I was hit crossing State Road 7 away from a crosswalk. Do I still have a claim?

Often yes. Crossing outside a marked crosswalk affects the comparative fault analysis but does not automatically defeat a claim. Drivers still owe a duty of reasonable care, and under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule your recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred only above 50 percent. Lighting, driver speed and sightlines all bear on the allocation.

I fell on stairs in an older Margate apartment building. Does old construction excuse it?

Not by itself. A building constructed to an earlier code is not automatically compliant today, particularly where later alterations triggered current requirements, and a property owner still owes a duty to maintain the premises in reasonably safe condition. Building department permit and inspection records frequently show what was altered and when.

Does Templer & Hirsch handle northwest Broward?

Yes, throughout Broward County. Our Aventura office is about thirty minutes from Margate and cases commonly open with a free phone consultation at 305-937-2700.

Margate Personal Injury Lawyer

Injured in Margate? We Can Help.

Templer & Hirsch handles injury claims in Margate. Most serious cases here come off Atlantic Boulevard and State Road 7, two of the busiest and most pedestrian-hostile corridors in northwest Broward. Free consultation and no fee unless we recover for you.

Call Now 305-937-2700

Atlantic Boulevard and State Road 7

Margate is defined by two heavy arterials crossing near its center. Atlantic Boulevard carries east-west volume from the Sawgrass Expressway toward Pompano Beach and the coast, while State Road 7 (US-441) runs north-south as a dense commercial strip with continuous driveway access and closely spaced signals. Their intersection is one of the higher-conflict points in northwest Broward. Both corridors combine high traffic speed with long pedestrian crossing distances and transit stops placed mid-block, which is a recurring factor in the pedestrian injuries we see here.

Transit, Pedestrian and Cyclist Claims

Margate has significant bus transit ridership along both main corridors, and pedestrian injuries frequently occur when someone crosses between signalized intersections to reach a stop. Florida law does not automatically bar recovery in that situation: the driver still owes a duty of reasonable care, and comparative negligence reduces rather than eliminates a claim unless the injured person is found more than 50 percent at fault. Signal timing data, roadway lighting records and transit agency schedules all become relevant evidence, and several of those are held by governmental entities subject to retention schedules.

Older Housing Stock and Premises Claims

Much of Margate’s residential and multifamily housing dates to earlier decades, and premises claims here often involve stair treads and handrails that no longer meet current code, walkway settlement and trip edges, inadequate lighting in breezeways and parking areas, and deferred maintenance in older apartment and condominium buildings. Code compliance at the time of construction versus current standards is a recurring dispute, and building department records frequently establish what was permitted, inspected and later altered.

Courts and Trauma Care

Margate injury suits are filed in Broward County’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale. HCA Florida Northwest Hospital sits within the city and handles most local emergency care, with Level I trauma at Broward Health Medical Center.

Courts, Roads and Hospitals in Margate

Where suit is filed: Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale
Judicial circuit: Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
Roads we see most: Atlantic Boulevard, State Road 7 (US-441), Coconut Creek Parkway, Copans Road and Rock Island Road
Where the injured are treated: HCA Florida Northwest Hospital in Margate, with Level I trauma at Broward Health Medical Center

Margate Injury Claims: Common Questions

I was hit crossing State Road 7 away from a crosswalk. Do I still have a claim?: Often yes. Crossing outside a marked crosswalk affects the comparative fault analysis but does not automatically defeat a claim. Drivers still owe a duty of reasonable care, and under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule your recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred only above 50 percent. Lighting, driver speed and sightlines all bear on the allocation.
I fell on stairs in an older Margate apartment building. Does old construction excuse it?: Not by itself. A building constructed to an earlier code is not automatically compliant today, particularly where later alterations triggered current requirements, and a property owner still owes a duty to maintain the premises in reasonably safe condition. Building department permit and inspection records frequently show what was altered and when.
Does Templer & Hirsch handle northwest Broward?: Yes, throughout Broward County. Our Aventura office is about thirty minutes from Margate and cases commonly open with a free phone consultation at 305-937-2700.

Nearby Communities We Serve

Coconut Creek Car Accidents · Casino & Venue Premises Claims · Wrongful Death
Lauderhill Car & Pedestrian Accidents · Apartment & Premises Claims · Wrongful Death
Deerfield Beach Car Accidents · Beach & Pier Injuries · Premises Liability
Pompano Beach Car Accidents · Boating & Marine Injuries · Premises Liability
Sunrise Car Accidents · Arena & Retail Premises Injuries · Wrongful Death