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Car Accident Lawyer — University Drive, Coral Springs, FL

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University Drive — State Road 817 — is the backbone of the north-south network in western Broward County, running through Coral Springs and connecting to Tamarac, Davie, and Cooper City. In Coral Springs, this arterial carries a relentless mix of commuters, commercial vehicles, and local traffic past shopping plazas, office parks, apartment complexes, and schools. The posted speed limit climbs to 45 mph in many sections, and the wide lanes encourage drivers to underestimate how quickly hazards appear. The result is a road where high-speed intersection crashes, commercial truck collisions, and distracted-driver wrecks are a constant reality.

If you or a family member was injured on University Drive, you need an attorney with the experience to stand up to the insurance companies and their defense teams. Eric A. Hernandez at HLM Injury Lawyers has more than 25 years of trial experience in South Florida courts. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and former law clerk to Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Wells, Eric is recognized as a Super Lawyer and Florida Trend Legal Elite and serves clients in both English and Spanish. Call (305) 842-2100 for a free consultation.

Why University Drive Has So Many Accidents

  • High-speed through-traffic mixed with local turns: University Drive serves both through-commuters who want to maintain speed and local drivers turning into plazas and side streets. High-speed and turning traffic meeting at the same intersections produces frequent and often severe crashes.
  • Commercial truck presence: University Drive connects to major retail and industrial corridors throughout Broward County. Commercial delivery trucks, box trucks, and semi-trucks use the road regularly, creating size and speed differentials with passenger vehicles that increase crash severity.
  • Multiple signalized intersections with short cycle times: During peak commute hours, signal timing and driver impatience lead to red-light running and aggressive left turns that cut across oncoming traffic lanes — a classic T-bone scenario.
  • Apartment and complex access points: The apartment buildings and gated communities along University Drive in Coral Springs send residents braking and turning across traffic, while through-drivers behind them do not anticipate the deceleration.
  • School zone proximity: Multiple schools are located near University Drive, increasing pedestrian and cyclist crossings during school hours and creating slow zones that rear-end drivers fail to anticipate.
  • Distracted driving at sustained volume: University Drive never sees light traffic. Heavy volume and long commutes breed driver fatigue and attention lapses that trigger collisions throughout the day.

Common Injuries in University Drive Crashes

  • High-speed intersection trauma: T-bone crashes at University Drive’s signalized intersections occur at speeds high enough to cause traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, and complex fractures even in vehicles equipped with side airbags.
  • Spinal disc herniation: The force of a rear or side impact compresses and ruptures lumbar and cervical discs, causing radiating nerve pain, numbness, and loss of physical capacity that requires imaging, injections, or surgery to address.
  • Rib fractures: The lateral force of a broadside crash — or chest impact against the steering wheel in a front-end collision — fractures ribs that take weeks to heal and carry serious risk of internal complications.
  • Knee injuries: Knees braced against the dashboard or absorbing rotational force during a collision commonly sustain PCL, ACL, and meniscus tears that require arthroscopic surgery and extended rehabilitation.
  • Traumatic brain injury: University Drive crashes at higher speeds generate the kind of force that causes serious TBI even with airbag deployment — affecting memory, cognition, and the ability to work.
  • Psychological trauma: Survivors of high-speed crashes on University Drive frequently develop anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder that affects their ability to drive, work, and engage in daily life.

What to Do After an Accident on University Drive

  • Move to safety if possible: University Drive’s traffic speed makes the crash scene dangerous for anyone standing in the roadway. If your vehicle can be moved, position it safely before assessing injuries.
  • Call 911 immediately: Request police and emergency services. A crash report from a responding officer documents the scene while evidence is fresh and creates an official record of the incident.
  • Document the scene: Photograph all vehicle damage, the road layout, traffic signal positions, skid marks, and any visible injuries before the scene is cleared.
  • Gather information: Exchange driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle registration information with all other drivers. Collect contact details from witnesses.
  • Follow up medically: Symptoms that seem mild at the scene can mask serious internal injuries. See a physician within 24 to 48 hours — and within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits.

Florida Law — Your Rights After a University Drive Crash

Florida requires drivers to carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers initial medical expenses and lost wages after an accident regardless of fault — provided treatment begins within 14 days. Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage, which means pursuing compensation beyond your own PIP coverage depends on the other driver’s optional BI policy or your own uninsured motorist coverage.

Florida’s modified comparative negligence system reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault. If you are found 51% or more responsible, you cannot recover. Under Florida’s 2023 tort reform law, HB 837, the statute of limitations for filing a negligence claim is two years from the accident date.

Why Hire Eric Hernandez

  • Courtroom credibility: Insurance companies evaluate whether your attorney will actually try the case. Eric’s 25-plus years of South Florida trial experience give him the credibility that drives better settlement offers.
  • Federal litigation skills: As a former U.S. Attorney, Eric built cases against well-funded defendants. He brings the same preparation and discipline to auto accident litigation.
  • Knowledge of Broward County roads: Eric’s practice is rooted in this community. He understands University Drive’s crash history, local traffic patterns, and how Broward County courts evaluate these cases.
  • Bilingual representation: Eric serves clients throughout Coral Springs and the region in both English and Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University Drive in Coral Springs a high-crash road? Yes. University Drive is one of the busiest arterials in Broward County, and its combination of high speeds, commercial traffic, and frequent intersections and access points produces a disproportionate number of serious crashes.

What if I was hit by a commercial vehicle on University Drive? Commercial vehicle accidents may involve employer liability, cargo company liability, and federal safety regulation violations in addition to the driver’s own negligence. An attorney should investigate all potentially responsible parties promptly.

How long do I have to file an accident claim in Florida? Under Florida’s 2023 tort reform law, HB 837, you have two years from the date of the accident. Delays allow evidence to disappear and memories to fade — contact an attorney as soon as possible.

What if I was a passenger in the vehicle that crashed? As a passenger, you bear no fault for the collision and may have claims against one or more drivers. Your own PIP coverage — or the driver’s — applies first, and you may pursue additional claims against all negligent parties.

Contact HLM Injury Lawyers — Free Consultation

An accident on University Drive can carry consequences that follow you for years. Do not face them alone. Call HLM Injury Lawyers at (305) 842-2100 for a free consultation. Eric Hernandez represents clients throughout Coral Springs, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Margate, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and all of Broward County.