Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident is not just a tragedy—it’s a tearing open of a wound that never fully heals. While the pain of loss is substantial and enduring, it is not the only harm that results from losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident.
Because the motorcycle accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, FL, have represented many survivors knocked to their knees by news of a loved one’s unexpected passing, we know what you face. There is the non-economic toll of grief, depression, and a life that will never be the same. There is also the economic burden of potentially losing a loved one’s financial support, contributions around the home, and unique skills that can’t be easily replaced—certainly not without paying a price.
We understand. Englander Peebles—a respected Fort Lauderdale and Miami personal injury firm known for fighting for families in their most difficult moments—has represented many survivors who felt exactly as lost as you do right now. We want to help, so call Englander Peebles today at (954) 500-4878 or contact us online for your free consultation.
Key Takeaways about Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
- Fatal motorcycle accidents happen far more often in South Florida than most people realize: Until you are personally affected, you may not recognize just how much danger the average rider faces.
- Wrongful death claims allow surviving families to pursue justice and financial security: These cases can provide compensation for funeral costs, medical bills, lost income, grief, and other types of suffering, and the loss of companionship, as well as other damages.
- Insurance companies show no mercy to grieving claimants: Their companies’ bottom lines remain the concern, even if that means dealing callously with grieving claimants.
- Fatal motorcycle accident claims often become lawsuits: Insurance policies typically provide far less coverage than the value of a wrongful death, so lawsuits are common in these situations.
- Hiring a lawyer allows survivors to breathe (and to avoid the stress of the case): Families already have limited emotional and physical capacity—legal help takes the burden off their shoulders.
- Call Englander Peebles as soon as possible: Wrongful death cases take time to build, and time-sensitive factors like fleeting evidence and filing deadlines demand quick action from you.
How Common Are Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in South Florida?
There’s a reason you see so many roadside memorials scattered along the curves of I-595, the long stretches of US-1, and the congested arteries near downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Motorcycle fatalities are heartbreakingly common here.
Motorcycle accidents in Florida rose markedly between 2021 and 2023, with a three-year average of 9,156 total motorcycle crashes throughout the state. The three-year average of motorcycle fatalities during this span was 624. That is 624 lives lost per year.
Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of motorcycle deaths each year. Our year-round riding weather, dense tourism traffic, and mix of aggressive and distracted drivers create a dangerous environment for motorcyclists—even the most cautious ones.
And when a motorcyclist is hit, the consequences are often catastrophic. There’s no steel protective frame. There is no buffer between the rider’s body, head, and the ground. These facts explain why riders are overrepresented in fatal accident stats.
Englander Peebles has seen the aftermath up close: devastated families grappling with losses they never could have prepared for. We want to get you the justice you deserve and the resources you need to start healing.
Why These Tragic, Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Florida
Too many people assume that motorcyclists are inherently risky, and insurance companies love to lean into that stereotype. The truth is that riders are almost always skilled, qualified, and not at fault for the collisions that claim their lives.
We often see that factors other than the rider cause these fatal crashes, and those causes include:
Drivers Failing to Yield
Much of the advice for keeping riders safe applies to motor vehicle drivers. Failing to yield to oncoming motorists at traffic signals, when pulling into traffic, when merging, and in other circumstances, is one of the common driver failures that cost riders their lives.
Distracted Drivers
Phones, GPS apps, in-car conversations, and even dashboard screens can take drivers’ eyes off the road for critical seconds, enough time to cause a fatal collision.
Unsafe Road Designs and Conditions
Potholes, loose gravel, poor lighting, malfunctioning traffic signals, missing signage, and hazardous work zones can turn a routine ride into a deadly one.
Speeding Vehicles
Drivers traveling far too fast for traffic conditions frequently cause high-impact crashes that riders cannot avoid. In fact, speeding is a contributing factor in a significant percentage of all fatal traffic accidents.
Impaired Driving
When fun in the Floridian sun (or night scene) goes too far, riders are among those most likely to pay the price. Riders are more difficult to see than larger motor vehicles, making them uniquely vulnerable to impaired drivers.
Alcohol, drugs, and even certain prescription medications impair reaction time, vision, and decision-making—a potentially deadly combination for motorcyclists.
Each of these hazards can lead to a wrongful death claim because they represent negligence on somebody’s part. Whether that somebody is a motor vehicle driver, a municipality, or another party, a motorcycle accident lawyer from Englander Peebles will hold them accountable.
How Survivors Can Seek Justice Through a Wrongful Death Claim
Tragically, fatal motorcycle accidents show no signs of declining, and it’s a testament that these kinds of careless and reckless behaviors are as common as ever. When careless or reckless behavior claims a life, survivors only have one logical response: demand justice in every way Florida’s laws allow, including through an insurance claim (and possibly a lawsuit).
Under Florida law, wrongful death claims must be filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate on behalf of surviving family members. The personal representative acts as the legal voice for all eligible survivors, including spouses, children, parents, and other dependents who suffered losses.
When a rider is killed due to someone else’s negligence, Florida law allows certain surviving family members to file a wrongful death claim. These claims both protect survivors from financial devastation and formally hold at-fault parties accountable.
