Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Most motorcycle crashes are caused by drivers who say they "never saw" the rider. Yet riders are the ones who face the harshest injuries and the most skepticism from insurance companies. If you were hurt on a motorcycle in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County, you need someone who knows how these claims are fought.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Fort Lauderdale Riders

Attorney Tomas Robirosa represents injured riders and passengers throughout Broward from our Miami Beach office, with meetings by phone, video, WhatsApp or by appointment in Miami Beach. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we recover. Se habla español.

Florida Motorcycle Rules That Change Your Claim

No PIP for riders. Florida's no-fault (PIP) law applies to vehicles with four or more wheels, and Florida does not require insurance to register a motorcycle. In practice, that generally means a rider has no PIP coverage while on the bike. Your medical bills usually have to come from the at-fault driver's bodily injury coverage, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage or health insurance. Finding every policy early is one of the most important parts of a motorcycle case.

Helmets. Florida law lets riders over 21 ride without a helmet only if they carry at least $10,000 in medical benefits coverage for motorcycle-crash injuries, and every rider must wear eye protection. Riding without a helmet does not cause a crash. But insurers may argue it made a head injury worse, so it can affect how much you recover.

Lane splitting. Riding between lanes or between rows of vehicles is illegal in Florida. If the insurer claims you were lane splitting, the facts of how the crash happened matter, and witness statements and video can make the difference.

Shared fault. Since March 24, 2023, Florida reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault, and a person found more than 50% at fault generally recovers nothing. Insurers know this, which is why riders are so often blamed.

Where Riders Get Hurt in Fort Lauderdale

Crashes happen everywhere bikes share the road with heavy traffic: on I-95 and I-595, along US 1 (Federal Highway), on State Road 84, Broward Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard, and on the Broward A1A Scenic Highway that runs along the beach through Fort Lauderdale. Common patterns we see include:

• A driver turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle
• Lane changes into a rider in the driver's blind spot
• Rear-end crashes at lights and in stop-and-go traffic
• Car doors opened into a rider's path
• Potholes, debris and poorly maintained roads
• Trucks and buses making wide turns

Injuries and What You Can Recover

Motorcycle crashes often cause broken bones, road rash, head and brain injuries, spinal injuries and injuries that require surgery or long recovery. Depending on the case, compensation may include medical bills (past and future), lost income and earning ability, pain and suffering, scarring, and damage to your motorcycle and gear. If a rider is killed, the family may have a wrongful death claim.

Seriously injured riders in Broward are often treated at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale or Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, both Level I trauma centers. Keep every record and bill from the first day.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash

1. Call 911 and get checked, even if you think you are fine.
2. Photograph the scene, the vehicles, your bike, your helmet and gear, and your injuries.
3. Get the driver's insurance information and the names of any witnesses.
4. Keep your damaged helmet and gear; do not throw them away or repair the bike before it is documented.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
6. Call a lawyer before you accept any offer.

How Long You Have to File

For most crashes after March 24, 2023, Florida generally allows 2 years to file a negligence lawsuit. If a government vehicle or a dangerous public road was involved, special notice rules may apply, and that is a tricky, case-specific area of law. Every case is different, so speak with an attorney to confirm the deadline that applies to you. Broward County state-court cases are heard in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit at the Central Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

How We Help Injured Riders

• Find every available insurance policy, including UM coverage many riders don't know they have
• Get the crash report, traffic and business video, and witness statements
• Use the evidence to answer "he came out of nowhere" defenses
• Handle the insurers while you recover
• Negotiate, and go to court if needed

See our main motorcycle accident lawyer page, our Fort Lauderdale personal injury page, and Fort Lauderdale truck accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions