Tampa Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Getting hurt in a bicycle accident can change your life in just a few seconds. A crash can cause serious injury, stress, and unexpected costs like medical bills and lost wages. For many people in Tampa Bay, riding a bike is a normal way to get around, whether for fun, exercise, or work. But when a negligent driver or unsafe road condition causes a bicycle crash, the results can be painful and costly.

Fiol and Morros Law Group helps you take the right steps after a bicycle accident. We work hard to hold the right parties accountable and help you recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. With deep experience in personal injury law, our Tampa bicycle accident attorneys understand Florida laws, traffic rules, and what it takes to win.

We focus on your case so you can focus on healing and moving forward with your life.

What is a Bicycle Accident?

A bicycle accident happens when a person riding a bike is involved in a crash with another vehicle, object, or hazard. These accidents often involve a motor vehicle, but they can also happen because of poor road conditions or a defective bike part. Bicycle accident injuries may include broken bones, head injuries, road rash, spinal cord injury, and other serious conditions.

Many crashes could be avoided if drivers and others followed traffic laws and paid attention.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Tampa

Bicycle crashes in Tampa happen for many reasons. Some are caused by careless drivers, others by road conditions or lack of bicycle infrastructure. Some of the most common causes are:

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the top reasons bicycle accidents happen in Tampa. When drivers look at their phones, adjust the radio, eat food, or talk to passengers, they are not fully focused on the road. This makes it easy for them to miss cyclists, especially those in bike lanes or crossing intersections, which can lead to serious injuries or even death.

Failure to Yield or Stop

Drivers who fail to yield or stop when required put cyclists in danger. This often happens at crosswalks, four-way stops, or when turning at an intersection. Bicycle riders have the same rights to the road as other vehicles, and when a driver ignores traffic signals or road rules, it can cause a major crash that results in broken bones, head injuries, or worse.

Poor Road Conditions

Bad roads are dangerous for bikes. Cracked pavement, potholes, loose gravel, and missing road markings can make it hard to stay balanced. Cyclists are more vulnerable to falling or crashing when the road is not properly maintained.

These roadway hazards often cause accidents that lead to road rash, spinal cord injury, or other serious harm.

Dooring Accidents

Dooring accidents happen when someone inside a parked car opens the door into a cyclist’s path without checking for traffic. These crashes happen fast and give cyclists almost no time to react. A dooring accident can throw a rider onto the pavement or into traffic, leading to traumatic injuries and costly medical care.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Speeding and reckless driving reduce the time drivers have to see and avoid cyclists. When a car or truck is going too fast or making sudden lane changes, it becomes much harder for the driver to safely share the road.

These actions often lead to devastating bicycle crashes, especially in busy areas of Tampa where bike lanes and traffic mix closely.

How to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Tampa

Filing a bicycle accident claim in Tampa means taking the right steps from the beginning to protect your legal rights. The process starts at the crash scene and continues through dealing with insurance companies and possibly filing a lawsuit.

Understanding how Florida laws apply to fault and compensation is also key to building a strong personal injury claim.

Steps to Take After an Accident

1. Call for Help – Always call 911 after a bicycle accident so the police and emergency responders can assist. A police report creates an official record that supports your injury claim.
2. Get Medical Care – Even if your injuries seem small, get checked by a doctor right away. Some injuries, like brain injuries or internal bleeding, may not show up right away but still require urgent medical care.
3. Document the Scene – Take clear photos of your bike, the vehicle involved, your injuries, the road conditions, and any signs or traffic signals. This evidence can be important for insurance claims and court cases.
4. Get Witness Info – If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name and contact details. Witnesses can help confirm how the accident happened and support your side of the story.
5. Save All Records – Keep a file with your medical bills, records, bike repair costs, photos, and anything else related to the accident. This information will help your lawyer build a stronger case.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

After a bicycle crash, you will likely need to speak with insurance companies -- either your own or the driver’s. It’s important to be careful with what you say. Insurance companies may try to reduce what they pay by claiming your injuries are not serious or that you were partly at fault.

A bicycle accident lawyer can speak with the insurance adjusters for you, handle the paperwork, and make sure your rights are protected.

