Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale is a place full of fun, sun, and accidents of all kinds. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys work around the clock to ensure our personal injury clients are represented fairly and accurately. We work hard to ensure top compensation for our clients who are injured due to the negligence of others. Give us a call for a free consultation.

As the largest city in Broward County, there are more than 186 thousand residents in Fort Lauderdale, and that’s not including the influx of commuters the city sees every single day. Being only 23 miles outside of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is a great place to live with year-round ocean breezes and plenty of sunshine.

Discover your legal options today.

Our Recent Settlements

$145,000

Pedestrian Accident / Hip Surgery

Palm Beach County

Todd Fronrath

$150,000

Auto Accident / Cervical Fusion

Palm Beach County

Todd Fronrath

$150,000

Auto Accident / Leg Surgery

Palm Beach County

Lance C. Ivey

$200,000

Auto Accident / Shoulder & Soft Tissue

Palm Beach County

Jason A. McIntosh

$225,000

Auto Accident / Pre-Existing Spine Injury

Palm Beach County

Lake “Trey” Lytal, Ill

$250,000

Settlement-Nursing Home- Sepsis/pneumonia

Darla Keen (2020/2021)

$250,000

Auto Accident / Neck Injury

Palm Beach County

Jason A. McIntosh

$250,000

Auto Accident / Neck Injury

Palm Beach County

William S. Williams

$269,000

Defective Air Bag / Bodily Injuries

Palm Beach County

Lance C. Ivey

$270,000

Motorcycle Accident / Leg Surgery

Palm Beach County

Lance C. Ivey

Our Practice Areas

Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have successfully fought for Fort Lauderdale citizens in personal injury cases for over 35 years. Our team of expert lawyers holds companies and individuals responsible for your or your loved one’s well-being.

We can also help you with a variety of other claims such as:

Other vehicle accidents
Legal malpractice
Sexual abuse
Insurance in bad faith
Construction liability

Car Accidents

When two passenger vehicles collide, it can cause massive injuries depending on the speeds, trajectory of hit, and location involved. A Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey, & Fronrath can guide you through the process of claiming damages and assessing your personal injuries.

Truck Accidents

Massive 40-ton 18-wheeler truck accidents are more likely to result in severe injuries and life-changing challenges. Don’t let a truck driver (or their company) get away with negligent behavior that may have changed your life forever. Contact our Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorneys to get the compensation you deserve.

Motorcycle Accidents

Passenger vehicles weigh over six times more than the average motorcycle. Combine that substantial weight difference with high speeds, poor weather conditions, or crudely-built roads and you have the perfect recipe for motorcycle accidents. If you were hurt, our Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyers can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and more.

Medical Malpractice

Putting your faith in a doctor should be a no-brainer. But sometimes they can cause bigger problems by failing at their job. When you are trusting someone to improve your health, they should be held responsible when they fail, make issues worse, or create new challenges. Our Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyers can help hold them accountable for misdiagnosis, delay diagnosis, failure to inform, and more types of medical malpractice cases.

Premises Liability

When you injure yourself on private property that has been neglected or isn’t safe, you have legal rights to claim those damages against them. An experienced Fort Lauderdale premises liability attorney from Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey, & Fronrath can help you get compensation.

Product Liability

We purchase products and vehicles believing they have already passed extensive safety inspections. When a product you’ve purchased causes you or your family injury or pain, contact a top Fort Lauderdale product liability lawyer to make sure that those damages are covered.

Nursing Home Abuse

If your elder loved one is being abused in a nursing or group home, the Fort Lauderdale nursing home abuse attorneys at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath are here to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We will ensure that your elder who experienced abuse is properly cared for, placed in a better home, and is compensated for the abuse they suffered.

Brain Injury

A brain injury can affect every area of your life – your personality, your interests, and even your abilities. If you suffered a head or brain injury, call our Fort Lauderdale brain injury lawyers immediately. We’ll help you find the best possible treatment and we’ll work hard to get you full compensation for your injury.

