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Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorney
Doored, cut off, or hit in a bike lane? Cyclists have the same rights as drivers on Florida roads, and your own auto policy may still cover your medical bills. The Reyes Firm fights for injured riders across Tampa Bay.
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- Drivers must pass you with at least three feet of space (Fla. Stat. § 316.083)
- Florida PIP follows the person, so your own auto policy may pay your medical bills even on a bike
- You have two years from the crash to file a claim
Why Injured Cyclists in Tampa Choose Us
We Know Where Cyclist Coverage Comes From
Bike crash claims often involve several policies at once: your own PIP, a household member’s policy, and the driver’s liability coverage. Finding every source of coverage is the first thing we do.
We Push Back on the “Cyclist’s Fault” Argument
Insurers often claim the rider swerved, ran a light, or rode where they should not have. We use scene photos, road conditions, and witness accounts to show what actually happened.
A Strategy Built Around Your Injuries
Head injuries, fractures, and road rash each carry different treatment paths and long-term costs. We wait until the full picture is clear before valuing your claim.
No Fee Unless We Win
Your consultation is free and we work on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Tampa
Most bike crashes in Tampa come down to a driver who did not see the rider or did not give them room. We investigate the cause and identify every party who may be responsible, including a city or contractor when the road itself was the hazard.
Distracted Driving
A driver glancing at a phone often does not see a cyclist until the moment of impact.
Reckless Driving
Speeding, tailgating, and unsafe lane changes leave riders with nowhere to go.
Dooring
A driver or passenger opening a door into the bike lane gives a rider no time to react.
Driving Under the Influence
Impaired drivers have slower reactions and worse judgment around vulnerable road users.
Failure to Yield
Intersections and driveways are where most car-versus-bike collisions happen.
Road Hazards and Defects
Potholes, gravel, debris, and faulty brakes or frames can bring a rider down without another vehicle involved.
Injuries Cyclists Suffer in Tampa Crashes
A cyclist has nothing between them and the road. Even a low-speed collision can mean surgery, weeks off work, and months of recovery. We make sure your injuries are documented and fully valued.
Head injuries and TBI
Common in bike crashes and capable of causing lasting cognitive problems, helmet or not.
Fractures and broken bones
Arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones often need surgery and months of rehabilitation.
Road rash
Skin scraped along pavement brings scarring and a real risk of infection.
Spinal cord injuries
Damage to the spine can mean partial or total paralysis and lifelong care.
Internal injuries
Impact to the chest or abdomen can cause internal bleeding and organ damage.
Soft tissue injuries
Strains, sprains, and deep bruising from the fall or from bracing against it.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Tampa
Call the police
Report the crash and get a report. It helps establish fault, which matters when a driver claims the cyclist came out of nowhere.
Seek medical attention
Get checked even if you feel fine, and within 14 days if you plan to use PIP. Head trauma and internal bleeding can be silent at first.
Photograph everything before it moves
The scene, your bike, the door or vehicle, the road surface, and your injuries. Dooring cases in particular turn on these photos.
Talk to a bicycle accident attorney
Before giving a recorded statement to any insurer, get advice. Your consultation with us is free.
How Much Is My Tampa Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
It depends on your injuries, your losses, and the coverage available. In bike cases the coverage question is often the deciding factor, because more than one policy may apply, including your own.
Florida’s comparative fault rule can reduce recovery, and a two-year deadline applies to most crash claims.
- Severity of your injuries
- Medical costs, now and in the future
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and quality of life
- Punitive damages, in cases of gross negligence
Bicycle Accident Questions, Answered
Does car insurance cover me if I was hit while cycling?
Often yes. Florida PIP follows the person, so if you own a vehicle with PIP coverage, it may pay your medical bills even though you were on a bicycle. The 14-day treatment rule applies. If you do not own a car, you may be covered under a household member’s policy or through a claim against the driver.
What rights do cyclists have on Florida roads?
Cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers on Florida roads. Drivers overtaking a bicycle must pass at a safe distance of not less than three feet (Fla. Stat. § 316.083). If a driver cannot safely leave three feet, the law requires them to stay behind the cyclist until they can. Florida also has a move over law, and where a bicycle lane is provided, riders are generally safer using it than sharing the general travel lane.
Am I required to wear a helmet in Florida?
Riders under 16 must wear a helmet. For adults it is not required, and not wearing one does not prevent you from bringing a claim, though the defense may raise it in relation to head injuries specifically.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim?
Two years from the date of the crash under Florida Statute § 95.11, following the 2023 changes.
What if I was doored by a parked car?
You may have a claim against the person who opened the door. Florida law places a duty on people opening a vehicle door not to do so when it is unsafe. Dooring cases often turn on the position of the bike, the door, and any witnesses, so photographing the scene before vehicles move matters.
Other Cases We Handle
Injured another way? The Reyes Firm represents accident victims across Tampa Bay.
Hit While Riding in Tampa? Let’s Make It Right.
Free consultation, no fee unless we win. Our office is at 4730 N. Habana Ave., Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33614.
(833) 422-3329 · Hablamos Español