There is nothing more exhilarating than riding a motorcycle. We know because we have spoken to many clients who are avid riders, and we have riders at our St. Petersburg personal injury firm as well. But there is a high risk for riders and our St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorneys are all too familiar with these risks.
If a negligent driver has caused you injury you are entitled to compensation and you should have the best team of motorcycle accident lawyers in St. Petersburg standing next to you every step of the way. Our personal injury lawyers specialize in motor vehicle accidents and have represented clients all over the Southeast United States. This is what we do, and we are not afraid to take your case to trial to make sure you get every, single, penny you are owed. It’s that simple.
Our St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to fight for you right now. Visit our downtown office, 360 Central Ave, Suite 800, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 or call us directly at: (727) 346-6039 for a free consultation.
We work on a contingency fee which means we don’t receive any payment unless we win your case. Call us for a free consultation and let us fight for you.
Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in St. Petersburg
- Ensure Your Safety: Move to a safe area if possible and call 911 to report the accident. Florida law requires reporting crashes involving injuries, death, or significant property damage.
- Seek Medical Attention: Get checked by a medical professional immediately, even if injuries appear minor. Hidden injuries like internal trauma or concussions may worsen without prompt care.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of your injuries, your motorcycle, the other vehicle, and road conditions. This visual evidence is critical for building a strong claim.
- Exchange Information: Collect the contact and insurance details of all involved parties. If witnesses are present, gather their contact information for future statements.
- Avoid Admitting Fault: Keep your comments factual and avoid making statements that could be used against you later, such as apologizing or admitting responsibility.
- Preserve Evidence: Keep all medical records, receipts, and communications related to the accident. A detailed journal of how the accident impacts your daily life can strengthen your case.
- Consult a Lawyer Quickly: Contact an experienced St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorney to protect your rights and ensure your claim is filed within Florida’s two-year statute of limitations. Skilled legal counsel can guide you through the process and help maximize your compensation.
What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?
St. Petersburg’s vibrant motorcycle culture and scenic routes come with significant risks for riders. In 2023, Pinellas County reported 318 motorcycle crashes, resulting in 285 injuries and 19 fatalities, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). These numbers highlight the dangers motorcyclists face, even when following road rules and practicing ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time). Despite caution, accidents can and do happen, often due to avoidable factors.
- Speeding: Speeding remains a top cause of motorcycle crashes. In St. Petersburg, high-speed crashes frequently occur on major roads like U.S. 19 and 4th Street North, where heavy traffic and open stretches invite risky speeds. National data shows over 23% of motorcycle fatalities involve collisions with fixed objects like medians or poles, underscoring the dangers of excessive speed.
- Cars Making Left Turns: Intersections such as those along Central Avenue and Tyrone Boulevard are notorious for left-turn collisions involving motorcycles. Drivers often fail to spot motorcyclists or misjudge their speed, leading to severe accidents. Left-turn crashes are one of the most common causes of motorcycle injuries and fatalities in Florida, including St. Petersburg.
- Alcohol Impairment: Alcohol contributes significantly to motorcycle wrecks, with 27% of motorcyclists in fatal crashes statewide found to have consumed alcohol. In St. Petersburg, where nightlife thrives, impaired riding increases the likelihood of accidents. Riders under the influence not only risk severe injuries but may also face shared fault, complicating their claims for compensation.
By understanding these specific risks and taking precautions, motorcyclists can better navigate St. Petersburg’s roads. If an accident occurs due to another party’s negligence, securing skilled legal representation ensures you recover compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle injuries from accidents are often quite severe. Most riders will tell you that even simple bike accidents leave them severely injured.
Motorcycle accidents are much more devastating than car accidents for the bike rider. Drivers and passengers in cars are often protected by the cars themselves which offer a massive amount of interior and exterior protection in the form of steel, airbags, and seatbelts. However, motorcycles have very minimal protection. The rider only has a helmet and his leathers and boots if he or she is following the property ATGATT protocol (All The Gear, All The Time3).