Filing a Lawsuit

If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, filing a lawsuit may be the next step. Your attorney will help file the personal injury lawsuit in court, collect evidence, and represent you during hearings or trial. A lawsuit can help you recover full compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Florida’s personal injury law allows you to bring claims against the negligent driver and others who may share legal responsibility.

Florida’s Comparative Fault Law

Florida uses a legal rule called “comparative fault,” which means you can still recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the crash. For example, if a court finds that you were 20% at fault for not using lights on your bike at night, you can still recover 80% of the total damages.

Understanding this rule is important because insurance companies often use it to try to lower your payout. A skilled bicycle accident lawyer will fight to show how the other party holds the greater share of blame.

Tampa Bicycle Accident Laws and Local Regulations

Bicycle accidents in Tampa are covered by both state and local laws that set the rules for cyclists, drivers, and how liability is determined after a crash. Knowing the bicycle laws that apply in Florida and Tampa can help protect your rights and improve your safety.

These laws also play a big part in how personal injury claims are handled in court or with insurance companies.

Florida Bicycle Laws

Florida bicycle laws are designed to treat bicycles as vehicles, which means cyclists must follow most of the same rules as drivers. This includes obeying traffic signals, riding in the same direction as traffic, and using bike lanes when available.

Florida law (Florida Statutes § 316.2065) also requires working brakes, front white lights, and rear red reflectors at night. Violating these laws can affect your injury claim and how fault is assigned in a crash.

Tampa-Specific Bicycle Safety Regulations

In addition to state laws, Tampa has its own safety rules that apply to cyclists. These include city ordinances that regulate where you can ride, how to cross intersections, and when to yield to pedestrians.

Tampa has also developed marked bike lanes, cycling trails, and shared-use paths to improve safety. Failing to follow these local rules can be used against cyclists during a personal injury lawsuit, even if the motor vehicle driver was also at fault.

Bike Helmet Laws

Florida law does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets, but riders under 16 must wear a properly fitted helmet that meets federal safety standards. While not wearing a helmet may not prevent you from filing a claim, it can be used by insurance companies or defense lawyers to argue that your injuries, such as head injuries or traumatic brain injuries, could have been avoided.

Wearing a helmet improves safety and can protect your claim.

Liability in Bicycle Accidents Under Florida Law

Liability in a Tampa bicycle accident depends on who acted with negligence or broke the law. Under Florida’s comparative fault system, more than one person can be held responsible. If a driver ignored a traffic signal or failed to give a cyclist space, they may be liable for the crash.

However, if the cyclist broke traffic laws or was riding in an unsafe area, that may reduce their recovery. Proving fault often requires help from experienced Tampa bicycle accident lawyers who know how to apply Florida statutes, gather evidence, and fight for full compensation.

FAQs

1. Do I need a personal injury lawyer after a bicycle accident in Tampa?

Yes. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, handle your insurance claim, and seek full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain.

2. Can a bicycle accident attorney help with facial injuries or long-term trauma?

Absolutely. A bicycle accident attorney can include compensation for facial injuries, emotional distress, and other lasting effects when filing a fault claim or lawsuit.

3. What if the bicycle crash happened outside the bicycle lanes?

You may still have a case. Cyclists are allowed to leave bicycle lanes when needed for safety. A lawyer can prove that a driver’s negligence still caused the crash.

4. Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit if a loved one died in a bicycle accident?

Yes. If the crash led to a fatality, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages such as medical bills paid and funeral costs.

5. Does my auto insurance policy or PIP policy cover bicycle accidents?

In Florida, your PIP policy may cover some medical costs from a traumatic accident involving a motor vehicle, even if you were on a bicycle. A lawyer can explain how it applies in your case.

Contact Our Tampa Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a bicycle accident in Tampa, it is important to speak with a lawyer who understands Florida laws and how serious these crashes can be. Fiol and Morros Law Group knows how much an accident can affect your health, finances, and daily life. From medical bills and lost income to pain, stress, and ongoing care, we work to make sure you are not left dealing with it alone.

Our Tampa bicycle accident lawyers will review your case, explain your rights, and help you take the next steps. We do not charge fees unless we win your case. Let us handle the legal side while you focus on recovery.

To schedule your free consultation, contact our office today. You can call us or fill out our online form and a team member will reach out to help.