Before riding a motorcycle in Florida, you must obtain a motorcycle license. St. Petersburg motorcycle licensing requirements ensure that riders know how to operate a motorcycle safely. Unfortunately, having a motorcycle license does not mean you will be free from motorcycle accidents.
The St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorneys of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience handling motorcycle accident claims—300 years worth of combined experience. We have used our experience to recover millions of dollars for accident victims. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, call our law firm at (727) 796-8282 for a free consultation at our St. Petersburg office with one of our personal injury attorneys. You deserve fair compensation for injuries and damages caused by another driver.
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How Our St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Crash
Motorcycle accident claims can be challenging. Insurance companies often try to shift blame for the crash to the rider. They often claim that a rider’s recklessness contributed to the cause of the motorcycle accident.
At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying valid injury claims. And we won’t back down when they use them. Our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers will use our centuries of combined experience to go on the offensive and get the money you deserve.
When you hire our award-winning St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyers, you can expect us to:
- Identify the parties responsible for the crash by conducting a thorough accident investigation
- Handle all matters related to insurance claims
- Gather evidence documenting your injuries and damages
- Consult accident reconstructionists, medical experts, and other expert witnesses as necessary
- Work diligently to get you the maximum value for your damages
- Provide you with support, legal advice, and guidance through each step in the claims process
We care about what happened to you. Contact us today to speak with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL. Your first visit is free of charge.
What Are the Motorcycle Licensing Requirements for St. Petersburg, FL?
If you want to drive a motorcycle in St. Petersburg, you need to obtain a motorcycle-only license or a motorcycle endorsement. These requirements are similar, but there are a few differences.
Requirements for a Motorcycle Only License in St. Petersburg, Florida
Individuals 16 years and older may apply for a motorcycle-only driver’s license. However, the person must have had a Learner’s License for at least one year before applying for a motorcycle-only license if they are under 18 years old.
Applicants must pass the same knowledge test used to obtain a regular Class E license. In addition, they must pass a BRC or BRCu motorcycle training course offered by an authorized sponsor. The Department of Highway Safety Florida Rider Training Program is responsible for authorizing sponsors.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse (BRC) and the BasicRider Course updated (BRCu) cover several topics important to motorcycle safety. The courses include:
- Information about how to avoid motorcycle accidents
- Motorcycle skill tests
- On-cycle riding lessons
The completion card for the Basic Rider Course is good for one year from the issue date. Motorcycle operators who do not complete the licensing tests within one year must retake the course to obtain a motorcycle license.
Requirements for a Motorcycle Endorsement in St. Petersburg, FL
If you already of a Class E driver’s license, you can obtain a motorcycle endorsement to ride two or three-wheeled motorcycles. You must complete the Basic RiderCourse and apply for the motorcycle endorsement within one year of completing the course.
If you have a motorcycle endorsement from another state (except Alabama), you do not need to complete the motorcycle training course. Alabama motorcyclists with a completion card from an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation course do not need to complete the course.
Visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website for more information.
Motorcycle Insurance Requirements in St. Petersburg, Florida
Motorcycle insurance is not required to register a motorcycle in Florida. However, a motorcyclist that causes an accident can be held liable for damages. Therefore, most riders purchase liability insurance before riding on Florida roads.
A rider that causes an accident who does not have liability insurance must purchase insurance for three years after the accident. Failing to do so can result in the suspension of the person’s license, tag, and registration.
Florida’s motorcycle helmet laws require that operators and passengers wear a helmet. However, riders over the age of 21 may be exempt from the helmet requirement. But they must purchase a $10,000 insurance policy that includes medical benefits before riding without a helmet.
Filing an Injury Claim After a Motorcycle Accident in St. Petersburg, FL
Motorcycles are not subject to Florida’s no-fault insurance requirements for filing claims after an accident. Therefore, riders do not have the burden of proving that their injuries meet the permanent injury threshold to sue another driver. You may proceed with a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver for economic and non-economic damages.
You must prove that another driver was negligent in causing your accident to recover these damages. This means you will have to provide evidence that they breached their duty to drive safely and caused your accident. Dash or traffic cam footage, medical records, and eyewitness testimony may all provide support for your claim.
Keep in mind, insurers often blame motorcyclists for accidents, even when it’s not their fault. They do this to reduce their liability. Florida’s modified comparative fault rules will reduce your damages to account for your share of fault for the accident, if any. You’ll also be barred from recovering damages if you were mostly at fault. For these reasons, you should hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in St. Petersburg to protect your best interests.
Call Today for a Free Consultation With Our St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Law Firm
Being involved in a motorcycle accident in Pinellas County can have long-term consequences. Let us help you recover the compensation you are entitled to receive. Call now for your free case review with an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer.
