motorcycle accident attorney

November 18, 2022

How Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits Differ From Other Types of Crash Cases

Florida is a biker’s dream – long, flat roads, sunny skyways and blissful sea breezes. Not only do a lot of Floridians own motorcycles (about 550,000), but riders from all over the country flock to our roads regularly. (The Insurance Highway Safety Institute reports California and Florida have the largest number of registered motorcycles in the U.S. – and by a large margin.) Broward motorcycle accident lawyer

The sheer volume of motorcycles in the Sunshine State is part of why the Florida motorcycle accident rate is so high. It consistently ranks at the top of the charts for motorcycle crashes, serious injuries, and deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida outranks every other state – even California, which has nearly double the population – for the highest number of motorcycle fatalities. There were 600 motorcycle accident deaths reported in Florida just in 2020 alone. California ranked No. 2 with 539. The lack of motorcycle awareness by other motorists as well as Florida’s high speed limits don’t help matters.

But there are several ways in which suing after a Florida motorcycle accident is different compared to other types of crash cases.

Here, our Broward motorcycle injury lawyers explain.

What Sets Motorcycle Accidents Apart From Other Crashes?

There are several unique factors with motorcycle accidents that alter the way personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys approach these cases. A few of those include: Continue reading

April 15, 2022

Pursuing Florida Motorcycle Accident Damages

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

A spate of deadly Florida motorcycle accident reports during Bike Week 2022 throws into sharp relief the danger many two-wheeled riders face when taking to the streets of the Sunshine State. The Daytona News-Journal reports there were six motorcycle deaths during the annual motorcycle enthusiast gathering in Daytona Beach this year. Two of those deaths (plus two injuries) occurred in a single crash when a car driver drove into an opposing lane of traffic where a group of motorcyclists were traveling. Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer

In a single recent year, more than 5,000 motorcyclists lost their lives while riding. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports Florida has more motorcycle fatalities than any other state – with 591 reported in a single recent year. That’s more than either California or Texas – both of which have substantially higher populations.

For survivors of motorcycle accidents and their loved ones, knowing the basic steps of a claims process following a serious crash can help ease some of the mental load that can feel insurmountable those first few days. As longtime Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorneys, we can explain that these aren’t handled like your typical Florida car crash claim. There are unique considerations, and it’s worth taking a few moments to better understand them before beginning the process.

What Makes Florida Motorcycle Crashes Different From Others?

The reality is any car accident has the potential to turn your whole world on its axis. With motorcycle crashes, though, there are a few differences. Those include:

Severity of injuries. Motorcycle operators and passengers lack the same level of protection as other motorists. Helmets aren’t required for adult motorcyclists in Florida, but even with them, riders don’t have the benefit of steel cage protective layer between them and the pavement. The severity of injuries in these cases means they tend to be inherently higher stakes.
Motorcyclists cannot purchase personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP coverage is required under Florida’s no-fault auto insurance law, extending up to $10,000 in compensation for medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who was to blame. Without this, many motorcyclists tend to rely heavily on their own health insurance plans. But that won’t cover things like lost wages and other damages. This makes it all the more imperative to closely examine fault of all involved parties – and hold other drivers accountable. Claimants can step outside the no-fault system when they’ve meet the serious injury threshold, as spelled out in F.S. 627.737.

I’ve Been in a Motorcycle Accident – Now What?

July 13, 2018

Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits May Named Loved Ones Defendants

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Motorcycle accidents often leave operators and passengers suffering serious injury, facing huge medical bills and the inability to work for an extended period of time. Even so, the last thing many want to do is sue a friend or loved one. What you need to understand is that while you may need to bring a claim against your friend or family member, it’s not them who pays compensation for your injuries. It’s the insurer(s). motorcycle accident attorney

These cases are not unheard of, and in fact, are quite common. (If you think about it, as a passenger, with whom are you most likely to be riding? Not a stranger, but probably someone who is or once was close to you.) In a recent motorcycle accident case in New Jersey, the ex-girlfriend of a state assemblyman filed a lawsuit against him, alleging his negligence in exceeding the speed limit resulted in his losing control of the motorcycle when the pair approached stopped traffic ahead. Defendant told the local Daily Journal newspaper that allegation was untrue because there had been no citation issued. (This is not exactly true, however, because an investigating officer’s decision to cite or not for a traffic violation is not the final word on whether someone was negligent in a personal injury lawsuit; that call is made by the court.) Cases involving exes may be a bit more adversarial than others, but nonetheless generally do not involve plaintiff seeking direct compensation from defendant.

The reason defendants are named is because plaintiffs can’t directly sue insurers. They must file a claim for damages against the person who is actually negligent, and then obtain compensation from the entity required to indemnify/ cover those losses on behalf of the defendant. Continue reading

July 30, 2017

Impact of South Florida Motorcycle Accidents Lessened with Helmets

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Florida has more fatal motorcycle accidents than any other state in the country. Data released earlier this year from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed 616 motorcyclists were killed in the Sunshine State just in 2015 alone (an uptick from the initial estimate of 557).

Now, a new analysis from the federal agency examines the estimated cost of lives saved prevented when motorcycle riders don helmets.

Researchers say at least 1,772 lives have been saved by motorcycle helmet usage in 2015. In terms of economic costs, that was $3 billion in direct loses and $19 billion in comprehensive costs that were saved. However, another 740 people who died might have lived had they been wearing protective head gear. That amounts to $1.4 billion in economic costs and $8.3 billion in comprehensive costs. Continue reading

May 15, 2017

One Motorcycle Accident Did Not Cause Another, Court Rules

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

It’s not uncommon in situations where multiple vehicles crash on the same road in short succession that authorities and/ or insurance companies will find one or more drivers at-fault – even if the at-fault driver(s) didn’t directly strike the victim. The question is whether the person alleged to be at-fault took action that proximately caused the other vehicles to crash.

However, when there is no direct contact, proving causation can be difficult. This is especially true when a certain amount of time has elapsed between one collision and another, as a recent case before the South Dakota Supreme Court showed.

According to court records, a motorcyclist attending a weekend motorcycle rally was traveling on eastbound on his bike along a curved highway. At around 3 p.m. this motorcyclist, who it was later determined was impaired, turned one of those curves at a high rate of speed and drove into a ditch. The impact of that collision killed him. Continue reading

October 23, 2016

$7M Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Filed by Widow Against Driver, Car Owner, Bar

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

The widow of a man killed in a motorcycle accident earlier this year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three defendants: The driver of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle and the bar that served the driver alcohol prior to the crash.

The Times Free Press reports that the fatal accident, which happened in Tennessee in May, occurred when a 33-year-old reportedly left a local nightclub behind the wheel of a friend’s BMW. He reportedly had just been in an argument with his girlfriend when he pulled out into traffic from the parking lot and immediately struck an Ironhorse motorcycle driven by decedent. The 60-year-old rider, who hours earlier had attended his daughter’s high school graduation, was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. Henry Cofrancesco, the driver of that car. refused to undergo field sobriety tests at the scene, but police obtained a warrant to conduct a non-consensual blood draw. He was arrested four months later on charges of vehicular homicide, DUI, cocaine possession and leaving the scene of an accident/ failure to render aid.

Now, decedent’s widow and child are seeking damages for wrongful death and loss of consortium. The lawsuit alleges staffers at the nightclub knew or should have known how drunk Cofrancesco was and failed to stop serving him and/ or stop him from driving. The owner of the vehicle is accused of negligent entrustment for allowing Cofrancesco to drive the vehicle, despite his state of impairment. Continue reading