West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

A motorcycle gives a rider no steel cage, no airbags and, in Florida, usually no PIP. That combination means a crash that would bruise a driver can change a rider's life, and the money to pay for it has to be found somewhere else.

Representing Injured Riders in West Palm Beach

Attorney Tomas Robirosa represents motorcyclists and passengers hurt in West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County. We work from our Miami Beach office and meet clients by phone, video, WhatsApp or by appointment. The consultation is free, there is no fee unless we recover, and you can talk to us in Spanish.

Who Pays a Rider's Medical Bills?

Florida's PIP law covers vehicles with four or more wheels, and Florida does not require insurance to register a motorcycle. So unlike a driver, an injured rider generally can't turn to PIP. Instead, the money usually comes from:

• The at-fault driver's bodily injury liability coverage, if the driver has it
• Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you bought it on your motorcycle or, sometimes, another policy in your household
• Medical payments coverage on your motorcycle policy
• Your health insurance, which may have a right to be repaid from a settlement

Many riders don't know what coverage they have until a lawyer reads the policies. We do that first.

Where Motorcycle Crashes Happen Around West Palm Beach

Riders share the road with heavy traffic on I-95 and Florida's Turnpike, and with trucks on Southern Boulevard (State Road 80), a major freight corridor. In town, Okeechobee Boulevard, Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, 45th Street and US 1 (Dixie Highway) see constant turning traffic. The most common crashes we see are:

• Left turns in front of an oncoming motorcycle
• Drivers changing lanes into a rider
• Rear-end crashes in congested traffic
• Drivers pulling out of side streets and parking lots
• Road hazards like gravel, potholes and uneven pavement

Fighting the Blame Insurers Put on Riders

Insurance adjusters often assume the rider was speeding or weaving. Florida's fault rules raise the stakes: since March 24, 2023, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and a person more than 50% at fault generally recovers nothing.

Two issues come up again and again. First, helmets: Florida allows riders over 21 to ride without a helmet if they carry at least $10,000 in medical benefits coverage, and all riders must wear eye protection. Not wearing a helmet doesn't cause a crash, but insurers may argue it made a head injury worse. Second, lane splitting, riding between lanes or rows of cars, is illegal in Florida, and insurers raise it whenever they can. Physical evidence, video and witnesses are how we answer both.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in West Palm Beach

1. Call 911 so there is a police report, and get medical care the same day if you can.
2. Take photos of the vehicles, your motorcycle, the road, skid marks, your gear and your injuries.
3. Get the other driver's name, insurance and plate, and the names and numbers of witnesses.
4. Look for cameras: businesses, traffic cameras, doorbells and other drivers' dashcams. Video is often erased within days.
5. Don't post about the crash on social media and don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
6. Talk to a lawyer before accepting any offer or signing a release.

What Compensation Can Include

Every case is different, but a rider's claim may include past and future medical care, physical therapy and surgery; lost income and reduced ability to work; pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life; scarring and disfigurement; and the cost to repair or replace the motorcycle, helmet and gear. When a crash is fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim.

Getting Care, Keeping Records

Seriously injured riders in Palm Beach County are often taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach or Delray Medical Center, both Level I trauma centers. Follow every treatment recommendation and keep every bill and record. Gaps in treatment are one of the first things insurers use to argue an injury isn't serious.

Also keep your helmet, jacket and other gear exactly as they are after the crash. Damage to gear helps show the force of the impact.

Deadlines and the Court Process

For most crashes after March 24, 2023, Florida generally allows 2 years to file a negligence lawsuit, and claims against government agencies follow special, case-specific notice rules. Every case is different, so speak with an attorney to confirm the deadline that applies to you. If a lawsuit is filed in Palm Beach County state court, it is heard in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit at the courthouse on North Dixie Highway in downtown West Palm Beach.

Learn more on our motorcycle accident lawyer page, our West Palm Beach personal injury page and West Palm Beach truck accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions