Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Laid up after a wreck, and the bills won’t wait? Port St. Lucie Motorcycle lawyers jump in fast to protect your rights, deal with the insurer, and keep you focused on healing. Florida riders don’t get PIP, so we pursue the at-fault driver (and your UM/UIM/MedPay) for medical bills, lost wages, and pain. No fee unless we win, and most injury claims have a two-year deadline; starting now matters.

Call us, text us, or start your free case review today.

Why Motorcycle Crashes Are So Complex

Motorcycle accidents aren’t just car crashes without a roof. They’re an entirely different legal and medical challenge, especially in Florida.

• No PIP safety net: In Florida, riders don’t get PIP benefits—so medical bills hit fast and hard while insurers stall.
• “Blame the biker” bias: Adjusters and even witnesses often assume the rider was speeding or “weaving,” which can reduce or kill a claim under Florida’s <50% fault rule.
• Severe injuries, higher proof: TBIs, fractures, road rash, and surgeries require careful medical documentation to connect every bill and symptom to the crash.
• Multiple insurance layers: At-fault driver, employer, rental, UM/UIM, and sometimes med-pay—miss one policy and you leave money behind.
• Evidence disappears fast: Intersection footage is overwritten, skid marks fade, and witnesses scatter—delay hurts leverage.
• Low policy limits are common: Many drivers carry minimum coverage; without stacking UM/UIM or third-party angles, recovery can fall short.
• Disputed roadway or product issues: Bad lighting, potholes, loose gravel, or a defective part can add parties—and legal complexity.
• Recorded statements & releases: Insurers push you to talk or sign early—one wrong word can be used against you later.

The good news: every problem has a playbook. This is how an experienced motorcycle attorney fixes them.

How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Solves This 

A skilled attorney builds your case from the ground up in a fast, smart way and with your long-term recovery in mind. Here’s how we turn the tide:

• Lockdown proof early: We move fast to secure 911 audio, traffic, and business cams, vehicle data, scene photos, and witness statements.
• Beat the bias with facts: Accident reconstruction, speed analyses, and visibility studies neutralize “the biker was reckless” narratives.
• Build the medical story: We coordinate care, gather imaging and specialist opinions, and connect your pain, limits at work, and future treatment to the crash.
• Find every dollar of coverage: We identify all policies (BI, UM/UIM, employer, rental, med-pay), stack where allowed, and pursue third parties when the driver’s limits won’t cut it.
• Protect you from insurer tactics: We handle all calls, shut down recorded-statement traps, and prevent early lowball releases.
• Value the full claim: We calculate medical bills (past/future), wage loss, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and scarring/disfigurement.
• Cut the liens, keep more net: We negotiate down health insurance, provider, and hospital liens so more of the recovery goes to you.
• Negotiate hard, litigate when needed: Detailed demand packages with exhibits, early mediation when smart, and trial-ready prep if the carrier won’t be fair.
• Keep you informed, not overwhelmed: Clear updates, direct access to your team, and practical next steps, so you can focus on healing.

What To Do After a Motorcycle Wreck

What you do next after the crash can shape your entire case. Here’s what we recommend in those first few hours and days after a wreck.

