West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When a ride goes wrong, the road to recovery shouldn’t be uphill.

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we’ve helped thousands of Florida riders get back on their feet physically, financially, and emotionally.

Our West Palm Beach motorcycle lawyer know what it’s like when a driver claims they “didn’t see you.” When bills pile up and insurance plays games, you deserve a team that fights back.

No fees unless we win, and free case review, 24/7.

The Complexity of Motorcycle Crashes in West Palm Beach

Motorcycle accidents in West Palm Beach are rarely straightforward. Each crash involves layers of evidence, bias, and insurance challenges that can make recovery harder than most people realize.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 451 motorcycle accidents in Palm Beach County in 2023. Of those 451 accidents, 18 were fatal. As these statistics demonstrate, motorcycle accidents can be particularly severe.

Here’s what makes these cases especially complex:

• Visibility bias: Drivers and even witnesses often claim they “didn’t see” the motorcycle. This bias makes proving fault tougher than in car-on-car collisions.
• Severe injuries and limited insurance: Motorcyclists tend to suffer greater harm, yet Florida law excludes them from PIP coverage, leaving fewer immediate benefits.
• Multiple parties and insurers: Commercial vehicles, rideshare drivers, or rental cars often play a role on busy routes like Southern Blvd, Okeechobee Blvd, or I-95, meaning more insurance companies and more disputes.
• Tourist and seasonal traffic: Out-of-state drivers unfamiliar with local roads and weather create unpredictable hazards.
• Poor road conditions and sudden storms: Palm Beach’s heavy rain, flooding, and construction zones contribute to crashes, and determining who’s responsible can be tricky.
• Unfair blame: Insurers frequently argue that the rider’s speed or lane position caused the crash, shifting attention away from the real negligence.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

The moments after a crash are confusing and frightening. Your heart’s racing, your bike’s damaged, and it’s hard to think clearly. Yet what you do in the next few minutes can shape the outcome of your case:

1. Move away from the road to a safe location and call 911 or the West Palm Beach Police Department to report the accident and receive prompt medical care. No matter how insignificant your injuries may seem at the time, a medical report initiates a paper trail documenting your injuries which may later prove useful in your claim. 
2. Next, collect evidence. Gather eyewitness accounts and take down the contact information of the other drivers involved. Document your injuries and take photographs and video recordings of the accident scene, your motorcycle, the road conditions, and the other vehicle(s) involved. This evidence, along with eyewitness statements, will serve as evidence for your version of the events and improve your chances of success with the claim.
3. Contact your insurance company to report the accident, but avoid giving them a recorded statement until you’ve consulted with a personal injury lawyer. Insurers’ first offers are notoriously low, and accepting them forfeits your opportunity for a better, more fair amount. 

Once you’re safe and treated, it’s natural to ask what caused the crash, who’s responsible, and who’s paying.

The Most Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents, and Why It’s Usually Not the Rider’s Fault

Most motorcycle accidents aren’t caused by reckless riders. They’re caused by careless drivers who fail to look, yield, or judge distance. The most common causes we see in Palm Beach County include:

• Distracted Driving: Many motorbike accidents occur because drivers of other vehicles fail to notice motorcycles on the road, often due to distractions like texting, eating, or using in-car technology.
• Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of collisions. Speeding is a significant factor in many accidents, both for the motorcyclist and other drivers.
• Left-Hand Turns: A common cause of accidents occurs when a vehicle makes a left-hand turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle. This often happens because the driver misjudges the speed of the motorcycle or fails to see it at all.
• Lane Changing: Motorcyclists are often involved in accidents when drivers change lanes without checking their blind spots or signaling, especially near intersections like Southern Blvd and Military Trail
• Road Hazards: Motorcycles are more vulnerable to road hazards like potholes, debris, and uneven pavement, which can cause a rider to lose control more easily than a car might.
• Impaired Driving: Alcohol and drugs impair the judgment and reaction time of both motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles, leading to a higher likelihood of accidents.
• Weather Conditions: Motorcycles are particularly susceptible to bad weather conditions because they have less stability than four-wheeled vehicles.

Each of these scenarios can leave a rider facing serious injuries that impact your case, and you should know what to do medically after a crash.

Common Injuries as Result of Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle injuries aren’t just painful, but often expensive, life-altering, and central to your claim. The common ones are

• Road Rash and Soft Tissue Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Fractures and Broken Bones
• Amputations

You already know when you’re hurt, but here’s what many riders don’t realize: your medical treatment directly affects your case value. And insurance companies base settlements largely on the severity of your injuries and the treatment you receive.

That’s why it’s crucial to:

• Get checked at an ER or urgent care, even if pain is delayed.
• Follow all medical instructions and attend follow-up visits.
• Keep copies of bills, x-rays, and prescriptions.

We help our clients connect with trusted doctors and specialists who understand accident-related injuries. Your recovery and your case both depend on proper care. And once your medical evidence is secured, the next step is putting it all together and proving fault and holding the right party accountable.

Proving Fault in Motorcycle Accidents

Proving fault in motorcycle accidents hinges on the concept of negligence or a failure to act with a reasonable duty of care resulting in harm. In simple words, that means proving that someone failed to act safely and caused your injuries. Our job is to connect the dots between the driver’s actions and your losses. Thankfully, the West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner know how to award you fair compensation to cover some of these burdens.

What If You’re Blamed for the Crash?

Insurers often try to shift responsibility onto riders. They might say you were speeding or too hard to see. Don’t let them twist the truth.

