Parkland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

By Lorne Kaiser & Steven Romanello, Kaiser Romanello, P.A. | Parkland motorcycle accident attorneys since 2002 | Office at 11555 Heron Bay Blvd, Suite 200, Parkland, FL 33076

Why Parkland Riders Choose Kaiser Romanello

Motorcycle cases require trial counsel that understands both the legal framework AND the cultural bias riders face in Florida courtrooms. Choosing the right Parkland motorcycle accident lawyer often determines whether your case settles for a fraction of its value or is fully paid.

• Local Parkland office. We are physically located in Parkland. We know the routes Parkland riders use — Sawgrass Expressway to Sunrise, U.S. 27 west, Loxahatchee Road, A1A from Boca to Hillsboro.
• Senior trial attorney on every case. Motorcycle cases get personally directed by a founding partner. Insurance carriers know a Kaiser Romanello motorcycle case is built for trial — and they price settlements accordingly.
• 20+ years countering anti-rider bias. Lorne Kaiser and Steven Romanello have built voir dire, expert witness strategy, and damages presentation specifically to neutralize jury bias against motorcyclists.
• $30 million+ recovered for clients. Track record across motorcycle, car accident, truck, rideshare, slip-and-fall, and wrongful death cases.
• No fee unless we win. 100% contingency fee structure.

Florida PIP Does NOT Cover Motorcyclists — The First Thing Every Rider Must Understand

The practical consequences for a Parkland motorcycle crash victim:

• Your health insurance becomes the primary source of medical bill payment
• The at-fault driver's bodily injury liability coverage is your primary path to recovery — but Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury coverage
• Your own uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) becomes critical — if you did not carry UM, you may have no recovery against an uninsured at-fault driver
• Lost wages, ambulance bills, ICU costs, and rehabilitation expenses all hit you directly until a recovery is made

This is why we tell every Parkland rider — before a crash ever happens — to carry stacked UM coverage at high limits. After a crash, our first move is identifying every available coverage layer (your UM, the at-fault driver's BI, vehicle owner under the Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine, and any commercial policies).

Common Parkland Motorcycle Crash Locations

Common Causes of Parkland Motorcycle Accidents

The overwhelming majority of Parkland motorcycle crashes are caused by the OTHER driver, not the rider. The most common fact patterns we handle:

• Left-turn-across-path collisions — a car turning left fails to see the oncoming motorcycle. This is the single most common motorcycle fatality fact pattern in Florida.
• Rear-end crashes — distracted drivers fail to register a stopped or slowing motorcycle
• Lane-change collisions — driver merges into a motorcycle in adjacent lane or blind spot
• Dooring — parked vehicle door opens into a passing motorcyclist's path
• Distracted driving — texting, GPS use, phone calls; primary cause of inattentive motorcycle collisions
• Impaired driving — DUI driver strikes a motorcyclist; produces high-value settlement and verdict outcomes plus punitive damages exposure
• Road defects — potholes, debris, poor signage, uneven pavement; municipal or contractor liability may apply
• Unsafe road surface from construction — premises/contractor liability on construction zones

Insurance Framework for Florida Motorcycle Riders

Florida Helmet Law & the Helmet Defense

Florida's helmet law under Fla. Stat. § 316.211 requires riders under 21 to wear an approved helmet. Riders 21 and older may legally ride without a helmet if they carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage for crash injuries.

The legal complication: even though riding without a helmet is lawful for adults, defense attorneys will use the absence of a helmet to argue comparative negligence under HB 837. The argument runs: "Yes, the at-fault driver caused the crash — but the rider's choice not to wear a helmet contributed to the severity of head injuries." Under HB 837's 51% bar, an aggressive comparative negligence argument can reduce — or in rare cases eliminate — recovery.

Our trial strategy on the helmet defense:

• Document that helmet use is irrelevant to most non-head injuries (broken bones, road rash, spinal injuries below the neck)
• Retain biomechanical experts to demonstrate that helmet use would not have prevented the specific injury at issue
• Frame the defense argument as victim-blaming where the at-fault driver's conduct was the proximate cause
• Where helmet was worn — establish make, model, DOT certification, and post-crash condition as affirmative defense

How HB 837 Affects Parkland Motorcycle Cases

The March 2023 Florida tort reform statute (HB 837) materially changed motorcycle case strategy:

• 2-year statute of limitations for general negligence claims (cut from 4 years). Miss the deadline and your case is permanently barred.
• 51% comparative negligence bar under Fla. Stat. § 768.81. Defense uses this aggressively against motorcyclists — arguing rider speed, helmet, lane-splitting, or visibility contributed to the crash.
• Medical damages reform — recovery limited to amounts actually paid for medical care in most circumstances
• Bad faith insurance reform — stricter standards for first-party bad faith claims

Volume PI firms unprepared for the post-HB 837 landscape are seeing motorcycle plaintiff verdicts reduced or zeroed. Our trial preparation has been retooled for the new statutory framework since day one.

Compensation You Can Recover After a Parkland Motorcycle Crash

Florida law allows recovery for economic and non-economic damages caused by another party's negligence. Motorcycle injury damages categories include:

• Past and future medical expenses — emergency surgery, ICU, orthopedic reconstruction, neurological treatment, physical therapy, future predicted treatment
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity — including long-term career impact for severely injured riders
• Pain and suffering — physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish (motorcycle injuries are typically severe and recovery awards reflect this)
• Loss of enjoyment of life — inability to ride, participate in activities
• Property damage — bike repair or replacement, riding gear (helmet, jacket, boots, gloves)
• Loss of consortium — for spouses
• Punitive damages — in DUI, road rage, or hit-and-run cases

Why Insurance Companies Lowball Florida Motorcyclists

The Bias Discount

National claims data shows juries award motorcyclists less than equivalently injured car occupants for the same medical and economic damages. Insurance carriers price this in. The right Parkland motorcycle accident attorney builds the case to overcome that discount through aggressive voir dire, biomechanical experts, and damages presentation.

The Quick-Settlement Trap

Within days of a crash, the at-fault driver's insurer will contact you with a quick-settlement offer — often before you've completed surgery or even diagnosis. Signing a release locks in pennies on the dollar.

The Recorded Statement Trap

The adjuster will request a recorded statement. The recording is used to find inconsistencies, push fault under HB 837's 51% bar, or undermine credibility at trial. You are not required to give one.

The Social Media Trap

Defense routinely subpoenas riders' social media looking for photos of the bike, prior riding posts, or anything that argues you "knew the risks" or were a "thrill-seeker." Lock down all accounts immediately after a crash.

What to Do After a Parkland Motorcycle Crash

Free 24/7 Parkland Motorcycle Case Review →

For broader Florida injury law coverage referenced here, see our Parkland Personal Injury Lawyer hub, our Parkland Car Accident Lawyer page, our Florida Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine explainer, and our Florida Stacked UM Coverage analysis. For statewide motorcycle representation, see our Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer hub.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parkland Motorcycle Crash Cases