Tampa Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Fighting for Injured Motorcyclists Across Hillsborough County
Motorcycle crashes are different from ordinary car accidents. Riders have less protection, the stakes are often higher, and insurers routinely look for ways to shift fault, minimize damages, or frame the claim as “shared responsibility.”
Kemp Law represents injured riders and families across Tampa and Hillsborough County. With 20,000+ cases handled and millions recovered, we know how to build motorcycle claims that hold up when the defense disputes liability, causation, and value.
Our award-winning attorneys have cultivated a record of success in serious motorcycle and motor vehicle accident cases. Some examples of our results include:
- $2,300,040 — Motorcycle Accident: Right-of-way violation; multiple surgeries; maximum policy limits recovered.
- $1,150,000 — Motor Vehicle Accident: Rear-ended at a stoplight and spun into oncoming traffic in an eight-vehicle crash; litigated and resolved.
- $1,100,000 — Motor Vehicle Accident: Rear-end collision resulting in significant injuries and lasting impairment.
Call (727) 788-6792 for a FREE consultation. Our Tampa motorcycle accident attorneys are available 24/7.
Why Motorcycle Crash Victims Hire Kemp Law
Motorcycle cases often require a different posture than a typical auto claim. Riders face bias, insurers push comparative fault, and defense teams look for any gap in the evidence. Our firm is built to close those gaps.
- We know how insurers devalue motorcycle claims. Partner Kelly Cook’s former insurance defense experience helps us anticipate the narratives carriers use and build around them.
- We build proof early. The goal is a clean liability file and a damages presentation that can withstand fault, causation, and “overstatement” arguments.
- We prepare for litigation from the outset. That trial posture changes settlement conversations, especially in high-exposure cases.
- Partner-led strategy on serious cases. Our leadership team is built for complex civil litigation, including appellate capability when outcomes are challenged.
- Contingency representation. No upfront attorney’s fees, and no fees unless we recover compensation.
Motorcycle Accident Claims in Florida: The Issues That Usually Decide the Case
Motorcycle claims are often evaluated differently than typical car accident cases by drivers, adjusters, and sometimes jurors. That reality affects how a strong claim should be built. In higher-exposure cases, insurers frequently dispute liability, challenge medical causation, and undervalue long-term impact.
The objective is to develop a claim file supported by evidence, so liability and damages do not depend on an adjuster’s subjective interpretation of the crash or the injuries.
Why Motorcycle Cases Are Often Defended More Aggressively
In many motorcycle crashes, the driver’s mistake is clear (failure to yield, unsafe lane change, left turn across the rider’s path). Even so, insurers often attempt to reduce exposure by arguing that the rider contributed to the collision or the severity of the outcome.
Common defense positions include:
- Comparative fault allegations tied to speed or lane position without reliable proof
- “I didn’t see the motorcycle” narratives used to minimize responsibility
- Medical causation arguments intended to disconnect the crash from long-term limitations
- Early settlement pressure before the medical course and future needs are fully documented
For these reasons, motorcycle claims often require more deliberate liability and damages development than typical auto cases.
The Core Liability Question: Right-of-Way and Proof
Many motorcycle liability disputes come down to a small set of facts: lane control, right-of-way, timing, and sightlines.
In practice, that often requires proof of:
- Where each vehicle was positioned before impact
- What the driver should have perceived and when
- Whether the rider had a reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision
- Whether a turning movement, lane change, or traffic control device created a duty to yield
When the potential exposure is significant, insurers scrutinize these issues closely and frequently contest them.
Comparative Fault in Florida and How It Affects Rider Claims
Florida applies a modified comparative negligence framework. In general:
- Compensation can be reduced by the percentage of fault allocated to the injured person.
- In contested cases, fault allocation can become a central dispute, particularly when the defense attempts to shift responsibility to reduce damages.
In significant claims, comparative fault is frequently raised as a valuation strategy, and the evidence must be developed with that risk in mind.
Insurance Coverage in Serious Motorcycle Cases
Motorcycle collisions can generate losses that exceed minimum insurance coverage quickly. A proper evaluation includes identifying which policies apply and what recovery paths exist.
Coverage review often includes:
- The at-fault driver’s liability coverage and available limits
- Additional policies where multiple vehicles or defendants are involved
- Commercial coverage if the at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that may apply when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance or in hit-and-run scenarios
Coverage analysis can materially affect recovery strategy and the range of viable outcomes.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle
Kemp Law represents riders in serious collision claims, including:
- Left-turn and right-of-way violations
- Unsafe lane changes and merge crashes
- Rear-end collisions and chain-reaction events
- Intersection crashes and signal violations
- Multi-vehicle collisions involving complex fault disputes
- Hit-and-run motorcycle crashes
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist claims
- Catastrophic injury and wrongful death motorcycle claims
Valuing a Serious Motorcycle Crash Claim
A meaningful claim valuation is not simply the sum of medical bills. Serious motorcycle cases often require proof of future impact, and insurers typically contest the scope of ongoing limitations and care needs.
Depending on the facts, compensation may account for:
- Past and future medical expenses, including ongoing treatment needs
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Costs tied to long-term limitations or disability
- Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life (when legally available)
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to recovery
- Wrongful death damages when a collision is fatal
Serious cases often require documentation that supports future needs and long-term functional impact.
What to Expect in the Legal Process
A serious motorcycle accident claim typically follows a disciplined progression:
- Case evaluation and strategy. We assess liability, injury severity, causation issues, and available insurance coverage.
- Evidence development. We collect and organize the proof needed to establish fault and to address comparative negligence arguments.
- Damages documentation. We document the full impact of the injuries, including future needs and work limitations when applicable.
- Demand and negotiation. Insurers are approached with a complete, defensible claim file designed to support fair valuation.
- Litigation when necessary. If the defense refuses to offer reasonable compensation, litigation may be required to pursue an outcome consistent with the evidence and the harm involved.
This structure supports consistent evidence development, credible valuation, and effective negotiation, and positions the case for litigation when required.
Deadlines for Filing a Tampa Motorcycle Accident Claim
Florida has strict deadlines for negligence-based claims, and many motorcycle accident lawsuits are subject to a two-year limitations period. Missing the deadline can bar recovery. A consultation can confirm the deadline that applies to your situation and whether any exceptions may apply.
Call for a FREE Consultation: (727) 788-6792
If you were injured in a Tampa motorcycle accident, Kemp Law can help. Our Tampa car accident attorneys can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
Call (727) 788-6792 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