If you’re in a motorcycle accident at a high speed, then you understand that even all the gear and the helmet, and all the training cannot prepare you for the force of the impact. Those elements will help you, but you will likely sustain serious injuries after a motorcycle wreck.
So what are the most common motorcycle accident injuries?
Road Rash Road rash is the most common injury after a motorcycle accident and can range from mild to severe. Almost all riders have experienced some level of road rash at some point and can lessen the effects of road rash by weather their leathers and denim (ATGATT).
Fractures Broken bones and fractures are fairly common after motorcycle accidents because of the speed at which riders travel and the lack of exterior protection that a motorcycle offers. Once in an accident, the rider is either ejected or will sometimes land with the motorcycle underneath them. Fractures are common in these scenarios.
Loss of Limb or Paralyzed Limbs These injuries tend to be more common after serious motorcycle accidents. Often riders lose legs, toes, or feet after serious motorcycle accidents. Hospital charges for these cases ranged from $20,745 to $56, 288.4
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) In St. Petersburg (and all of Florida) you must ride with a helmet, or carry medical insurance that covers you over $10,000 in case of an accident according to Florida §316.211. Helmets do prevent some level of brain injury after motorcycle accidents.
Spinal Cord Injuries After a high impact of a motorcycle accident, the spinal cord can often suffer severe damage and is irreparable. These damages are often permanent. These injuries will, like TBI, will require consistent medical attention and therapy for recovery.
Our St. Petersburg motorcycle crash lawyers have worked with clients who have every kind of injury after a wreck.
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Florida
Florida’s motorcycle laws protect riders but present unique challenges for accident claims. Unlike car accidents, Florida’s no-fault insurance does not apply to motorcycles. Riders must rely on the at-fault driver’s liability insurance or their own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for compensation.
Helmet Laws and Insurance
Under Florida Statute §316.211, helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists under 21 or those without at least $10,000 in medical insurance. While older drivers can opt out, not wearing a helmet can hurt injury claims, as insurers may argue it worsened injuries, reducing compensation under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system.
Fault and Lane Splitting
Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule bars recovery if a motorcyclists is more than 50% at fault. Lane splitting, prohibited under §316.209, can complicate fault determination, potentially reducing or denying compensation for injuries if proven to have contributed to the accident.
High Risks for Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists account for 17% of Florida’s traffic fatalities, despite being only 3% of registered vehicles. Courts recognize their vulnerability, but drivers must document accidents thoroughly and seek medical care promptly to build strong claims for damages. Carry uninsured motorist coverage for better financial protection. After an accident, record every detail, including weather and vehicle positions, and get immediate medical attention to link injuries to the crash. These steps strengthen your case and protect your rights.
With the complexities of Florida’s laws, having an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer ensures you’re fully compensated while you focus on recovery.
Damages You Can Recover After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents often leave victims facing significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Under Florida law, injured motorcyclists can pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, depending on the specifics of their case. These damages aim to restore what was lost and provide support for recovery.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses, including medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and future earning potential. With motorcycle crashes often resulting in severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage, medical bills alone can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In Florida, courts also allow recovery for modifications to homes or vehicles if permanent disabilities require them.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages account for intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. For example, if a motorcyclist sustains injuries that limit mobility or lead to permanent scarring, these damages can compensate for the physical and emotional toll. Florida does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, allowing injured motorcyclists to seek full compensation.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases where the at-fault party acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct—such as driving under the influence—Florida courts may award punitive damages. These aim to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior. Florida law caps punitive damages at three times the compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater.
Unique Considerations for Motorcycle Riders
Motorcyclists should carefully document every aspect of their losses, from medical treatment to daily limitations caused by injuries. Keep records of out-of-pocket expenses and maintain a journal detailing the impact on your life. Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule means any fault assigned to you can reduce your recovery, making it critical to establish the other party’s liability.
Recovering damages after a motorbike accident requires skilled legal representation. Our St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyers will fight to ensure you receive the compensation needed to move forward.