1. Get safe & call 911
   Move out of traffic if you can. Ask for police and EMS. Tell dispatch about injuries and any hazards (oil, debris, no lighting).
2. Document the scene
   Quick photos/video: your bike from all angles, the other vehicle(s), plates, driver’s license/insurance, skid marks, debris field, lane position, signals, and any road hazard (gravel, potholes).
3. Collect witnesses
   Grab names, phone numbers, and a quick text note from them now. Nearby businesses/homes may have cameras—note locations.
4. Don’t admit fault
   Stick to basics with police (“I was traveling east in the right lane”). Don’t speculate on speed or distances.
5. Preserve your gear
   Do not clean or toss your helmet, jacket, gloves, or boots. Put each in a bag. Impact points help prove force and injury mechanics.
6. Seek medical care the same day
   Riders often walk away in shock. Get ER/urgent care and follow up with specialists. Ask for imaging if you have head, spine, rib, or joint pain.
7. Tell your insurer, carefully
   Report the crash, but don’t give a recorded statement or sign broad medical releases. Basic facts only. Refer adjusters to your lawyer.
8. Lock down video fast
   Ask nearby businesses or HOA/security for footage within 48–72 hours (systems overwrite). We can send preservation letters right away.
9. Protect the bike evidence
   Take tow yard photos. Save tow/storage receipts. Don’t authorize a teardown before we review; damage patterns matter.
10. Track the impact on life
    Keep a simple log: symptoms, missed work, mileage to medical visits, out-of-pocket costs, and how pain limits daily tasks.
11. Check your coverage
    Florida riders don’t get PIP. Look for BI (at-fault driver), your UM/UIM, and any med-pay. We’ll stack coverage where possible.
12. Stay off social media
    Posts, ride data, and even innocuous photos can be used against you. Keep your case offline.
13. Call a motorcycle attorney early
    Evidence disappears and insurers move fast. We’ll preserve proof, handle the calls, and protect your claim from day one.

Those steps preserve proof. Next, here are the crash patterns we see most in Port St. Lucie.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Port St. Lucie

A motorcyclist is more likely to be seriously hurt in a collision than the driver of a passenger car. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that motorcycle riders are 30 times more likely to die and five times as likely to be hurt as other motorists.

Motorcycle accidents in Port St. Lucie County often result from a variety of factors, with distracted and reckless driving leading the list.

• Distracted Driving: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as texting, eating, or adjusting in-car devices. In Port St. Lucie, where traffic can be busy around recreational areas, distracted drivers pose a significant risk to riders.
• Drunk Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment and slows reaction times, leading to devastating crashes. Drunk driving accidents on highways around Port St. Lucie can be especially dangerous, often involving multiple vehicles and resulting in serious injury or death.
• Speeding and Reckless Driving: Whether it’s running late or simply disregarding speed limits, reckless driving remains a common cause of severe motorcycle accidents. High speeds typically result in more significant injuries and damage, making these accidents particularly hazardous.
• Failure to Yield and Left-Turn Accidents: Failing to yield or disregarding traffic signs is another frequent cause of motorcycle accidents. Left-turn collisions are especially dangerous for motorcyclists, as drivers of larger vehicles, such as trucks, may not see them in their blind spots. In Port St. Lucie, it’s crucial for both motorbike riders and drivers to remain cautious, particularly at intersections.

Different impacts lead to different injuries, and often severe injuries for riders.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

• Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries due to the lack of protection for riders.
• Head Injuries: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can lead to long-term cognitive and physical impairments.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, drastically changing your way of life.
• Broken Bones: Fractures in the arms, legs, and ribs are frequent, especially when the rider is thrown from the motorcycle.
• Road Rash: Severe skin abrasions from sliding on the pavement, which can cause infection and require extensive medical treatment.
• Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding may not be immediately obvious but can be life-threatening.

These injuries can have a significant impact on your health and finances. A driver who causes injury or death must be held accountable for the consequences of a motorcycle accident in Port St. Lucie. A skilled attorney will help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and future care, ensuring that you are financially protected as you recover.

Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents We Handle

Here are the most frequent types of motorcycle accidents we handle:

• Rear-End Collisions: Distracted drivers who fail to stop in time can cause severe injuries to motorcyclists. Under Florida law, drivers are required to maintain a safe following distance, and failure to do so can result in liability for damages.
• Left-Turn Accidents: These occur when vehicles misjudge a motorcyclist’s speed or fail to see them. Florida law requires drivers to yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn, and not doing so can make them liable for the accident.
• Lane-Splitting Accidents: Lane-splitting is illegal in Florida, meaning motorbike riders cannot pass between lanes of slower or stopped traffic. However, drivers still have a duty to remain aware of their surroundings.
• Head-On Collisions: These collisions are particularly dangerous due to the direct impact. Florida law allows motorcyclists to seek compensation for severe injuries or wrongful death in head-on collisions, especially if the other driver was speeding or driving recklessly.
• Doored Accidents: When a driver opens their car door into a motorcyclist’s path, it can cause serious injuries. Florida’s dooring laws make drivers responsible for checking for approaching traffic, including riders, before opening a door.
• Failure to Yield at Intersections: Motorcyclists are often overlooked at intersections. Florida law requires drivers to yield to traffic in intersections, and failure to do so can result in liability for damages in a collision.

If you’ve been involved in any of these types of motorcycle accident cases, Florida law allows you to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. But also, Florida’s rules change how these claims get paid and fought.

Florida Motorcycle Accident Laws

No PIP for Motorcycles in Florida

Florida’s PIP law only applies to four-wheeled vehicles, so injured riders don’t get automatic PIP medical benefits after a crash. That means your medical bills and losses are typically paid by the at-fault driver’s bodily injury (BI) coverage, and by any optional coverages you carry yourself (like UM/UIM or MedPay).

Modified Comparative Negligence (50% Bar)

Florida uses a 50% fault bar: you can recover compensation only if you are less than 50% at fault. If you’re, say, 20% at fault, your award is reduced by 20%. Insurers often try to inflate a rider’s fault to cut payouts, so proving how the crash really happened matters.

Statute of Limitations

Most motorcycle accident claims must be filed within 2 years of the crash, and wrongful death claims within 2 years of death. Some deadlines vary based on the facts, so starting early protects your rights and helps us preserve critical evidence (like video that overwrites quickly).

Helmet & Eye Protection Rules

Riders under 21 must wear a helmet. Riders 21+ may ride without a helmet only if they carry at least $10,000 in medical benefits coverage. Eye protection is required for operators. Even when riding legally without a helmet, insurers may argue it worsened head injuries—something we address with medical proof and the statute’s language.

Lane Use & Lane Splitting

A motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a single lane, and other vehicles may not crowd you out of it. Lane splitting—riding between lanes or rows of cars—is prohibited in Florida, and allegations of lane splitting can become a fault issue if not rebutted with facts.

Passengers & Equipment

You can carry a passenger only if your motorcycle is designed for two, with a proper seat and footrests. Keep required equipment (headlamp, taillight, turn signals, mirrors) in working order; a citation or equipment problem doesn’t automatically make you at fault, but insurers may try to use it against you. We review the crash report and address any issues head-on.

Insurance for Florida Motorcycle Riders

Florida doesn’t require PIP for motorcycles, but you still must be financially responsible if you cause a crash—commonly shown by carrying liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage (often discussed as $10,000 BI per person / $20,000 per crash / $10,000 PD at minimum). After certain crashes or violations, your license/registration can be suspended until you show proof (e.g., SR-22) and maintain coverage.

But there are also smart optional coverages, which are highly recommended for riders

• Bodily Injury (BI) Liability: Protects others if you’re at fault and protects you from personal exposure.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM): Pays you when the at-fault driver has little or no BI; stacked UM can increase limits across multiple vehicles.
• Medical Payments (MedPay): Helps with medical costs regardless of fault—especially valuable since there’s no PIP for motorcycles.
• Collision & Comprehensive: Repairs or replaces your bike after a crash, theft, or other covered damage.

We examine all available policies, including yours, the other driver’s, employer/rental policies, and any umbrella coverage, so you don’t leave money on the table.

With fault and coverage set, these are the damages we pursue.

Your Right to Compensation after a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, to recover the compensation, you must establish that the other driver was at fault by demonstrating negligence or reckless behavior, such as speeding, distracted driving, or failing to yield. This often involves gathering crucial evidence like police reports, witness statements, and, in some cases, traffic camera footage.

