Margate Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Riders have no steel frame, seat belts or airbags, so a motorcycle crash in Margate can turn a normal ride into months of recovery. Florida's insurance rules for motorcycles are also different from the rules for cars. This page explains what to know if you or a loved one was hurt in a motorcycle accident in Margate.

Where Riders Get Hurt in Margate

• State Road 7 (U.S. 441) Margate's main commercial road has driveway after driveway. Drivers pulling out of plazas or turning left across traffic may not see an approaching rider.
• Atlantic Boulevard Traffic crossing State Road 7 and heading east toward the Turnpike creates busy intersections with turning lanes.
• Sample Road On the north side, the State Road 7 interchange where Margate, Coral Springs and Coconut Creek meet carries heavy traffic through the day.
• Routes to the Turnpike and Sawgrass Expressway Riders heading to the highways ride alongside drivers in a hurry, and merging traffic leaves little margin for error.

Most motorcycle crashes involve a driver who failed to look, not a rider who did something wrong.

Florida Motorcycle Laws That Affect Your Claim

No PIP for motorcycles. Florida's Personal Injury Protection law covers vehicles with four or more wheels, so motorcycles fall outside the PIP system. A rider hurt in Margate usually does not have PIP benefits to pay early medical bills the way a car driver does. Health insurance, medical payments coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and the at-fault driver's insurance become much more important.

Helmets. Under Florida Statute 316.211, riders over 21 may ride without a helmet if they are covered by an insurance policy providing at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries from a motorcycle crash. Not wearing a helmet does not by itself prevent a claim, but the insurance company may argue that it made some injuries worse.

Comparative fault. Under Florida's modified comparative fault rule, your recovery is reduced by any share of fault assigned to you, and if you are found more than 50% at fault, you generally cannot recover. Insurers often blame riders, so evidence about speed, lane position and visibility matters.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Margate

1. Get medical care right away. Call 911. HCA Florida Northwest Hospital in Margate has a 24/7 emergency room, and serious injuries may be taken to a trauma center such as Broward Health North.
2. Keep your gear. Save your helmet, jacket, gloves and any damaged parts. They are evidence.
3. Photograph the scene. Take pictures of your bike, the other vehicle, the intersection, skid marks and your injuries.
4. Get the report. The Margate Police Department responds to crashes in the city. Ask how to get the crash report and write down witness names.
5. Gather your insurance information. Look for your motorcycle policy, health insurance and uninsured motorist coverage.
6. Get advice before giving a statement. The other driver's insurer may try to blame the rider.

Injuries and Compensation for Riders

Motorcycle crashes often cause fractures, road rash, head and spinal injuries and injuries that need surgery or long rehabilitation. A claim against the at-fault driver can include medical bills, future care, lost income, pain and suffering and other losses. Because PIP does not cover motorcycles, it is especially important to look at every source of coverage early.

Read more about motorcycle accident claims in Florida, or go back to our Margate car accident and personal injury page.

A Bilingual Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Margate

Tomas Robirosa serves Margate and all of Broward County. He investigates the crash, finds every insurance policy that may apply, answers insurance company arguments about fault and explains each step directly to you, in Spanish or English.

The consultation is free, and we work on a contingency basis: no fee unless we recover. Call (305) 600-0529.

Frequently Asked Questions