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Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney
A motorcycle crash can change your life in seconds. The Reyes Firm represents injured riders across Tampa Bay, pushing back on the assumptions insurers make about motorcyclists and pursuing full compensation for injuries, lost income, and pain.
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Why Injured Riders in Tampa Choose Us
We Know How Rider Cases Are Different
Motorcycle claims are not car claims. Florida PIP generally does not cover riders, coverage works differently, and the injuries are usually more serious. We build these cases with those differences in mind.
We Push Back on Rider Bias
Insurers count on the assumption that riders are reckless. They argue speeding or lane-splitting even when the evidence says otherwise. We document the scene, road conditions, and witness accounts to shut that argument down.
A Strategy Built Around Your Injuries
Road rash, fractures, brain and spinal injuries all carry different long-term costs. We take the time to understand the full extent of your injuries before we put a value on 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 Motorcycle Accidents in Tampa
Most motorcycle crashes in Tampa are preventable, and most involve another driver’s choice. We investigate what caused yours and identify everyone who may be responsible.
Distracted Driving
A driver looking at a phone often does not register a motorcycle until it is too late.
Unsignaled Lane Changes
Riders sit in blind spots. A lane change without a signal turns into a sideswipe fast.
Speeding
At higher speeds, neither driver has time to react, and the rider takes the full force of the impact.
Drunk or Impaired Driving
Impairment slows judgment and reaction time, a serious risk around Tampa’s nightlife areas.
Failure to Yield
Left turns across an oncoming rider’s path are one of the most common and most serious motorcycle crashes.
Road Hazards and Defects
Potholes, debris, and mechanical failure can bring down even a careful rider.
Injuries Riders Suffer in Tampa Motorcycle Crashes
Riders have no crumple zone and no seatbelt, so the same collision that dents a car can put a motorcyclist in the hospital for months. We make sure your injuries are documented and fully valued.
Road rash
Skidding along pavement causes deep abrasions, infection risk, and permanent scarring.
Broken bones and fractures
Limbs, ribs, and skull fractures are common when a rider is thrown or pinned.
Traumatic brain injuries
Head impact can cause lasting cognitive problems, even at lower speeds.
Spinal cord injuries
These can mean paralysis and years of rehabilitation and care.
Internal injuries
Impact to the chest or abdomen can damage organs and become life-threatening quickly.
Amputations
Severe crashes can cost a limb, bringing prosthetics and lifelong medical costs.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Tampa
Call the police
Report the crash and get an official report. It becomes key evidence, especially when the driver claims they never saw you.
Seek medical attention
Get checked even if you feel fine. Internal bleeding and brain trauma often show no symptoms at first.
Gather evidence
Photograph the scene, your bike, the road surface, and your injuries, and get witness contact details.
Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney
Before giving any recorded statement to an insurer, get advice. Your consultation with us is free.
How Much Is My Tampa Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
It depends on your injuries, your losses, and the coverage available. Because Florida PIP generally does not extend to motorcycle riders, the coverage question matters more in these cases than in most, and it is one of the first things we look at.
Florida’s comparative fault rule can also 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
Motorcycle Accident Questions, Answered
Does PIP cover motorcycle riders in Florida?
Generally no. Florida’s no-fault PIP system applies to motor vehicles with four or more wheels, so riders injured on a motorcycle usually cannot turn to PIP for medical bills. That often leaves health insurance, any MedPay or uninsured motorist coverage you carry, and a claim against the at-fault driver. Checking what coverage applies is one of the first things we do.
Can I claim if I was not wearing a helmet?
Yes. Florida law allows riders 21 and over to ride without a helmet if they carry at least $10,000 in medical benefits coverage. Not wearing one does not bar your claim, though the defense may argue it contributed to head injuries specifically. It does not affect claims for other injuries.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim?
Two years from the date of the crash. Florida cut this from four years to two in March 2023 under HB 837. The deadline is the same for motorcycle claims as for any other negligence claim.
Why do insurers treat motorcycle claims differently?
Because juries sometimes carry assumptions about riders. Insurers know this and often argue the rider was speeding, lane-splitting, or riding recklessly, even where the evidence does not support it. Documenting the scene, the road conditions, and witness accounts matters more in motorcycle cases than in most others.
What if the driver says they never saw me?
That is not a defense. Drivers have a duty to look for motorcycles, and “I didn’t see them” is among the most common statements after a motorcycle crash, particularly in left-turn collisions, where a driver turns across an oncoming rider’s path.
Other Cases We Handle
Injured another way? The Reyes Firm represents accident victims across Tampa Bay.
Down in a Tampa Motorcycle Crash? 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