Florida is one of the best riding states in the country. The reason?
Florida's roads are spectacular sceneries available year-round and best seen from the seat of a motorcycle.
Riding legally is essential, though. To drive a 50cc or more two or three-wheeled motorcycle, you must have an endorsement on your driver's license or a motorcycle-only license.
A motorcycle endorsement goes on your driver’s license, showing that you have been approved by the state of Florida to operate a motorcycle, costs $7, and it does not expire.
When you are coming from a different state (other than Alabama), and your license is endorsed for motorcycle operation, the state of Florida will reciprocate the endorsement and not require the motorcycle course. Alabama licenses that include motorcycle endorsements are reciprocated only if accompanied by a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course (BRC) completion card.
On the other hand, a motorcycle-only license, although it doesn’t require you to take a driving test in a typical automobile, costs $48 and holds you to the following eligibility and testing requirements:
- You must be at least 16 years of age.
- You must complete a 15-hour Basic Rider Course.
- You must have at least a Class E driver's license.
- You must pay license fees to a driver license/tax collector office.
![alert message]()
Attention! Please keep in mind that we do not help anyone in obtaining a motorcycle license. However, we do offer legal help to those who were involved in motorcycle accidents.
What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet when I got in a motorcycle accident?
An important thing to remember about motorcycle accident law in Florida is that each case has different circumstances and a different chain of events that led up to that accident. So, we can only answer this question in general terms.
You can file a claim for your injuries even if you were not wearing a helmet. However, the fact that you were not wearing a helmet will influence the amount of damages you receive. Especially if whether or not wearing your helmet caused or made your injuries worse. For example, not wearing a helmet would not have made any difference if it were your knees that were injured and you can’t walk.
To fight against helmet usage arguments related to your accident, you will need to present substantial evidence:
- Medical records showing that not wearing a helmet did not affect the severity of your injuries.
- Testimony from a medical expert.
You also need to enlist the help of an experienced attorney in Florida to help compile and present the evidence. The motorcycle accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary is eager to review your claim and any concerns you may have about your case.
What are the leading causes of motorcycle accidents and the most common injuries?
While Florida has the ideal motorcycle riding weather year-round, it also has the largest amount of motorcycle crash-related fatalities. The motorcycle accident attorney here at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary is faced with the often tragic consequences of motorcycle wrecks.
According to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration, there were 82,528 motorcyclists injured in 2020 and another 5,579 killed. The agency said in its latest Traffic Safety Report for 2020 that per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash.
The great majority of motorcycle accidents occur as a result of collisions with cars and trucks. There are several types of such accidents, many caused by driver negligence on the part of the truck or automobile driver:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sudden braking vehicle ahead
- Intersection collisions
- Car doors opening
- Driveway accidents
- Left turn collisions
These are just some of the types of motorcycle accidents that happen. It may seem unfair, but as a biker or a motorcycle enthusiast, it’s often on you to raise awareness of motorcycle safety and make people more aware of your presence on the road. One accident is one too many.
Approximately 35% of all motorcycle accidents result in major impacts on the chin-bar region of the face. Motorcycle collisions can result in many serious injuries, including:
What do I need to do after a motorcycle accident?
As a rider, there are many things you can do to limit your accident risk and protect yourself on the road. However, avoiding these accidents is not always a possibility. Perhaps a large pothole in the road caused you to lose control and crash your bike into a barrier, or you hit a telephone pole while swerving to avoid a reckless driver.
As a Miami-Dade County motorcycle injury attorney, Sean M. Cleary represents bikers who were injured while riding on Interstate 95. I-95 is highly trafficked and poorly maintained.
Our law firm also frequently represents out-of-state motorcyclists who were injured while traveling through Florida on I-95.
When a person is killed in a motorcycle accident resulting from negligence, surviving relatives may bring a wrongful death claim seeking monetary damages to compensate for the loss of their loved one. Depending on the circumstances, family members may also bring claims for elements such as loss of companionship. It is essential to speak to a Florida attorney who is knowledgeable in wrongful death actions to answer any questions you may have and help you pursue the best legal options that apply to your case.
If you’ve been injured and feel you have a case, contact our motorcycle accident attorney here at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary. We are a caring, small law firm that keeps our client’s best interests in mind; our clients always come first. You don't have to pursue your claim alone; hiring a professional attorney to fight for your case can make all the difference in recovering the compensation you deserve.
