Florida Motorcycle Lawyer

With its perfect weather and wide-open system of roads, Florida is exceptionally popular among motorcyclists.

Florida’s motorcycle laws help all motorists, including motorcyclists, stay safe and enjoy their travels. You should be aware of these laws when you go out for a ride. The laws for motorcyclists in Florida cover everything from your bike's structure, helmet laws, headlight laws, and how to use the roads.

If you or a loved one have been injured, seriously hurt, or even killed because of a motorcycle accident, let the experienced Florida accident lawyers at Spivey Law Firm help you handle your claims and recover financial compensation for your tragic losses.

Scenarios Where a Florida Motorcyclist Can Pursue Compensation

Motorcycle accidents can leave injured riders facing substantial losses, and they can leave grieving family members facing a lifetime of emotional and financial strain. Several factors can cause serious and fatal motorcycle accidents, and many of these factors will entitle riders and their loved ones to just compensation.

When can you seek financial compensation for a motorcycle accident in Florida? Some of the most common grounds for seeking financial compensation include:

• Distracted driving
• Drunk or drug-impaired driving
• Fatigued driving (or falling asleep behind the wheel)
• Turning in front of an approaching motorcycle without the right of way
• Sideswiping a motorcycle while attempting to change lanes or merge
• Speeding, tailgating, running red lights and stop signs, and other driving errors
• Motorcycle and vehicle defects and faulty repairs
• Roadway hazards (i.e., uneven lanes and construction zones)

These are just examples. No matter what happened, if you are struggling to cope with the effects of a serious or fatal motorcycle accident of a loved one in Florida, you should contact us for help. We will promptly conduct a thorough investigation, explain everything you need to know, and work quickly to ensure we have everything we need to seek just compensation on your behalf.

Florida Motorcycle Laws - Motorcycles are Entitled to Full Use of the Road in Florida

Under Florida law, motorcycle and moped riders are entitled to travel on the road in the same lanes as other moving vehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, etc. They are subject to all of the same rights and duties as other vehicle operators. For example, bikers must abide by all traffic signals and signage in the same manner as automobiles. Also, similar to how vehicles are expected to travel in the right-hand lane if they are driving slower than the flow of traffic, motorcyclists that are riding slower must travel as close to the right curb as possible (i.e., hug the curb).

Do I Need a Motorcycle Endorsement?

To lawfully ride a motorcycle in Florida, you must have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license, which represents specialized training for motorcycle drivers. You can get a motorcycle endorsement without having a regular driver's license, but in either case, you must have an endorsement specific to motorcycles to lawfully ride a motorcycle in Florida.

Do I Have to Use Daytime Headlights?

Florida law requires motorcycle riders in Florida to operate their bikes with their headlight on even during the day. If the failure to use a headlight is the cause of an accident, that information might be used as evidence of negligence in a civil case. That said, we encourage motorcyclists to keep their lights on at all times, not only to help others on the road see them but also to help automobile drivers avoid a possible accident that could result in severe injuries to the biker or even death.

Does Florida Have Helmet Laws?

Yes. You must wear a helmet if you're under the age of 21. Even if you're over 21, you must still wear a helmet if you don't carry at least $10,000 in medical coverage in case of an accident.

Requirements for Motorcycles in Florida

There are rules that govern what your motorcycle needs to have to be lawfully on the road in Florida, just as there are similar laws regarding automobiles. For example, Florida Statutes 316.2095 and Florida Statutes 316.222 detail what is needed in relation to the required equipment for motorcycles, including footrests, handlebars, stop lamps, and signals. Additionally, Florida Statutes 322.01 lists a host of definitions and requirements for motorcycles.

How Do You Seek Financial Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?