Slip and Falls

Broken bones and chronic pain are just two of the many consequences associated with slip-and-fall incidents. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for customers and visitors, and when they don’t, they can and should be held liable for resulting injuries. An experienced Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney at our firm will help you hold the property owner accountable.

Wrongful Death

If you lost a loved one in an incident, you have the right to hold the negligent party liable. A compassionate Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyer will work to recover expenses that you and your family incurred before and after the death. We’ll help your family obtain justice and closure.

Testimonials

What our clients say about us…

It was a real pleasure to work with this firm. Very detailed and always communicated with me

The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. This law firm kept me up to date on the status of my case.

Caring and compassionate and really kept me informed on the progress of my case.

This firm is well organized and very professional. The staff is caring and easy to talk to. They made me feel special.

I received excellent representation and could not be happier with my law firm.

They were very much on it and helped with every aspect of my case. Always available 24/7 when ever I needed them. Could not have asked for better service.

The folks at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath are highly professional and have true compassion for their clients. If you need a lawyer that will truly work hard for your best interest, this firm is the BEST choice in South Florida!

The staff was responsive to all my inquiries in a very timely manner. My case was handled by experienced professionals and I was always comfortable with the progress. I can unequivocally recommend this law firm.

Thank you for your help! Kimberly was efficient and thorough and was able to answer the many questions I had.

Great service, really pleasant to work with everyone in the company. Very good communication same day call returns and email responses in minutes. Efficient staff and friendly attorneys. My experience was great and every step of the process was explained in detail.

Determining Fault In a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Accident

Florida is a “no-fault” state, which generally means that victims must file a claim against their own policy regardless of who was at fault for the accident that caused their injury. This insurance covers personal injury but does not cover property damage.

However, fault is still an issue for insurers. Insurance companies look to determine fault when your personal injury expenses extend beyond your policy’s coverage. The person at fault could be liable to pay a percentage of your damages based on the state’s comparative fault law.

Determining fault in an accident that resulted in an injury is essential if there was neglectful or impaired driving. In these cases, the fault lies with the person who was driving recklessly and could lead to them paying punitive damages.

The Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath are here to help you determine fault in your accident and get the compensation you deserve.

The Potential Impact of Comparative Fault in Florida

Comparative fault allows victims to sue for damages even if they were partially at fault for the accident that caused their personal injury. This law awards victims based on the percent that they were not at fault for the accident. In Florida, the “pure” comparative negligence standard can recover victim’s damages from 1% to 99% of their damages.

This law is meant to assist victims who may have played a role in the accident that resulted in their injury, rather than denying them any damages to help them cover their medical expenses.

Comparative fault is a common defense to reduce the amount of damages the defendant is owing. Insurance companies have been known to try to assign more blame to the victim to lower the amount they have to pay.

Without an attorney, it can be difficult to defend yourself against their accusations. Insurance companies focus on lowering compensation instead of caring for your wellbeing. Your attorney ensures that your personal rights are protected.

Contact an expert Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath to protect you against false ratios in a comparative fault case.

How Personal Injury Cases Differ From Other Legal Cases

Personal injury cases are civil cases where you file against a specific party legally at fault for your injury. They can range from accidents to intentional acts to defective products to defamation. This variety of types of personal injury mean that victims can be entitled to multiple types of damages.

If you had a physical injury as the result of an accident, you may be entitled to economic damages or financial compensation to recoup your expenses. However, if that accident caused permanent scarring, you could also be entitled to non-economic damages for the effect this injury will have on your life in the future. If the scars were the result of an impaired driver, you may also be owed punitive damages for their reckless driving.

The variety of circumstances, injuries, and damages make personal injury cases more complicated than other cases. It’s best to approach these cases with a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer who can navigate local laws and knows how to get you the highest compensation possible.

The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims

A statute of limitations can stop you from claiming damages. Victims of personal injury can stand in their own way by waiting to file a claim to collect damages they deserve.

In Florida, you generally have up to four years from the date of the accident to file a claim. For personal injury claims involving medical malpractice or suing the government, you may have a shorter window. Contact an attorney for information on the different statutes of limitations for specific types of personal injury claims.

