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Need a Florida Bicycle Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer?
Servicing Tampa, Miami & St. Petersburg. If you’ve been injured and are curious whether you can receive compensation or additional support after your accident, reach out to us for a free initial consult.
We understand the cyclist and injured party’s point of view. Matthew Scarborough, Esq., and our legal team will take over the hard work and determine the right solution for you.
An Experienced Florida Attorney
Who Specializes in Bike Accidents and Personal Injury Law
For over thirty years, Matt Scarborough has been a cyclist and a personal injury lawyer in Florida. He knows that every watt counts for a serious cyclist. His experience in the law and on the bike makes him better able to understand what an injury can do both to someone’s personal life and career and also their cycling time.
Matt Scarborough is involved in the Florida cycling and multisport community both on the bike and off. His firm sponsors the University of South Florida cycling team in Tampa, various bike events and triathlons based in Florida (Chilly Willy Duathlon, Ft. DeSoto Triathlon Series, Top Gun Triathlon) as well as a team of national multi-sport athletes that compete under the Bicycle Accident Law banner. Bicycle Accident Law gives back 1% of all earnings to Parkinson’s charities and initiated the annual Parkinson’s Awareness Ride in April.
An Experienced Florida Attorney
Who Specializes in Bike Accidents and Personal Injury Law
For over thirty years, Matt Scarborough has been a cyclist and a personal injury lawyer in Florida. He knows that every watt counts for a serious cyclist. His experience in the law and on the bike makes him better able to understand what an injury can do both to someone’s personal life and career and also their cycling time.
Matt Scarborough is involved in the Florida cycling and multisport community both on the bike and off. His firm sponsors the University of South Florida cycling team in Tampa, various bike events and triathlons based in Florida (Chilly Willy Duathlon, Ft. DeSoto Triathlon Series, Top Gun Triathlon) as well as a team of national multi-sport athletes that compete under the Bicycle Accident Law banner. Bicycle Accident Law gives back 1% of all earnings to Parkinson’s charities and initiated the annual Parkinson’s Awareness Ride in April.
Florida Bicycling Rules
Cycling Rules change all of the time. We stay up to date with the latest legal rulings.
Cycling Helmet Laws
Do you have questions about Bike helmet laws in Tampa, Miami or Florida.
Bike & Auto Accidents
Protect yourself from legal issues. Get fair compensation from your bike/auto accident.
Florida is one of the most dangerous places for cyclists
While Florida has a great cycling community, it’s a dangerous place to ride a bike. Some cities have miles of dedicated bike lanes or trails. Yet Florida counties like Pasco County are among the deadliest for cyclists in the United States.
Knowing the basic Florida bike laws and making sure you are properly insured as a Florida cyclist is the first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones if you’re injured in a bicycle crash. Making sure you have adequate uninsured motorist coverage and automobile coverage can cover expenses like loss of income, pain and suffering, and health insurance co-pays or deductibles. While medical insurance will cover some care, if you don’t have other insurance you could still be on the hook for thousands of dollars in emergency bills.
If you are injured in a bicycle crash, you want the best possible representation on your side from the moment you report the crash. Calling Florida Bike Accident Attorney, Matt Scarborough, can make sure you get the best payout from your insurance companies, which can give you time to rest and recover without financial stress.
Need legal advice after a sports injury?
Florida Should be a Great Place to Ride a Bike
The warm weather and topography contribute to a large cycling community throughout Florida. There are countless group rides to join, races, and other cycling events. If you’re not sure how to find a cycling group near you, local bike shops often post events or know about active groups no matter what Florida city you live in.
Florida’s beautiful scenery and beaches make it a great place to race or go on a long ride. Every year the Florida500 offers solo and team relay races that go the 500 miles from Jacksonville, Florida to Key West, Florida. If you love the idea of finishing a ride in the Florida Keys, there’s also the 72-Hours to Key West Ride that starts in Ft. Myers. The Gran Fondo National series holds annual races in Florida. For those who don’t want to compete but like a group atmosphere, there are more casual riding groups throughout Florida. Large cities like Miami have active cycling communities but even smaller cities often have group rides or short charity rides and races.
Bicycle Accident Law hosts a weekly ride on the Suncoast Trail in Pasco County. Follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop about upcoming rides.
Florida bicycle laws every cyclist should know
In Florida, bicycles are legally defined as vehicles. This gives them all the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers. Cyclists must fully obey all stop signs, lights, and other markers and should signal when turning or coming to a complete stop. When riding at night, cyclists are required to have front and back lights.
While it can be nice to listen to music or podcasts while riding, legally cyclists in Florida can only listen in one ear and at a volume that allows them to be audibly aware of their surroundings.
If you like riding in groups, be sure you’re only riding two-abreast in the bike lane — and there are some nuances there you’ll want to be familiar with before doing a group ride.
Likewise, since bicycles are vehicles, cyclists need to be aware of alcohol or other substance use before riding or they can also be given a DUI citation.
New changes to Florida bike law have made it so that cyclists who are injured but did not fully obey traffic laws, might not receive any compensation. This makes it more important than ever to ride safely, follow laws, and be aware of your surroundings.
Cycling Side-by-Side
If you like riding in groups, be sure you’re only riding two-abreast in the bike lane — and there are some nuances there you’ll want to be familiar with before doing a group ride.
Recovering from a bike injury?
Don’t Ride Drunk
Likewise, since bicycles are vehicles, cyclists need to be aware of alcohol or other substance use before riding or they can also be given a DUI citation.
Obey the Stop Sign
Protect yourself from legal issues. Get fair compensation from your bike/auto accident. Learn more>
Biking in Florida Should Be Safe for Everyone
In Florida, cyclists have as much a legal right to the road as drivers yet the roads don’t always reflect this. There are 275,376 lane miles of roads in Florida for vehicles but only a few thousand miles of dedicated bike trails. When cyclists are sharing roads with vehicles but don’t have dedicated bike lanes or other safety features, the risk of crashes increases.