If you need to seek financial compensation for a motorcycle accident in Florida, you should speak with a Florida motorcycle lawyer as soon as possible. Below are some additional steps you should take (and mistakes you should avoid) to protect your legal rights:

• Seek Medical Treatment and Follow Your Doctor’s Advice – One of the most important things you can do after a serious motorcycle accident is to seek treatment for your injuries. If you are coping with the loss of a loved one, obtaining treatment may be important for your wellbeing as well. Once you see a doctor, follow your doctor’s advice, and avoid doing anything that could delay or jeopardize your recovery.
• Write Down Everything You Know about the Accident – When pursuing a motorcycle accident claim, the more information you have, the better. So, take some time to write down everything you know about the accident so that you can share as many details as possible with your Florida motorcycle lawyer.
• Avoid Discussing the Details of the Accident – Aside from speaking with your lawyer, you should avoid discussing the details of the accident at this time. This means that you should not discuss the accident with your friends and co-workers, and you should not post about the accident on social media.
• Avoid Taking Advice from the Insurance Companies – When you file an insurance claim, the insurance companies will tell you what to do. You need to avoid taking their advice—they do not have your best interests in mind. Instead, you should make all of your decisions based on the advice of your Florida motorcycle lawyer.
• Talk to a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer – It is essential that you hire a Florida Motorcycle Accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident.  Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. will get to work immediately preserving evidence and obtaining witnesses that are relevant to your claim.  You should rely on the experienced lawyers with our team to avoid mistakes that could put in jeopardy your financial recovery.

5 Important Facts about Seeking Financial Compensation for a Florida Motorcycle Accident

In addition to knowing what you need to do, there are some important facts you need to know. Here are five essential facts about seeking financial compensation for a Florida motorcycle accident:

1. Recovering Just Compensation is the Ultimate Goal

Regardless of the facts involved, recovering just compensation for a motorcycle accident is our ultimate goal. To do that, we will need to prove both liability (who was at fault) and damages (how much you are entitled to recover), and we will need to convince the insurance companies to pay what they owe.

2. Insurance Companies Frequently Blame Riders for Their Injuries

In motorcycle accident cases, the insurance companies frequently blame riders for their own injuries. They do this to reduce the amount they owe. If you have a claim, you should not accept the insurance companies’ determination of liability. Instead, you should hire a Florida motorcycle lawyer to determine liability with your best interests in mind.

3. Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law Does Not Apply to Motorcycle Accidents

While Florida has a no-fault auto insurance law, this law does not apply to motorcycle accidents. This means that you need to prove fault in order to recover just compensation.

4. Motorcycle Accidents Can Lead to Significant Financial and Non-Financial Costs

The costs of suffering severe injuries or losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident can be substantial. This includes financial costs (i.e., medical bills and lost wages) and non-financial costs (i.e., emotional trauma and loss of consortium)—all of which are recoverable under Florida law.

5. You Do Not Pay Anything Until We Receive  Monetary Recovery for You

With contingency fee representation, you do not have to pay anything out of pocket to hire a Florida motorcycle lawyer. You pay nothing upfront, and you pay no attorney fees or costs until you receive a monetary recovery. 

Why Choose a Florida Motorcycle Lawyer at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.?

When you need to seek financial compensation for a motorcycle accident in Florida, your choice of law firms matters. Here are three reasons why riders and families trust Spivey Law Firm:

• We focus on handling serious injury and wrongful death cases. Our practice is devoted exclusively to representing individuals and families in cases involving severe injuries and wrongful death.
• We have a proven record of success. We have recovered well more than $219 million for our clients. This includes numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar awards.
• We handle all motorcycle accident claims on contingency. With our firm’s contingency fee representation, you never pay anything out of pocket, and our legal fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement or verdict.

Our Results in Serious and Fatal Motorcycle Accident Cases

With decades of experience, we have helped many riders and families throughout Florida recover just compensation for motorcycle accidents. Here are some examples of our case results:

• $6 million verdict secured for a mother who lost her son in a fatal motorcycle accident.
• $5.1 million settlement secured for a rider who suffered brain damage and other injuries in a motorcycle accident.
• $2.75 million settlement secured for a husband who lost his wife in a fatal motorcycle accident involving a commercial truck.
• $2 million settlement secured for a rider who suffered vision loss and other injuries in a motorcycle accident involving a drunk driver.
• $1.8 million settlement secured for a motorcycle rider who suffered multiple fractures when a careless driver pulled out of a parking lot into his path.

See more examples of our settlements and verdicts.

Contact Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for More Information

It's important that bikers know the laws and requirements for motorcycles in Florida.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Attorney Randall Spivey at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. online or by phone at 888-477-4839. Mr. Spivey and the team will handle your insurance claim and any legal claims you may have so that you can focus on your recovery.