Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you have been hurt in a motorcycle crash in Fort Lauderdale, you may be dealing with serious injuries, expensive medical treatment, and an insurance adjuster who already suspects you were riding too fast or weaving through traffic. Motorcycle cases often carry bias from the start. Adjusters and juries sometimes treat riders as less sympathetic than the drivers who hit them, even when the facts show the opposite.

At Newman Injury Law, PLLC, we represent injured riders across South Florida. Our founder has been in civil litigation practice since 2010 and handles motorcycle injury claims from initial scene investigation through settlement or trial. We know Florida’s unusual motorcycle insurance rules, we understand how medical records shape a crash case, and we take seriously the prejudice that riders face in negotiations. Call today to speak with our Fort Lauderdale, FL motorcycle accident lawyer.

Why Choose Newman Injury Law, PLLC for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Experience Representing Injured Riders

Our founder, Jared K. Newman, is an experienced civil litigation attorney who has dedicated his practice to representing people injured by the negligence of others. He earned his J.D. from South Texas Law in 2009 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 2006. Motorcycle crashes often involve more complicated liability questions than typical car wrecks.

Results That Reflect the Seriousness of These Cases

Our personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL has recovered millions of dollars for clients dealing with serious injuries. Motorcycle crashes tend to produce catastrophic harm because riders have no exterior protection, and settlements in these cases depend on thorough documentation of long-term medical needs, lost income, and permanent impairment ratings.

Connected to the South Florida Legal Community

Jared is an active member of the Broward County Bar Association and the Dade County Bar Association. That presence keeps us current on the judges, defense firms, and mediators we encounter regularly in Broward motorcycle cases, which matters when evaluating settlement offers and trial strategy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Through a tough experience such as an accident, there is a peace of mind you get when you hire Jared. From the beginning Jared was amazing. He really cares about his clients and will do everything he can to make sure you get some relief or justice for your case. Jared you will have a client for life if I ever need again, not to mention I will highly recommend. I appreciate your kindness and compassion for truly caring about your clients. A huge thank you again for everything!” (Alicia Mogan)

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in Fort Lauderdale

Motorcycle crashes happen for many reasons, and the legal strategy depends on how the collision occurred and who was at fault. Our firm handles the following categories of motorcycle injury cases:

• Left-turn collisions. Drivers who turn left across a motorcycle’s path cause a large share of serious injury crashes. These cases often turn on whether the driver properly yielded and whether the rider had the right of way through the intersection.
• Lane change and merging crashes. Cars changing lanes without checking mirrors or blind spots strike motorcycles at highway speed. Motorcycle crash evidence often includes dashcam footage, witness accounts, and vehicle position analysis.
• Rear-end collisions. A car striking a motorcycle from behind almost always produces serious injury to the rider, even at relatively low speeds. Following distance and brake-light evidence matter in these cases.
• Intersection accidents. Red-light running, stop-sign violations, and failure to check before proceeding cause many Fort Lauderdale intersection wrecks involving motorcycles.
• Dooring accidents. A parked driver opening a door into traffic can knock a rider down with severe consequences. These are common in Las Olas and the beach areas where street parking meets active traffic.
• Road hazard crashes. Potholes, loose gravel, uncovered manholes, and poorly maintained pavement create dangers that cars absorb but motorcycles cannot. Government entities responsible for road maintenance may bear liability.
• Defective motorcycle or parts claims. Brake failures, tire defects, and manufacturing flaws produce crashes that fall under product liability law rather than ordinary negligence.
• Hit-and-run motorcycle crashes. Finding the responsible driver is step one; pursuing uninsured motorist coverage when they cannot be located is step two.
• Drunk or impaired driver crashes. Riders hit by intoxicated drivers may recover punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Maximizing motorcycle settlements in these cases depends on early evidence preservation and impaired-driver records.
• Group ride crashes. Incidents during organized rides raise questions about the other riders’ insurance, event organizer responsibility, and how state liability rules apply.

Florida Legal Requirements for Motorcycle Accident Cases

Florida law treats motorcycle claims differently from typical car accident claims in one critical respect. Unlike drivers, motorcycle riders are not covered by Florida’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection system. Florida Statute 627.732 defines “motor vehicle” for PIP purposes in a way that specifically excludes motorcycles. The practical effect is that an injured rider cannot rely on their own PIP to pay for medical bills. They must pursue the at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage, use their own uninsured motorist coverage, or rely on private health insurance. That structure changes settlement strategy from day one.

Florida’s motorcycle helmet law is also narrower than most people assume. Under Florida Statute 316.211, riders 21 and older who carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance may legally ride without a helmet. Choosing to ride without a helmet does not bar recovery, though insurance defense attorneys will argue helmetless riders contributed to their own head injuries. NHTSA motorcycle data consistently shows that helmets reduce fatalities and serious head trauma, and that research finds its way into courtrooms.

The statute of limitations for negligence actions under Section 95.11 is two years from the date of the crash. Florida also applies a modified comparative negligence rule under Section 768.81, under which a rider found more than 50 percent at fault recovers nothing. Those two rules shape almost every tactical decision in a motorcycle case.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Case?

Compensation in a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident case generally falls into economic damages, non-economic damages, and in rare cases punitive damages. The exposed nature of motorcycle riding means injury severity often drives the case into the higher end of each category.

Economic damages include past and future medical bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and assistive devices. They also include lost wages and lost earning capacity when the injury limits the rider’s ability to work. Severe motorcycle injuries happen because riders absorb the full force of a crash. Road rash, open fractures, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries routinely produce medical bills in the hundreds of thousands. Future care often includes revision surgeries, chronic pain management, and psychological treatment for post-traumatic stress.

Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and inconvenience. Florida juries weigh the severity of the injury, the permanence of any scarring or limitation, and the effect on the rider’s relationships and activities. Riders with extensive scarring or amputation injuries often receive substantial non-economic awards when the case is properly documented through medical records and personal testimony. Pre-existing injuries in motorcycle claims need careful medical development to distinguish new damage from prior conditions, because defense attorneys routinely argue that current symptoms are unrelated to the crash.

Punitive damages are available when the at-fault driver’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent. A drunk driver, a hit-and-run driver, or one who knowingly operated a vehicle with defective brakes may trigger punitive exposure. Florida caps punitive damages in most cases at three times the compensatory award or $500,000, whichever is greater, though the statute allows exceptions for particularly egregious conduct.

We also pursue property damage claims for the motorcycle and gear. Helmets, jackets, boots, gloves, and riding electronics add up. Determining motorcycle crash fault in Florida often drives whether the insurer pays the full value of the bike or disputes causation on the property side as well.

Contact Newman Injury Law, PLLC

If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County, we would like to hear what happened. Consultations at Newman Injury Law, PLLC are free, and there is no fee unless we win your case. We will review police reports, photographs, medical records, and insurance information, then give you an honest read on the path forward.

Motorcycle crash evidence disappears faster than most people expect. Skid marks fade, witness memories blur, and the bike itself can be sent to salvage before it is fully examined. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.