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One second, you’re in a bike lane. Next thing you know, a driver who didn’t check their mirror sends you across the pavement. They shatter your shoulder, destroy your bike, and quickly try to find ways to shift the blame onto you. At Suli Law Group, we represent Tampa cyclists who’ve been hit, hurt, and blamed by insurance companies protecting negligent drivers. If you’re searching for a Tampa bicycle accident lawyer or a Tampa bike accident attorney, our team is ready to stand up for you. Laura T. Sulisufay, Esq., is a former insurance defense attorney who built the exact defenses insurers now use against you. That insider knowledge is what sets our firm apart.
Florida law requires four elements to prove negligence. The driver owed you a duty of care: every motorist must keep at least three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist. The driver breached that duty by texting, running a light, or turning across a bike lane. That breach directly caused your injuries. And you suffered documented damages: medical bills, lost income, pain that changed how you live. If a driver hit you while riding lawfully in Tampa, you likely have a case. The insurer will try to convince you otherwise. Our job is to prove them wrong. A bicycle accident lawyer Tampa FL residents rely on can quickly evaluate these factors and explain your options.
Florida bicycle laws treat bicycles as vehicles. Cyclists must obey signals, ride with traffic, and use lights after dark. Drivers owe you the same respect they give any vehicle. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover compensation even if partially at fault: you just can’t be more than 50% at fault. Some insurance companies will attempt to exploit this, claiming you weren’t wearing reflective gear, that you drifted outside the lane, or that you failed to signal. They’ll strategically craft these arguments to shrink your payout, not describe what happened. Utilize a partner that is willing to fight back against these accusations with cold, hard facts.
If you’re a biker and get hit by a car, the injuries sustained can be numerous and wide-ranging, including:
Florida’s 14-day PIP rule makes timing critical. Miss the 14-day treatment window, and you lose $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection benefits, which is coverage that applies regardless of fault. Insurers are counting on you to miss this vital deadline.
Seek medical attention within 14 days to preserve your $10,000 in Florida PIP benefits, call the police for an official report, and avoid giving a recorded statement to the driver’s insurer before talking to an attorney.
Yes. While PIP covers your initial medical bills regardless of fault, cyclists can pursue a claim against an at-fault driver when injuries are serious or damages exceed PIP limits.
Likely yes. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share of responsibility. Insurers often inflate a cyclist’s share of blame to shrink payouts, but those arguments can be challenged with evidence.
You can typically recover medical bills, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, bike and gear replacement, and pain and suffering. The severity of injuries directly affects what your claim is worth.
Founding attorney Laura T. Sulisufay is a former insurance defense attorney who helped develop the playbook insurers now use against cyclists, giving the firm an insider edge in anticipating their tactics. Suli Law Group also works on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless they recover for you.
Suli Law Group exists to protect injured people and policyholders at their most vulnerable moments — combining insider knowledge of the insurance industry, relentless preparation, and direct attorney access with the compassion, integrity, and genuine care every client deserves. We pursue justice and accountability with strategy, precision, and heart.
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