These statutes can vary if you were injured previously but only became aware of your injuries recently. For example, a slip and fall resulted in damage to tendons in your leg. You may not have been aware of the issue until years later when it began to cause chronic pain. In this case, a judge may allow for a personal injury claim to be filed after the statute of limitations has expired.

Hiring a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can help speed up the process. Your lawyer will assist you in communicating with the defendants and getting your compensation sooner. They won’t let your case exceed the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Florida.

You’ll need to file a legal claim within the period specified by Florida’s statute of limitations

How do you choose the best personal injury lawyer for your needs?

With so many personal injury attorneys out there, it’s hard to know which one will best fulfill your needs. We know what we’re doing and have assembled an amazing and experienced team of personal injury lawyers who each work in a specialized practice area. You don’t just get one experienced lawyer on your team, you get an entire team with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath.

Reasons to Choose Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath As Your Personal Injury Attorneys

1. We only get paid if you win.

Due to the nature of personal injury lawsuits, we understand that our clients aren’t in the position to put up tons of money to secure an excellent lawyer. That’s why our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys work on contingency fees. The contingency is that we only get paid once we win your lawsuit, and then it’s only from the earnings, leaving you with peace of mind that the money you get will stay yours.

2. We treat clients like family.

Every client we help is treated with the respect and compassion that we would give to our own families. We know that healing from injuries can take a lot of energy and time, so we are patient in waiting to hear from clients. You will become like family to our firm, and we will aggressively represent you against those who harmed you.

3. We prepare every case for trial.

In a perfect world, insurance companies would pay fair amounts for the damages that their insured policyholders cause. But the bottom line to any insurance company is their profit. So, if they can offer a lower amount and get away with it, they will. That’s why our personal injury attorneys prepare every case that comes through as though we were going to trial. Most of the time, a settlement can be reached, but we know that’s not always the case. By treating your case this way, we are ahead of the timeline instead of backtracking for facts.

4. We earn maximum compensation for your personal injuries.

We do not let insurance companies lowball or diminish your injury claims. They will try to deny your claims of injury to save themselves money, but we know all the tricks in the book. We know how to ensure you earn the maximum compensation due for your injuries, pain, and suffering.

A Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney Could Provide Effective Representation

A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath knows your rights and options before you make your personal injury claim. They will work to ensure that you are compensated for your injury and that the person or business at fault is held liable for their actions.

An expert personal injury attorney knows how to work for your benefit, taking the stress off you and allowing you to focus on your recovery. They are well-versed in a variety of personal injury claims, from dog bites to medical malpractice to slip and falls. They can even direct you to the top Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers to ensure you get the assistance you need.

Common Types of Personal Injuries

Personal injuries can result from a variety of accidents. Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers work with individuals who have been harmed in a variety of ways.

These are the common types of personal injuries that we assist our clients with:

1. Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury resulting from your head being whipped forward and back. It is a common injury from car accidents that strains the muscles in your neck. This injury can cause long-lasting damage if not treated properly. Whiplash causes headaches, tenderness, stiffness, and muscle issues in your shoulders.

2. Dog Bites

Dog bites or dog attacks are self-explanatory, but the defense isn’t always as straightforward. Dog owners are typically liable for any personal injury caused by their dogs.

However, sometimes a “one-bite” rule is used, where the owner is not liable unless their dog has previously shown aggressive tendencies. This issue could result in a victim not getting damages for their suffering. However, hiring a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can determine how to best proceed with your claim.

3. Concussions

Concussions are brain injuries typically caused by an impact on the skull. This can be the result of a slip and fall where someone hits their head on the ground or a car accident. Concussions are serious traumatic brain injuries that cause nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, vomiting, and a change in behavior.

Some victims miss out on weeks of work while recuperating or suffer life-long side effects from the injury if they don’t properly care for it.

4. Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury is an umbrella term for many brain injuries that can occur. Common symptoms vary depending on how severe the injury is. Mild symptoms include drowsiness, short loss of consciousness, vomiting, headaches, speech problems, and balance issues.

