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Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.

Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Pompano Beach Florida

  • Home
  • Areas of Practice
    • Personal Injury Lawyers in Florida
      • Animal Attack Lawyer
      • Boating Accident Lawyer
      • Car Accident Lawyer
      • Elder Care and Nursing Home Neglect
      • Medical Malpractice Lawyers
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Product Liability / Mass Torts
      • Slip & Fall / Premises Liability
      • Sovereign Immunity in Pompano Beach
      • Workers’ Compensation
      • Wrongful Death
  • Legal Team
    • Lyle R. Long, Esq.
    • Alex Jean, Esq.
    • Ryan Wechsler, Esq.
    • Len Blumenthal, Esq
  • Case Results
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Pompano Beach, Florida
  • Home
  • Areas of Practice
    • Personal Injury Lawyers in Florida
      • Animal Attack Lawyer
      • Boating Accident Lawyer
      • Car Accident Lawyer
      • Elder Care and Nursing Home Neglect
      • Medical Malpractice Lawyers
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Product Liability / Mass Torts
      • Slip & Fall / Premises Liability
      • Sovereign Immunity in Pompano Beach
      • Workers’ Compensation
      • Wrongful Death
  • Legal Team
    • Lyle R. Long, Esq.
    • Alex Jean, Esq.
    • Ryan Wechsler, Esq.
    • Len Blumenthal, Esq
  • Case Results
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Pompano Beach, Florida

Pompano Beach & Florida Specific Laws

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florida specific laws

Laws Specific To the State of Florida

Whether you’re filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit in Florida, you’ll need to be familiar with the different state laws that come into play. Most importantly, it would help if you found Florida attorneys that are knowledgeable of the law so they can provide you with a snapshot of the process and what to expect from the state’s laws.

At LJW Legal, our attorneys dedicate time to explaining the complex Florida specific laws to our clients to make sure they’re aware of every step of their legal process.

CONTACT OUR LEGAL TEAM

Florida Personal Injury Laws

If you’ve been dealing with a personal injury claim, you may have questions about the laws that affect your case. These are some of the most common laws associated with personal injury claims in Florida, including car accidents, property damage, and other claims.

Pedestrian Laws

Pedestrians in the state of Florida are equally protected by law as car drivers. There are some laws designed to protect pedestrians from vehicles, including those noted in the Florida Statutes, section 316.130:

  • Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control signals.
  • Where sidewalks are provided, no pedestrian shall, unless necessary walk upon the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic.
  • Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, on the right half of crosswalks.

A violation to any section within the pedestrian laws is considered a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a pedestrian violation.

Driving Laws

In 2018, the state of Florida was witness to 2,964,856 traffic violations, including criminal and non-criminal violations such as careless driving, DUI, toll violations, texting while driving, and more. While driving laws in Florida are similar to those in other states, they have significant variations:

  • Motorcycles and bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws as drivers of cars, meaning they’re subject to the same penalties as car drivers for violating such laws.
  • Drivers involved in an accident must provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number upon request.
  • Drivers can’t drive while handling mobile electronic devices to send or read information, except to contact emergency services.

A violation of any of the Florida Statutes within Chapter 316 can result in life-altering penalties depending on the severity and circumstances of the offense.

Liability Laws

Chapter 768 of the Florida Statutes features laws related to negligence, its general provisions, and damages. Liability laws in the state determine car insurance minimums, insurance information, comparative negligence, and more. The most notable liability laws in the state include:

  • Unlike other states, Florida makes a dog owner liable for damages suffered by persons bitten by the owners’ dog, regardless of the animal’s past behavior.
  • Florida is also a no-fault state, meaning the law allows a person who is injured in a car accident or whose property received damage to file a claim with their own insurance company, regardless of which party was at fault.
  • Florida has a modified Dram Shop Law, in which private social hosts, such as wedding receptions, private parties, or corporate sponsored events are not held liable for the actions of intoxicated guests unless they knowingly provided alcohol to a minor or an alcohol addict.

