Orange County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer | Rider Defense

Orange County offers year-round riding weather, making it a paradise for motorcyclists. However, riding down Colonial Drive or navigating the chaos of I-4 during rush hour puts you at extreme risk. In Central Florida, drivers are increasingly distracted by phones and GPS, often “looking right through” motorcyclists.

At Juan Burgos Law, we understand the rider’s perspective. When a biker goes down, the injuries are often catastrophic, yet insurance companies immediately try to label the rider as “reckless.” We fight that bias. We know that most motorcycle accidents in Orange County are caused by negligent car drivers turning left into the rider’s path.

The “No PIP” Trap for Motorcyclists

This is the most critical difference between car and bike accidents in Florida. Your standard Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance DOES NOT cover motorcycles.

If you are injured on a bike in Orange County:

• You do not have the automatic $10,000 for medical bills that car drivers have.
• You must pursue the at-fault driver’s insurance immediately to get your bills paid.
• If the at-fault driver is uninsured (which is common in Orlando), your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage becomes your only lifeline. We help you uncover every available policy.

Common Motorcycle Crash Scenarios in Orange County

We investigate accidents across the county, identifying the specific negligence that caused the crash:

1. The “Left Turn” at Intersections (University Blvd & SR 50)

The leading cause of rider fatalities. A driver at an intersection looks for other cars, fails to see the motorcycle profile, and turns left directly across your lane. We use traffic camera footage to prove you had the right of way.

2. Rear-End Collisions on the 408/417

In stop-and-go toll traffic, a motorcyclist is a “sitting duck.” When a distracted driver rear-ends a car, it’s a fender bender. When they rear-end a bike, it often results in ejection and spinal injury.

3. Lane Changes on I-4

Tourists and commuters frequently change lanes without signaling or checking their blind spots, forcing riders into the median or off the road. We look for “side-swipe” evidence on your bike to prove contact occurred.

Fighting the “Biker Bias”

Insurance adjusters in Orange County often try to reduce your settlement by claiming you were:

• Speeding: They use the damage severity to argue you were going too fast. We use accident reconstruction experts to prove the force of impact was due to the car’s weight, not your speed.
• Lane Splitting: Although illegal in Florida, adjusters often falsely accuse riders of splitting lanes to shift blame. We fight these baseless accusations.
• Not Wearing a Helmet: If you are over 21 and carry $10,000 in medical benefits, you can legally ride without a helmet. However, the defense will argue your injuries are your own fault. We counter this by focusing on the injuries unrelated to the helmet (broken bones, road rash, internal bleeding).

Frequently Asked Questions

I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Do I still have a case?

Yes. If you met the legal requirements to ride without one, you are not automatically barred from recovery. However, the insurance company will fight harder on head injury claims. We focus on proving the driver’s negligence was the primary cause of the accident.

The police report says I was speeding. Is my case over?

No. Police reports are often biased against riders because the officer usually speaks to the car driver first while the rider is being loaded into an ambulance. The report is not the final verdict. We conduct our own independent investigation.

Disclaimer: This page discusses motorcycle litigation. For commercial truck or standard car accidents, please refer to our other practice areas.