Severe traumatic brain injuries can result in seizures, loss of coordination, long-term loss of consciousness, slurred speech, and even comas.

5. Contusions

Contusions are a common personal injury from slip and fall cases. They are colored portions of skin from burst blood vessels beneath the skin. Typically, bruising is a dark purple or blue. However, colors can range from green to yellow. Contusions are caused by hard impact, like falling on a sidewalk or bumping into a wall.

6. Internal Damage

Internal damage is difficult to spot, which makes it difficult to identify. Victims of severe trauma can suffer internal bleeding, which can lead to blood loss, organ failure, and death if left untreated.

Internal damage is one of the reasons that it is vital to go to the hospital after an accident occurs. You may feel fine in the moment, but you could be suffering from a severe injury.

7. Spinal Injuries

Spinal injuries range from your neck to your back. These can permanently affect your life, causing long-term mobility issues that may prevent you from working. A mild spinal injury may heal quickly. Severe spinal injuries can result in paralysis, nerve damage, or permanent mobility restriction.

These injuries can change your quality of life drastically and potentially threaten your employment. It’s important to get the proper treatment and to follow a doctor-prescribed recovery plan.

8. Fractures

Fractures or broken bones are an obvious injury that can be diagnosed quickly; however, they involve a long recovery period. Broken legs or arms may prevent you from working at your full capacity or may require bed rest for a period of time. These lost wages can significantly impact your life.

Coupled with the cost of X-rays and follow-up appointments, fractures can be a surprisingly expensive personal injury.

9. Wrongful Death

Wrongful death is when negligence causes an injury that leads to loss of life. This can occur in the moment, such as a fatal car accident, or be the result of injuries sustained during an accident.

Of course, losing someone you love is traumatic. The last thing you need is insurance companies downplaying your loss and refusing to cover damages. Focus on healing from your grief and let a top Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer handle your case to ensure you get the damages you deserve.

10. Medical Malpractice

Unfortunately, not all medical procedures go as planned. These cases can range from subpar care to active negligence on the part of the medical practitioner. If a doctor’s treatment leads to your injury, you may be the victim of medical malpractice.

However, bad reactions or results from treatments do not necessarily qualify as medical malpractice. Contact a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation to see if your case qualifies.

11. Workplace Injury

Workplace injuries vary greatly depending on your employment. These can range from unsafe working conditions in a factory that lead to a fracture or negligent safety practices causing long-term health problems.

If you’re injured on the job, it can be difficult to pursue action against your employer. They are in a position of power over you as your source of income. Don’t let this prevent you from getting the compensation you need to recover with the popper treatment. Hire a lawyer to help support you.

How Does A Personal Injury Claim Work?

After receiving a personal injury, the injured must decide whether they will pursue financial compensation from the party who caused the accident. They submit this request as a demand letter which formally requests payment for damages incurred. If you are lucky, the insurance company will simply fulfill the request and you’ll be awarded your amount.

But if your personal injury was severe, you should contact a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney to represent you. Most insurance companies are only concerned with their bottom line, so it’s important to have someone looking out for your bottom line.

A good lawyer will listen to you, defend you against those trying to minimize your injury, and fight aggressively in a court of law to prove that you deserve fair compensation for injuries caused by the other party.

Potential Damages In A Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawsuit

After a serious personal injury, there are a variety of types of damages that you may claim. These are mainly broken into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. It’s important to choose an attorney who will investigate not only your physical damage, but also your personal interests and emotional damage. Our lawyers know that injuries from serious accidents leave more than physical scars.

Economic Damages

These damages have a paper trail. Any bill you’ve received that was directly related to the accident is recoverable in your lawsuit. This doesn’t just relate to medical costs either. Think of rental fees, car repairs, replacing broken items lost in the event, or even lost wages due to missing work.

