motorcycle accident lawyer

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?

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

November 11, 2016

Motorcycle Riders in Construction Zones Face Hazards

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Community growth can be seen in almost every area in South Florida. This growth means we need to expand our roads, update our bridges and install new traffic features. All of this involves construction as a near constant element of our commute. For motorcyclists, riding in construction zones can be especially hazardous.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were approximately 68,000 collisions reported in work zones nationwide. A higher proportion of fatal work zone crashes occur on the interstates, followed by urban arterials. Motorcyclists in construction zones have to continuously scan for debris, milled road surfaces, steel plates, loose gravel, road sealants and other dangers that could result in an edge trap (a sudden cut or drop in the road that might catch the tire of the bike).

We’re seeing more of these instances as construction picks up and we have more people riding motorcycles than ever before. The Federal Highway Pavement Monitoring System reports there was a 90 percent uptick in motorcycle registrations between 1997 and 2007, and motorcycle crashes overall make up an increasing percent of roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Just recently, a motorcyclist critically hurt in a construction zone settled his lawsuit against the state DOT, its construction contractor and a dump truck driver for $18.5 million. 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