, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, and death.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident attorney in Broward County?
Our firm handles all vehicle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free and carries no obligation.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
You may still recover compensation as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. Under Florida's modified comparative negligence rule, a court reduces your award by your percentage of fault.
Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Broward County?
If your injuries go beyond what PIP covers, or if the insurance company disputes fault or the value of your claim, having a lawyer protects your right to full compensation. We handle every auto accident case on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost to speak with us. We only get paid if you get paid.
What do I do if the other driver's insurance calls me after the accident?
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to get you to say something that reduces the value of your claim or shifts fault onto you. Let your attorney handle that conversation instead.
What if the other driver does not have insurance or does not have enough?
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, known as UM/UIM, may provide additional compensation when the at-fault driver lacks adequate coverage. Many Florida drivers do not carry UM/UIM, and those who do often do not realize they have it until an attorney reviews their policy. We review every applicable policy to find every available source of recovery.
Call Broward County Car Accident Lawyers Ready to Take Action on Your Case
The insurance company started building its defense the day your accident happened. Adjusters already reviewed the police report, recorded your initial statements, and began looking for ways to shift fault or minimize what they owe. Every day without legal representation is another day the other side moves forward while your evidence grows weaker.
Our firm has recovered more than $150 million for injury victims across Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and all of Florida. Former prosecutors Mark Miller and Rick Jacobs have tried a combined 230-plus jury trials, and we handle every vehicle accident case on a contingency fee basis. Call (954) 784-2277 today for a free consultation.