Vulnerable motorcycle riders are far more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in traffic collisions. Those who survive often suffer devastating injuries with long-lasting impacts for their life. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash or lost a loved one in one, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers provide responsive legal care and could assist you with all aspects of your claim.
At Anidjar & Levine, we’ve been fighting for the wrongfully injured since 2005. Call today to schedule a free consultation with a Tampa personal injury lawyer.
Why Choose a Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney From Our Firm?
At Anidjar & Levine, we understand how overwhelming life can feel after an accident. That’s why our mission is simple: we help you take back control of your life while we handle the legal complexities for you.
- We can come to you, whether in the hospital or at your home, making legal help accessible no matter your situation
- We work to maximize compensation and fight for the full amount you deserve
- Your attorney’s cell phone number is included on their business card, so you can reach us when you need to
- Our team promptly returns calls and emails, answering your questions without delay
- We provide regular case updates, so you are never left wondering about the progress of your claim
- We assist with scheduling injury-related appointments and coordinate vehicle repairs
How Our Personal Injury Team Can Help With Your Tampa Motorcycle Crash
Our personal injury team will provide responsive legal care by:
- Thoroughly investigating your accident and identifying all liable parties
- Gathering evidence of fault and losses in your accident, including photos and videos of the scene, the police report, eyewitness testimony, expert testimony, medical records, and employment records
- Handling communication with the insurance companies
- Advising you of your legal rights throughout the process
- Negotiating a fair settlement for your personal injury claim
- Making recommendations on how to respond to settlement offers
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and fighting for you in court if your case doesn’t settle
Our motorcycle accident lawyers are dedicated to helping accident victims and work tirelessly on your behalf.
Our Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Meet Deadlines
The personal injury statute of limitations in motorcycle crash cases is generally two years from the date the accident happened, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11.
Similarly, if a loved one did not survive a motorcycle accident, qualifying family members typically have up to two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
We Offer A Client-Friendly Fee Structure
Our legal team understands how costly and stressful the aftermath of a motorcycle wreck can be for you and your family. When we accept your case, we do not add to your financial hardship. Instead, we do all the following at no upfront cost:
- Investigate your accident
- Build a compelling case for your insurance claim
- Consult relevant experts
- Negotiate with the insurer
- Represent you in court
Once your case is resolved with a financial award, our law firm will accept a percentage of your settlement or trial verdict as our fee.
This contingency fee agreement allows you to seek compensation immediately, avoid the risk of an expired statute of limitations, and get legal service and support at no upfront or out-of-pocket cost. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
Hear from our clients and learn more about why injured parties trust our law firm with their fight for fair compensation on our client reviews page.
Dangers of Motorcycle Riding in Florida
In 2024, there were over 9,450 motorcycle accidents in Florida alone. A devastating 593 of those accidents were fatal. Hillsborough County saw over 570 motorcycle accidents and 65 deaths in the same year. In fact, Florida ranks as the number one state for motorcycle accident fatalities.
Riding a motorcycle poses unique dangers, including:
- Road Hazards: While debris on the roadway can pose a danger to any driver, motorcyclists are at particular risk because road hazards like uneven pavement, potholes, and oil spills can throw them off balance.
- Lack of Experience: Operating a motorcycle requires different skills and more coordination than driving a car. Inexperienced motorcyclists may cause single-vehicle or multi-vehicle collisions.
- Difficulty Being Seen: Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger vehicles, so other drivers may not spot them in time to avoid crashing into them.
- Weather Conditions: Even a small amount of rain or other precipitation on the roadway can cause motorcycle tires to lose traction and hydroplane.
- Lane Splitting: Motorcyclists riding between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic face heightened risk due to limited space and unpredictability.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can result from a variety of factors, many of which are preventable. Common negligent causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Driver Inattention or Distraction: Many accidents occur when other motorists fail to notice motorcycles, often due to distracted driving through mobile phone use.
- Left-Turn Accidents: A significant number of collisions happen when a vehicle turns left at an intersection in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Excessive Speed: Both motorcyclists and other drivers traveling at high speeds reduce their ability to react, increasing accident severity.
- Alcohol or Drug Impairment: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction times.
- Mechanical Failures: Issues such as brake failures, tire blowouts, or other mechanical malfunctions can lead to accidents.
Several factors have been shown to increase the fatality rate in motorcycle crashes. Some of the reasons cited by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for deadly motorcycle wrecks include the following:
- Speeding: Motorcycles can become unstable and begin to shake or wobble when riders are speeding. The NHTSA reports that 33% of motorcycle riders killed in accidents in 2021 exceeded the speed limit.
- Alcohol use: 28% of motorcycle riders killed in fatal motorcycle accidents in 2021 were alcohol-impaired, according to the NHTSA.