In 2023, there were 8,413 bicycle crashes in Florida which resulted in 227 cyclist fatalities.
467 bicycle accidents occurred in the Tampa area.
Whether drivers are texting while driving, speeding, or passing cyclists at unsafe distances, in an accident between a car and a cyclist the person on a bicycle is going to be the one who is seriously injured.
The Benefits of Hiring a Florida Bike Attorney
Hiring a personal injury lawyer with experience in cycling crashes in Florida makes it more likely you’ll get a fair financial recovery from an accident.
A lawyer can help you navigate insurance company claims.
Even if you’re not at fault in a crash, dealing with any insurance claim can take a considerable amount of time. The first offer your insurance company makes may not be the best offer possible or cover you for injuries that require therapy long-term. An experienced lawyer can help you negotiate with your insurance company to get the best payout and fight denials for treatment that helps your recovery.
A bike accident lawyer can help prove your case
After a crash, many people don’t think to do things like photograph the scene or document any evidence that could later be helpful in a settlement. By calling a lawyer right away they can talk you through steps that will make the rest of the claims process easier. Especially with Florida laws that now make it difficult to recover damages if you were even partially at fault, having an attorney to help navigate the process can be key in getting the most compensation.
Even a minor crash can be expensive, a lawyer can help
While the cost of medical bills and time off work are easier to tally, there are many other costs associated with injury. Time spent recovering can be difficult on family members. Even if you have a job where you are able to take time off work, it can be hard to play catch up whenever you’re well enough to return to the office. For athletes, who train hard for even a small gain, the setbacks associated with an injury are also difficult. An attorney who recognizes all of these claims, in addition to emotional distress caused by an accident and dealing with the legal and insurance system, can help you get a settlement that reflects the full cost of your injury.
Drivers who injure a cyclist in Florida now pay extra fines
Florida law recognizes that cyclists are “vulnerable road users”. According to theNational Safety Council, this means they are “unprotected by an outside shield” and therefore are more likely to be injured and need additional protections. In July 2024, a new Florida law just went into effect that requires anyone who causes serious injury or the death of a vulnerable road user to pay a civil penalty, have their license suspended, and attend a driver improvement course.
Latest Florida Biking News
Hiring a bicycle accident lawyer can make Florida cyclists safer
Matt C. Scarborough, ESQ. wants to make cycling safer for everyone—whether you’re a racer, a bicycle commuter, or a pleasure rider.
Unfortunately, unsafe drivers are only punished when their behavior results in serious injury or death. Making sure injured cyclists are awarded the maximum compensation can help make lawmakers and law enforcement more likely to crack down on unsafe driving or make changes to help cyclists.
Call Scarborough Bicycle Accident Law today to confirm your case.
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Contact Us
We offer legal advice about Cycling, Scooters, eBikes, Motorcycles, Mopeds and Bicycle related accidents.
We’re here to help with your questions. Contact our law firm in Tampa, Florida or Bend, Oregon for nationwide bicycle accident cases. If you’re concerned with compensation from a biking accident or you require legal advice regarding cycling issues, then contact us now!
Know Your Legal Rights
Are You a Competitive Cyclist or Multi-Sport Athlete Based Near Tampa Bay, Florida or Bend, Oregon?
We love to meet Central Floridan and Central Oregonian cyclists— and in fact, all bikers — who share our love of the sport.
We are currently forming a competitive team to represent our bike-focused law firm in multi-sport and bicycle races.
If that interests you, please contact us today and tells us a bit about yourself and your cycling experience.
Legal Answers
We’re experts in biking related legal matters. Please contact us now to learn your rights and the answers to your questions.
Cycling Associations
Interested in joining a Bike Club or a meet-up group near you? Call us now! We have all the contacts you need to get a hold of.
Bike Rides
We enjoy sharing our favorite bike routes with other cycling enthusiasts. If you would like to exchange ideas, please let us know.
Our Approach
Biking Rules Of The Road
We’re not just another law firm that represents bikers in legal cases in Florida, Oregon, and across the country. We are cyclists who understand the perspectives of our clients. Our team is a part of the biking community. We have a better view of the legal system and how it pertains to cyclists.
Common Questions
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Head Injuries. One of the most common injuries suffered by cyclists is a head injury, which can be anything from a cut on the cheek to a traumatic brain injury. Wearing a helmet may reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent.
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During the last 31 years of practice our team has found the checklist below must be completed to have the best possible outcome following your bike accident:
Have a Road I.D. or other pertinent medical information readily available for rescue personnel;
If possible photograph/video the damage to your bike;
If possible photograph/video the damage to your bike clothing, helmet, etc;
If possible photograph/video the scene of the accident;
If possible photograph/video the other vehicle(s) involved;
Obtain the other motorist’s insurance information along with address, phone number and email;
Go to the E.R. to get checked out;
Call your lawyer immediately;
Do not allow an insurance company to take a statement of obtain information from you.
Read more about what to do after a bike accident.
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Why Bike With Your Smartphone?
Your smart phone is your best way to photograph proof of the bike accident and will help our job of establishing liability and damages. Evidence sometimes goes away or gets destroyed but the photos at the scene of the accident will be worth 1000 words later on in obtaining the best possible financial and criminal recovery for you and your loved ones.
Take a moment and ask for the other driver’s insurance information and take a picture of their insurance card(s). Also use your phone to take notes of the person’s address and other pertinent information. The investigating officer will obtain some of this info but the quicker it is obtained, the more rapid we can assist you in a resolution of your case.
Learn more about documenting a bicycle accident>