Legal Injury GuidePersonal Injury Claims in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Population
183,000
Avg. Verdict Range
$45,000 - $350,000
Fort Lauderdale's coastal grid, I-95 and I-595 interchanges, and constant tourist and boating activity make traffic, pedestrian, and watercraft injuries a regular part of the Broward County docket. Frequent rain, flooding, and busy resort and marina districts add slip-and-fall and premises claims, while the cruise port and hospitality sector drive workplace matters. Lawsuits are filed in Broward County Circuit Court downtown, with federal cases heard in the Southern District. Florida's recent shift to a two-year filing deadline and a 51 percent comparative fault bar makes timing and fault allocation central, so injured residents should understand how the updated rules affect a South Florida claim.
Where Personal Injury Cases Are Filed in Fort Lauderdale
Broward County Circuit Court
State Trial Court
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Federal Court
Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
State Appellate Court
Most personal injury cases are filed in state trial court. Federal jurisdiction typically requires diversity of citizenship and damages exceeding $75,000.
Florida Fault Rules — What This Means for Your Claim
Florida now applies a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51 percent bar, following a 2023 reform: an injured person may recover only if they are 50 percent or less at fault, with damages reduced by their percentage of responsibility. Those found more than 50 percent at fault recover nothing. There is no general cap on compensatory damages in ordinary injury cases. The deadline to file most personal injury lawsuits was shortened to two years from the date of injury.
Read the full Florida personal injury law guide →Average Verdict Range in Fort Lauderdale
General personal injury verdicts in Fort Lauderdale typically range from $45,000 - $350,000. Actual outcomes depend on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, and the specific facts of each case.
Related Injury Guides
Want to understand all the rules that apply in Florida?
Florida Personal Injury Law Guide →Other Florida Cities
For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.