Recovering Damages if You Are Partially at Fault
In Florida, you can still recover damages after a motorcycle accident even if you are partially at fault, thanks to the state’s modified comparative negligence system. However, your compensation will decrease by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% responsible for the accident, your recovery will reduce by 20%. Common scenarios include failing to yield or minor traffic violations that contribute to the accident. This rule makes it critical to establish the other party’s liability.
Recovering Damages Without a Helmet
Florida law permits riders over 21 to ride without a helmet if they carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance, but this decision can impact your claim. Insurance companies often argue that not wearing a helmet contributed to the severity of your injuries, particularly for head trauma. This argument can reduce the damages you recover, even if the other party was entirely at fault. While helmet use isn’t legally required in every instance, it is a factor that can influence the outcome of your case. Working with an attorney skilled in motorcycle accident claims ensures your rights are protected and your compensation reflects the full extent of your injuries.
Why Choose Steinger, Greene & Feiner
After a motorcycle accident, you want a motorcycle accident lawyer that is more like family. We don’t say that lightly. Every one of our clients involved in a motorcycle accident have one thing they should focus on: recovery.
Our team of motorcycle accident lawyers will handle the rest.
Motorcycle accidents are often life-changing. And it doesn’t matter how much you prepare for the possibility of an accident. You can wear all the gear, take all the precautions, and drive defensively. Accidents still happen.
And we have no control over those moments. For those of us that have experienced a motorcycle accident in St. Petersburg and who need a lawyer, you’ve come to the right place. Steinger, Greene & Feiner has over 20 years’ experience in the personal injury field fighting insurance companies for medical costs, lost wages, and more. We’ve won over $1 Billion for our clients.
Successful Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits
Many successful motorcycle accident lawsuits have a lot of similarities. Though each motorcycle case is distinctive, and each motorcycle accident attorney has to handle each case as the unique entities it is; many successful motorcycle accident cases have followed the same set of rules.
It can be difficult for the victim of the motorcycle accident to seek compensation from his or her own insurance company, and if awarded, they will have to convince their motorcycle insurance company to give them a small amount. Motorcycle accident claims are difficult to file if you are unsure of what you are doing.
Why Should You Choose Us As Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer In St. Petersburg?
Because a good lawyer can make all the difference and a good motorcycle lawyer will also explore other options for compensation. There will likely be more than one option for you to receive compensation.
Contact the Steinger, Greene & Feiner St. Petersburg law offices at (727) 346-6039 for a free consultation. We will begin your case by:
Free Consultation & Sign Up You call us and we will walk you through our process from start to finish. Our legal team will ask you some questions to understand your case and learn more about your case. You can explain what happened in detail.
Getting The Facts & Documents We have to gather all the evidence associated with your case to ensure that our team of St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyers are prepared to chase every lead and get you compensation from every possible source.
Get Treatment We believe that it is so important that you get treated after a motorcycle accident. Untreated personal injuries, even just mild injuries, can have unwanted long-term effects. This is why we advise all of our clients who have been involved in motorcycle accidents to seek medical attention as soon as possible. After speaking with a motorcycle accident attorney, call a doctor!
Keep Records Keep records or communications (texts, emails, phone calls), all receipts from medical visits, and any other documents you believe may be important or related to the accident. We also encourage accident victims to keep a journal where they track you’re the changes to their day-to-day life which may be used as evidence of additional pain and suffering.
Follow Treatment Plans Above all else, plaintiffs of successful motorcycle accident cases follow the treatment plan accordingly and listen to the advice of their St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyers carefully. Clients who have followed our advice and worked with Steinger, Greene & Feiner have received the compensation they deserved.
Contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner
Reach out and speak with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in St. Petersburg Florida today. Visit our office at 360 Central Ave, Suite 800, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 or call us directly at: (727) 346-6039 for a free consultation.
Sources:
[1]: Traffic Safety Facts
[2]: Motorcycle Safety
[3]: Motorcycle training