A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for:
- Final medical expenses
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of the victim’s income and other financial contributions
- Loss of companionship, protection, and marital support
- Loss of parental guidance and nurturing
- The emotional pain and suffering of surviving family members
Families often hesitate to pursue legal action because they feel guilty or overwhelmed, or they even worry that doing so would be too adversarial. Remember that wrongful death claims are not about anger—they’re about justice, accountability, financial stability, and doing what is right for those burdened with the loss.
Why Hiring a Lawyer Should Be the First Order of Business for Survivors of Fatal Motorcycle Crashes
Grief is exhausting. Trauma interrupts your ability to focus on logistics, deadlines, paperwork, and insurance arguments. Even basic tasks can be overwhelming. We understand it, but we also know that wrongful death cases can’t wait.
Hiring a fatal motorcycle accident lawyer should be your priority because, once you hire us, you don’t have to worry about the case again. You can focus on your healing knowing that your case is taken care of—and that missed deadlines or lost evidence won’t doom that case.
Once you retain your wrongful death lawyer from Englander Peebles, expect us to:
- Deal with the insurance companies you will likely seek compensation from
- Gather and preserve critical evidence before it disappears
- Investigate the fatal crash
- Gather all helpful expert witness testimony and insights
- Calculate the full value of your losses (some of which can be lifelong)
- Neutralize any bad-faith tactics from insurers
- Protect your rights and interests at every step of the case
These critical responsibilities are nothing new for the attorneys at Englander Peebles. We understand that this process may be unfamiliar to you, and we will keep you updated so you feel at ease with every aspect of your case.
The Evidence and Documentation Are the Essential Components of Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death cases are built like complex structures: one layer at a time, with an enormous amount of precision. The stronger the foundation, the harder it is for an insurance company to devalue your loss.
Evidence related to the fatal accident will be instrumental to the success of your case, and that evidence may include:
- Crash-scene photos and videos
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses
- Traffic-cam footage
- Black box data from involved vehicles
- Police reports
- First-responder notes
- Any digital records suggesting the at-fault party’s distraction
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Expert accident reconstruction analysis
Documentation of damages is just as important, and that documentation may include:
- Medical bills
- Testimony from the affected survivors
- Testimony from mental health professionals who evaluate (and possibly treat) the survivors
- Employment and income records
- Statements from family and close friends
- Documentation of the daily value and support the rider provided to their loved ones
This approach allows your attorney to present a complete, detailed picture of the life lost—and the ripple effects of that absence. It shows insurers and juries alike that this is not just another case, but a tragic story that demands justice.
The Englander Peebles Team Knows You’re Fragile. Our Representation Goes Beyond Legal Service.
Grief doesn’t leave room for much else. It clouds your thinking, drains your energy, and makes even the most basic decisions feel overwhelming. Add funeral planning, financial uncertainty, and the logistical chaos that comes after an unexpected death, and it’s clear: no family should be expected to manage a legal case alone.
The entire Englander Peebles team is behind you. The way we handle your case, and the lengths we go to provide resources that may be of value to you, shows our recognition that you are likely:
- Exhausted—emotionally, mentally, and physically
- Distracted—unable to focus or think long-term
- Uncertain—unsure about their rights or next steps
- Overwhelmed—by bureaucracy, paperwork, and insurance demands
Your lawyer won’t just handle the legal work—we will serve as an extended family that happens to be excellent legal professionals.
Will You File a Claim, a Lawsuit, or Both?
Before we conclude, you might be wondering whether you will need to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Here is what you need to know about that.
Almost every wrongful death case starts the same way: with an insurance claim. It’s the first step, the one required before filing a lawsuit. But here’s the part that families don’t always realize: The insurance company primarily controls whether the claim evolves into a lawsuit.
If the liable insurer accepts responsibility, acknowledges the full value of your losses, and pays you fairly, the case should end with a settlement. But if that insurer instead stonewalls, denies liability, or offers a fraction of what your family deserves, your lawyer will be prepared to file a lawsuit in civil court.
Englander Peebles doesn’t give up. And in South Florida’s courts—where juries understand the gravity of a life lost unnecessarily—going to trial is sometimes the only path to full justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
This will not be our first motorcycle-related wrongful death case, and our experience tells us that you might be wondering:
1. How long does a wrongful death motorcycle case take?
Every case is different. Some wrap up in months, especially when liability is clear and the insurer cooperates. Others take a year or longer, particularly if a lawsuit is required. What we can say, though, is that we fight relentlessly to get justice for our clients without delay.
2. Who can file a wrongful death claim after a motorcycle accident?
In Florida, the personal representative of the estate must file the claim, but the compensation is paid to surviving family members, such as spouses, children, and, in some cases, parents or other dependents.
Let us handle the legal process, as this is what attorneys are trained to do.
3. What if multiple parties contributed to the crash?
Your lawyer from Englander Peebles can likely pursue claims against each liable party. Individual drivers, commercial vehicle carriers, rideshare companies, and even government entities are among those who might be responsible for a fatal motorcycle accident.
Hire Your Fatal Motorcycle Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible
Just as your loved one’s life was precious, time is precious after the crash. Florida’s statute of limitations for wrongful death cases is strict. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to pursue compensation altogether. Evidence’s shelf life is even more fleeting.
There is no reason to wait. We want to take on the responsibility of your case so that your grieving (and healing) process receives your full attention—it certainly requires it.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, call Englander Peebles, a trusted Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer, at (954) 500-4878 as soon as you can, or contact us online, and we will reach out.