Proving other party negligence allows you to seek damages for:

• Medical bills and costs: This includes emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any future medical expenses related to the accident. Florida law allows you to recover both current and future medical costs, as long as you can prove they are tied to the crash.
• Lost income/wages or financial support: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can claim compensation for lost wages. This also extends to diminished earning capacity if the injuries result in long-term or permanent disability. In wrongful death cases, families may seek lost financial support if the victim was a breadwinner.
• Pain and suffering: Florida law allows compensation for the physical pain and suffering endured as a result of the accident. This is considered non-economic damage, and its value is determined based on the severity of the injuries and their long-term impact on your quality of life.
• Emotional distress: Emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, can be compensated under Florida’s laws. Psychological impacts are often long-lasting, and this compensation helps cover therapy or counseling costs.
• Lost companionship: In the case of a wrongful death claim, surviving family members may seek compensation for the loss of companionship or the emotional support the deceased would have provided. This is sometimes referred to as loss of consortium.
• Funeral expenses: In the tragic event of a fatal motorcycle accident, the family can also recover reasonable funeral and burial expenses. This includes any costs associated with memorial services, cremation, or burial.

However, in order to obtain this compensation, you must both prove that the driver was to blame and demonstrate the extent of your losses. A Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident attorney will help you meet your burden of proof so you can get the money you deserve. Here’s how we build and deliver that proof, start to finish.

How Our Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help

After a motorcycle wreck, the paperwork, calls, and medical bills can feel nonstop. Our Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney team steps in on day one to protect your rights, preserve evidence, and handle the insurer, so you don’t have to.

1. Free Case Review & Strategy
   Call, text, or submit the form. We listen, spot deadlines (most injury claims have a 2-year window), and map the fastest path to protect your claim.
2. Evidence Lockdown
   We send preservation letters, secure 911 audio, traffic/business cam video, photos, vehicle data, and witness contacts before they disappear.
3. Insurance Shield
   We take over all adjuster calls. No recorded statements or broad medical releases from you—insurer traps get shut down.
4. Medical Care & Documentation
   We help coordinate treatment, gather ER notes, imaging, and specialist opinions, and document how injuries affect work and daily life. (Save your helmet/gear—impact marks prove force.)
5. Liability & Fault Analysis
   Accident reconstruction, speed/visibility studies, and scene modeling defeat “blame the biker” bias and position you under Florida’s <50% fault bar.
6. Coverage Discovery
   We identify every dollar available: at-fault BI, your UM/UIM (stacked if applicable), employer/rental policies, med-pay, and property damage coverage.
7. Full Damages Build-Out
   We calculate medical bills (past/future), wage loss and earning capacity, scarring/disfigurement, and bike + gear replacement.
8. Demand Package & Negotiation
   A trial-ready demand with exhibits goes to the carrier. We use time-limited demands and bad-faith leverage where appropriate to drive full value.
9. File Suit When Needed
   If the offer isn’t fair, we litigate, from discovery, depositions, experts, mediation, and trial prep, while keeping you informed at every step.
10. Resolution, Liens, & Payout
    You approve the settlement. We negotiate down medical liens and finalize paperwork so more of the recovery goes to you. Then you get paid.

Ready to hear from people we’ve actually helped? You’ve seen how we work, now see what that looks like in real life. Read real stories from riders and local families we stood up for after serious crashes in Port St. Lucie and across the Treasure Coast.

Contact Us

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our attorneys have decades of collective experience representing motorcycle accident victims, and our personal injury lawyers have been recognized by clients and peers as capable legal advocates. We take our responsibility to our clients seriously and we will treat your case with the immediacy it deserves.

Our Port St. Lucie motorbike crash attorneys offer free consultations and case evaluations to injured motorcycle accident victims, so call us today to take advantage of this no-cost meeting and learn more about how we can help you. Don’t take the first check from the insurance company. Contact us, or give us a call at(772) 200-4696 or visit our law firm office at 507 NW Lake Whitney Pl, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986. It’s free, confidential, and there’s no obligation.

FAQs on Motorcycle Accidents