When you ride a motorcycle, you must abide by all the same rules of the road as drivers of standard passenger vehicles while also adhering to motorcycle-specific laws. This is especially important when an accident occurs: Florida’s comparative negligence standard means you can be found partially at fault for a crash. Unfortunately, not all motorists respect the rights of bikers, and there tends to be an unfair bias against motorcyclists that can work against them in accident cases. With this in mind, these are just a few motorcycle laws you should know that could impact an accident claim:
- Basic rider course: Every single new motorcycle rider in the state, regardless of age, must pass the Basic Rider Course before hitting the road. The Florida Rider Training Program offers this course.
- Learners permit: If you are under 18 years old, you must obtain a learner’s permit before you move on to the standard operator’s license test.
- Helmets: All motorcyclists in Florida need to wear helmets while operating their bikes. The helmet must meet several standards, including weighing three pounds or more, having a sturdy chin strap and rivets, having no cracks or loose padding, having a thick inner liner and having DOT stickers outside and ANSI or Snell stickers inside.
- Insurance: You do not need to have insurance upon registration of your motorcycle, but you will be financially responsible if involved in a motorcycle accident. Therefore, it’s a good idea to purchase an insurance policy before you start riding.
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Florida, speak with the reliable team of personal injury attorneys at Serrano Law. You can reach our Wesley Chapel Location at 813.929.4231 or our Tampa Location at 850.201.7210. You can also contact us online