- Lack of licensure: The NHTSA also reports that 36% of motorcyclists involved in fatal motorcycle accidents in 2021 traffic accidents did not have a valid motorcycle license at the time of the crash.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle riders and their passengers may suffer from a variety of severe and catastrophic injuries, including:
- Head Injuries: Motorcyclists may be ejected from their bikes and hit their heads on a hard surface, like another motor vehicle or the pavement. Many traumatic brain injury victims have difficulty leading independent lives after their accidents.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Motorcycle accidents can lead to injuries that interfere with signals between the brain and spine. Symptoms of spinal cord injuries include nausea, dizziness, and loss of sensation. Thoracic spine injuries may result in paralysis.
- Facial Fractures: If a biker is not wearing a helmet, they may suffer fractures to the jaw, chin, cheek, or other facial bones, potentially resulting in disfigurement.
- Broken Bones: Motorcyclists ejected off their vehicles may suffer fractures of the leg, arm, wrist, hand, rib, clavicle, or other bones.
- Amputations: If a car crashes into a motorcyclist and the motorcyclist is pinned between the vehicles, they may suffer an amputation.
- Road Rash: Road rash is not a simple skin burn. Instead, it is a painful injury resulting from the epidermis coming in direct contact with a hard surface. This kind of wound can result in surface nerve damage, infections, skin irritation, and other related injuries.
- Emotional Distress: Motorcycle accident victims may also suffer from anxiety, depression, and other psychological injuries.
- Wrongful Death: Sadly, many motorcycle injuries are fatal. The most common cause of death is head injury. Other causes include chest and abdominal injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, and burns.
Who May Be Responsible for a Florida Motorcycle Crash?
When you retain our Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers, we will quickly get to work to determine who is liable for your motorcycle wreck. Responsible parties may include the following:
- The Other Motorist: A common reason for motorcycle accidents is that the other driver did not see the motorcycle. If the driver fails to be on the lookout for motorcycles, they may be liable for the crash.
- The Motorcyclist: If you were a passenger and the motorcyclist was impaired, speeding, or otherwise reckless, you may have a claim against the motorcyclist.
- An Employer: If the negligent driver was driving for an employer at the time of the collision, the employer might be responsible for the damages you sustain.
- Government: If the accident was due to poor road maintenance, the government entity responsible for that roadway’s upkeep might be liable for your injuries.
How Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Laws Affect Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
Florida Statutes § 768.81 establishes a modified comparative negligence law, meaning you can still recover damages if you are up to 50% at fault for a motorcycle accident. However, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation.
If you’re partially responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. In motorcycle accident cases, defense attorneys often argue that the rider was partly at fault, whether due to speeding, failure to signal, or not wearing protective gear.
Understanding how Florida’s modified comparative negligence applies is critical. A skilled Tampa motorcycle accident lawyer can help minimize your percentage of fault and ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.
Proving The At-Fault Party’s Negligence in a Florida Motorcycle Accident
Uncovering the causes and contributing factors that led to your motorcycle accident allows our legal team to establish the negligence that entitles you to recover compensation. Our investigation can help prove their:
- Duty to provide you with reasonable care
- Breach of that duty
- Responsibility for causing your injuries
- Responsibility for the accident’s financial, physical, and emotional consequences
Our legal team will collect evidence and interview witnesses to build your case file and help you fight for a fair and appropriate financial settlement.
Compensation for Your Losses After a Motorcycle Accident in Tampa
Florida is considered a no-fault insurance state, meaning that motorists generally pursue compensation from their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage if they are involved in an auto accident, regardless of fault.
However, these rules do not apply to motorcyclists. Therefore, motorcyclists generally will have to prove that the other driver was at fault to recover a financial award for the economic damages and non-economic damages. These awards offer compensation for losses accident victims sustain, such as:
- Property damage to their bike
- Medical bills, including future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost income in the future due to diminished earning capacity
- Loss of household services
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death expenses, such as burial costs
At Anidjar & Levine, we seek the maximum compensation you are eligible for. Contact us today, and we can get started on your case right away.
What To Do After a Motorcycle Wreck in Tampa
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Tampa, your priority is your safety and health. Whether the crash happened along Bayshore Boulevard, the Courtney Campbell Causeway, or on busy streets like Dale Mabry Highway or Hillsborough Avenue, the steps you take immediately after can protect both your well-being and your legal rights. Move to a safe area if possible, away from traffic. Then you should:
Get Medical Attention
Seeking medical care is still important for your chances of a full recovery. A doctor can determine whether you can go home or need further evaluation. Be sure to attend all scheduled follow-up appointments, which are important to your health and to your motorcycle accident claim.
Gather Evidence
After the crash, you’ll want to document everything about what happened. If you are able to do so, take photos of the accident scene and obtain contact information from anyone who witnessed the crash. If you are unable to, though, your lawyer can do this on your behalf.
File Your Claim With The Insurance Company
You’ll likely file a claim with an insurer, either directly or through an attorney. Be careful what you say to an insurance adjuster and avoid discussing the accident in detail until you’ve spoken with a lawyer.
Contact a Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney
A personal injury attorney can help you file a claim and handle all communications between you and the insurance companies. We will ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Contact Our Tampa Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle crash, the Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers from Anidjar & Levine can manage your claim.
Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you. We offer a free consultation to explain your legal rights and discuss your options. Contact us today to learn more and get started on the claims process.
We Can Help.