Even if you are partially at fault, as a motorcyclist in the state of Florida you can still claim compensation after an accident. This law is known as the comparative negligence rule, and the compensation received will be reduced proportionally to your percentage of fault.

Moreover, there are also other laws operating in Florida that impact the compensation in motorcycle accident claim.

Legal Rights of Motorcyclists in Florida

PIP coverage

Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, which requires drivers to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. However, this coverage does not extend to motorcycle crashes. Instead, injured motorcyclists must pursue compensation through fault-based personal injury claims, potentially leaving them with inadequate coverage for medical expenses and long-term care needs. This situation is particularly problematic given motorcyclists’ increased susceptibility to severe injuries.

While PIP coverage does not apply to motorcyclists, they can protect themselves by purchasing uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This type of insurance can be critical for motorcyclists because it provides additional protection if they are injured by a driver who has little or no insurance coverage​

Bias in Fault Determination

To make matters worse, biases against riders can complicate the process of establishing fault in motorcycle accident cases. These biases can affect fault determinations with insurance adjusters, potentially resulting in reduced compensation or claim denials. Additionally, the differing treatment of motorcyclists compared to other motorists under the no-fault system subjects them to a more complex legal process when seeking compensation for injuries.

Florida Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida after a motorcycle accident is two years as of 2023. This means that an injured motorcyclist must file a lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident to seek compensation. Missing this deadline typically results in the loss of the right to pursue damages​.

Comparative Negligence

Florida follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule with a 51% bar. If a motorcyclist is found to be more than 51% at fault for the accident, they are barred from recovering any damages. If they are 50% or less at fault, their compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault​.

Florida Helmet Law

In Florida, motorcyclists under the age of 21 are required by law to wear a helmet while riding. Riders over 21 are not required to wear a helmet if they carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage for injuries sustained in a crash. This law can impact the outcome of a personal injury claim, as failure to wear a helmet might be used against the rider in court to reduce the compensation received under comparative negligence rules​.

Logically, all these laws impact the compensation amount you are entitled to.

Potential Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Victims

Motorcycle accidents often leave victims with emotional trauma, injuries, and significant financial burden.

Some of the types of compensation available to accident victims include:

• Medical expenses. This compensation may cover all past, present, and future medical treatment expenses as a result of the accident. It may cover surgeries, rehabilitation, hospital bills, and medication.
• Lost wages. This compensation covers any income the accident victim may have lost while they were unable to work as a result of the accident. The compensation may include future wages if the injuries led to any long-term or permanent disability.
• Pain and suffering. This compensation will cover any physical pain, emotional distress, and reduction in quality of life due to the motorcycle accident.
• Property damage. The compensation focuses on getting reimbursement for any money spent on repairs or replacing the motorcycle or any other personal property lost or damaged due to the accident.
• Punitive damages. In certain cases, motorcycle accident victims can also claim punitive damages. Punitive damages don’t seek compensation for losses but instead are awarded to discourage future wrongdoing by the defendant. To qualify for punitive damages, your lawyer must provide convincing evidence of the defendant’s gross, wilful misconduct.

Given all legislation’s complexity, motorcycle accident victims in West Palm Beach should better seek representation from experienced motorcycle crash lawyers. The legal professionals at Steinger, Greene & Feiner know how to navigate the complexities of the state’s insurance system and address any biases that may arise during the claims process, ensuring that you will receive appropriate treatment and fair compensation.

How Our West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help

The motorcycle wreck lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner take a professional approach when counseling motorcycle victims in West Palm Beach.

Step 1: Free Consultation and Case Review

The process starts with a free consultation in which we take time to learn about you and the circumstances of your motorcycle accident. Our conversation will inform the scope of your accident injury claim, which we will then help you file with your insurance company. While claim values vary based on the severity and circumstances of the accident, we fight for your maximum compensation.

Step 2: Investigating Your Case

Next, we conduct a thorough investigation, gathering key evidence like police and medical reports, photos/videos, eyewitness statements, crash reconstruction specialist testimony, and interviews with your family.

Step 3: Negotiating with the Insurance Company

This evidence is the foundation of your claim and will later be used as leverage during negotiations with your insurance company, which we are also conducting. We handle all communication with the insurance companies so you don’t have to.

Step 4: Full Support Through Your Recovery

Depending on the outcome of those negotiations, as well as other circumstances of your injury case, we will advise if you should file a lawsuit to prove your offender’s negligence in court where we will litigate on your behalf. 

Contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner today, and take the first step towards justice.

Why Choose Steinger, Greene & Feiner?

You have plenty of law firms to choose from in Palm Beach County — but here’s why injured riders choose us:

• No fees unless we win. You’ll never pay upfront costs. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
• Available 24/7. Accidents don’t wait for business hours, and neither do we.
• Proven results. We’ve recovered over $2 billion for injury victims across Florida.
• Local experience. We know the streets, the courts, and the insurance companies in West Palm Beach.
• Client-centered approach. You’re not just a case number. We keep you informed, supported, and involved every step of the way.

Contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner today for a free consultation and take the first step towards securing the justice and compensation you deserve. Or see why others choose Steinger, Greene, & Feiner:

Get in Touch for a Free Consultation

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about navigating Florida’s legal system. The experienced motorcycle injury attorneys at Steinger, Greene & Feiner will make sure that you get to focus on what matters most: your recovery. 

We’re minutes from I-95 and the Palm Beach Outlets. Walk-ins welcome, parking available. Or call now, or start your free case review online any time.

The sooner you consult legal experts following a motorcycle accident in West Palm Beach, the sooner you’ll receive reimbursement for your losses.

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