Economic damages may include:

Medical expenses
- Ambulance fees
- Emergency department fees
- Follow-up visits
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Counseling services
- Diagnostic tests
- Blood tests
- Prescription and pharmaceutical costs
- Travel costs
- Mental health treatment
Property costs
- Car repair
- Car replacement
- Property loss
Wage loss
- Lost wages due to injury
- Loss of potential income
- Loss of earning potentia

Non-Economic Damages

When something affects you negatively after a personal injury, compensation is still due. But since there is no dollar amount associated with the level of pain or emotional distress a personal injury can cause you, it’s crucial to have an excellent Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney who knows how to demand compensation for the damages that aren’t apparent but no less life-altering.

Non-economic damages may include:

Pain
Suffering
Emotional trauma
Mental distress
Humiliation
Shock and grief
Depression and anxiety
Loss of consortium or affection

Understanding the weight of some of these non-economic damages can be difficult to imagine. Here are a few examples of how they could affect everyday life.

Chronic pain due to nerve damage resulting from the injury
Being unable to coach a child’s baseball team due to leg amputation
Persistent and obsessive thoughts about the accident that affects day to day life
Loss of a bread-winning spouse leaving young children and a loving family alone

Once again, these situations can be hard to quantify in compensation, but the pain and suffering you experience due to someone’s negligence should be compensated in your lawsuit.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are damages awarded as a punishment to the defendant in civil cases rather than compensatory damages like above. Punitive damages are awarded as a deterrent for the behavior that caused the personal injury to not happen again. The state of Florida won’t routinely award compensation for punitive damages, but they may be awarded in especially heinous cases with recklessness involved.

The Florida Statute places a cap on punitive damages for victims of personal injury for three times the amount of compensatory damages (what we have listed above) or the max amount of $500,000.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

Ready to discuss your case with a leading personal injury attorney in West Palm beach? Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to find out your best path forward today – you won’t pay until we win.

Lytal Reiter – Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers

110 SE 6th St STE 1714, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

(954) 466-0364

Call 561-655-1990OR

Send us a message

To schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.

You don’t pay until we win

Personal Injury Questions And Answers

Why do I need a personal injury lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected and that you are not being taken advantage of. Most insurance companies are quick to cut a check that also releases them from any future claims, but a good personal injury attorney knows that injuries can linger, and that not every injury is one you can heal physically.

There is no fee up front, and we don’t get paid unless you do. There’s nothing to lose by choosing one of our lawyers. You’ll have peace of mind that your injury will be taken care of.

What do I do when an insurance company calls me about my injury?

If an insurance company is calling you about your injury, they are already aware that they are on the hook for it and will try to close the claim as quickly as possible by cutting you a check that releases their responsibility to your injury. Don’t fall for it. Don’t answer any questions and call a personal injury attorney as soon as you hang up.

You should get representation as soon as possible if your personal injury was caused by the negligence of another party or entity. Insurance companies are concerned more with their bottom line than with just compensation for your injuries.

Let us make sure they are being held accountable.

Should I call the police at the scene of a personal injury?

Whether you should or shouldn’t call the police on the scene of your personal injury depends on the personal injury. Any type of vehicle accident should be reported to police, as well as anything causing an ambulance to be called or serious injury. It’s safe to call the police regardless so there is a paper trail of how your accident occurred and the conditions surrounding the accident.

If your accident was due to a negligent matter like a dripping roof making the floor slick, it’s easy for that to be mopped up and made like it never happened. In these situations, it’s best to ask people around to take pictures of conditions even before police arrive.

What is a wrongful death in Florida?

Florida Statutes section 768.19 says that when a death occurs due to wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person, and if the person who died could have pursued damages had they not died, then the negligent person or party is deemed liable for the wrongful death of the person.

This means that the family of the deceased may pursue damages against the liable party for the cost of medical leading up to the death, non-economic damages, as well as the potential for punitive damages.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a personal injury?

According to the Florida statute of limitations, injury to a person may be claimed up to four years after the accident occurred to file a civil lawsuit to seek compensatory damages for negligent accidents. If you miss the filing deadline, your case will be dismissed no matter how severe it is, unless the person pursuing damages was incapacitated, or the defendant tried to avoid being served.