The Miami personal injury accident lawyers and staff at the Perazzo Law Firm has learned through local news sources that a motorcycle rider and a child riding in a car died after a crash in Deerfield Beach on the night of Saturday, September 12, 2026, when a driver made a U-turn directly into the motorcycle’s path, according to Local10 and NBC6 Miami. Florida’s U-turn statute requires a turning driver to move only when it’s safe — that alone doesn’t settle who was at fault.
If your family is facing a similar loss, the Perazzo Law Firm’s motorcycle accident attorneys can walk you through your options. Call 888-PERAZZO or reach us via our contact page for a free case evaluation.
What Happened on West Hillsboro Boulevard
The Perazzo Law Firm has learned, according to NBC6 Miami, that a driver traveling eastbound on West Hillsboro Boulevard made a U-turn from the left-turn lane around 8:30 p.m. in the 4000 block, Deerfield Beach, Broward County. The motorcycle struck the passenger side of the vehicle, according to NBC6 Miami, and the impact flipped it, as both NBC6 Miami and Local10 reported.
The rider died at the scene and a child in the vehicle later died at Broward Health Medical Center, Local10 and NBC6 Miami reported. The driver and one child were taken to Broward Health North; that child was later airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition, Local10 reported. Two adults and a third child were also taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where two children remain critical, both outlets reported. The investigation is ongoing, per NBC6 Miami.
What Florida’s U-Turn Law Requires
Florida’s U-turn statute, Fla. Stat. § 316.1515, doesn’t ban U-turns — it conditions them. A driver “shall not turn the vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic,” and only where a posted sign doesn’t already prohibit it. That duty sits with the driver making the turn.
Neither Local10 nor NBC6 Miami reports that investigators have assigned fault, and this remains an open investigation. If it confirms the U-turn violated § 316.1515, that finding could support a motorcycle accident claim. Florida is also a comparative-fault state under Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6): a rider’s own conduct, if any is ever found, could reduce a recovery, but would not bar it unless a claimant is found more than half at fault.
Can a Family Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim Before Fault Is Decided?
Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, Fla. Stat. §§ 768.16–768.26, lets a personal representative bring a claim on behalf of surviving family members — such as a spouse or children — for losses like funeral expenses, lost support, and mental anguish. A family doesn’t have to wait for a fault determination or criminal charge before a wrongful death claim can move forward while the investigation continues. Florida law gives families two years from the date of death to file, under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e) — a deadline that runs regardless of how long the investigation takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my family recover damages if fault hasn’t been determined yet?
Yes. A wrongful death claim is a separate civil case, and Florida law does not require the crash investigation — or any potential criminal proceeding — to conclude before a lawyer can begin building it.
Is making a U-turn automatically illegal in Florida?
No. Fla. Stat. § 316.1515 allows U-turns where they can be made safely, without interfering with traffic, and where not prohibited by a posted sign. Whether a specific U-turn met that standard is a factual question for investigators.
How long do we have to file a wrongful death claim in Florida?
Generally two years from the date of death, under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e). Missing that deadline can bar a claim entirely, so families should not wait for the investigation, or any potential criminal proceeding, to resolve before speaking with a lawyer.
No family should have to sort through a fault investigation alone while grieving. The Perazzo Law Firm offers free, no-obligation case evaluations for Florida motorcycle and wrongful death claims — call 888-PERAZZO or visit our contact page to speak with our Miami personal injury lawyer team.
Miami Motorcycle Car Accident Attorney Advertising. This article is provided by The Perazzo Law Firm, with offices in North Miami Beach, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Responsible attorney: Jonathan Perazzo, Esq. This post is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.