In Florida, victims can also submit a claim against a governmental agency or its employees for personal injury or property damage, under what’s known as sovereign immunity. Liability laws carry harsh penalties depending on the severity of circumstances of the incident.

Florida Criminal Defense Laws

Most criminal defense laws are charged at a state level. Criminal charge convictions carry severe consequences that may include a jail sentence. Florida’s criminal code outlines specific offenses that will fall under felony or misdemeanor crimes, such as aggravated assault, sex crimes, theft crimes, manslaughter, and more.

Classification of Crimes

Crimes in the states are divided into felonies and misdemeanors. In most cases, misdemeanors are considered less severe offenses, and do not result in any imprisonment. If a jail sentence is imposed, the defendant generally goes to the county jail. Felonies, on the other hand, are considered severe crimes punishable in the state with imprisonment of more than one year and a fine of up to $15,000. In this case, the defendant goes to the state prison.

Florida follows a criminal code to immediately classify certain crimes, such as:

  • Aggravated assault and battery, burglary, robbery, manslaughter, theft crimes, kidnapping, sex crimes, murder, drug offenses, and arson are considered felony crimes.
  • Petty theft, shoplifting, public intoxication, reckless driving, and possession of a small amount of marijuana are considered misdemeanors.

DUI Laws

Florida has a Zero Tolerance law for a driver under 21, meaning any driver under 21 with a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher will immediately face consequences. For Florida drivers over 21, the blood alcohol concentration limit is .08. Also, any person driving under the influence that causes property damage or personal injury to another is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida, which is penalized with a fine or imprisonment time.

Capital Punishments

Defendants who face capital charges can be sentenced to death in the state. Crimes such as capital drug trafficking and murder are considered the most heinous. A capital defendant can be sentenced to either lethal injection or electrocution, or life imprisonment when not given a death sentence.

Sex Offender Registration

Those convicted of a sex crime in Florida must be registered as a sex offender in the state. This requires the defendant to provide current updates on where they live and work. Sex offenders in Florida are not allowed to work with children, as well as are not allowed to live within a certain distance to schools.

Florida Statute of Limitations

Under Florida’s statute of limitations, there are specific deadlines for the time you have to file a lawsuit in civil court against a person or business that’s legally at fault for your injuries. For most personal injury cases, victims have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. For criminal defense cases, victims have two years from discovering the injuries in cases such as medical malpractice to file a lawsuit.

Florida Damage Caps

Individual states have damage caps to limit the amount of money a person can receive in some instances. Under Florida law, the only damage cap set under the statute limits punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever amount is greater.

Florida law is extensive and complex. If you or someone you know needs legal assistance regarding a personal injury or criminal defense case, contact the attorneys at LJW Legal Start your private consultation to understand the laws behind your case or claim today.

CONTACT US

  • Legal Team
  • Areas of Practice
  • Case Results
  • Testimonials
  • Our Legal Blog
  • Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Pompano Beach, Florida

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Address:

1937 E. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 205
Pompano Beach, FL 33060


Phone & Fax:

P: 954-597-6770
F: 954-691-3906


Email:

info@ljwlegal.com

Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.
Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.
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arletty fernandezarletty fernandez
21:24 13 Nov 22
Ryan and Helen were very thorough and diligent with my case. This was my first time having to hire for this type of service and am honestly thrilled to have been referred to such a diligent, efficient and caring team. They made sure to stay in touch and keep me updated all throughout my case. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Thank you all for your excellent care.
Florane FleurinorFlorane Fleurinor
14:52 03 Oct 22
Very good, professional and responsible lawyer. His office was in contact with me every time they had new information. Step by step Mr. Alex Jean would explain to me what is going on with my case. I didn’t have to wait for years for results. So far from what I hear from other people about their cases Mr. Alex Jean is the best. And I will reference my family and friends you and thank you so much
alexis Johnsonalexis Johnson
20:35 13 Sep 22
Ryan Wechsler is by far one of the best lawyers around. He gave me the assurance that everything was going to be okay. He is a very professional, respectful, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and an honest lawyer. His entire team (Daniela & Helen) was amazing. Very pleasant and kept me up to date every step of the way during my case. Ryan fought hard for me! I’m very thankful for all of his hard work and everyone at Long, Jean & Wechsler. If you’re ever in need of a great legal team give them a call.
Saif PowerSaif Power
14:59 30 Aug 22
Lyle was a pleasure to work with, he delivered on his promises. He was very prompt with his responses and very helpful when we first touched base. I’d definitely take him again on any relevant case.
Luiz CentLuiz Cent
02:15 13 Jul 22
I hired Alex Jean for a personal injury case and little did I know I was going to get world class treatment.I was referred to the best Chiropractors in Miami and then when I moved to St.Pete the LJW team had great connections there too.My Tesla is as good as new, my back is recovering and not to mention the settlement from the insurance. If I didn’t hire them I’d still be trying to recover money from insurance to fix my car.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you need a personal injury attorney I 100% recommend Alex Jean and the team at LJW.
Princess Maryam Abdul-AkbarPrincess Maryam Abdul-Akbar
16:29 07 Jul 22
Ryan Wechsler is an excellent attorney. He worked tirelessly on my case, which was a difficult one to begin with. When other attorneys were given me issues to take my case, he was the only one that was reassuring and determine to seek justice for me. I completely trusted his counsel. Had it not been for Mr. Wechsler I would have accumulated a lot of debt. I am forever grateful that he accepted my case.
Angelina AkkadAngelina Akkad
12:47 30 Jun 22
Ryan and the team are absolute rock stars! I got a recommendation from a good friend to use them, and I was not disappointed. They solved my issue with one strong letter and avoided a bad situation and lots of time and $$$ saved. I will definitely be using them again if the need ever arises.
Micheca AristildeMicheca Aristilde
19:46 08 Jun 22
Very good firm. I had an unusual case. A crane dropped on my car the week of Christmas. Considering the fact my accident occurred during the holiday season, Lyle and his paralegal, Helen, ensured that I received treatment the same day, got a rental, and even settled my case in less than 6 months.They were extremely polite, communicative, and on top of everything. I highly recommend reaching out to them for great legal representation.
GatorGator
19:20 08 Jun 22
Worked with Ryan and he helped me navigate the process of our law suit. Was in great communication throughout the process. 5 stars
Patrícia OsorioPatrícia Osorio
02:16 08 Jun 22
We had a great experience with Lyle and their team. The communication worked great, they had the patience to explain all the details to us and were responsive to our questions. We got a great settlement.
Perry CrawfordPerry Crawford
18:55 15 Apr 22
Lyle and his law group conducted themselves professionally and were very caring and concerned about my injury. My recovery was foremost on their minds.He fought for me relentlessly and got me what I truly deserved. His confidence and tenacity won the case decisively.Thanks Lyle.
Andrea ChlimperAndrea Chlimper
17:18 15 Apr 22
I highly recommend Lyle Long and his firm. Additional to a very very good settlement amount, Lyle and his staff were a pleasure to work with. Lyle walked me through the entire process from the moment I contacted him regarding my automobile accident. They were excellent with communication, returning my calls/emails and keeping me informed with updates and progress. Unfortunately, this is my 2nd time hiring his firm. My first experience was that positive that I never thought about hiring another firm to handle my legal matter.
TT
20:04 28 Mar 22
I highly recommend using this law firm. They’re super friendly, super helpful and very very professional. They had everything under control and dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s. I couldn’t be more happy with there service!!!
Viral-_-buildzViral-_-buildz
18:44 01 Feb 22
I got Into an accident 8/13/2021. A friend of mine told me to contact Ryan, I reached out to him the day after my accident ( which happened to be a weekend day ) and he immediately got right on the case. He was very helpful and I was literally able to reach out to him by phone or text any day and any time. He is always available. He set me up for all of my medical treatment and made sure I understood the whole entire process. He’s a great lawyer and is really on your side. My case was resolved in 4 months and my settlement was way more than I expected. I couldn’t be more thankful for him and his staff. They are excellent.Thank you Ryan,Latia J
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