Why You Need a Seasoned Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer on Your Side
By Tim Nies, Esq. | Florida Trial Attorney and Army Ranger Veteran |Van Riper & Nies, Attorneys, P.A.
Serving Motorcycle Accident Victims Throughout South Florida
My law firm, Van Riper & Nies Attorneys, proudly represents injured riders throughout Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County, Martin County, and Broward County. From the Treasure Coast to South Palm Beach and Northern Broward, we aggressively advocate for motorcyclists and their families who have been harmed by negligent drivers.
As a personal injury lawyer I regularly meet with my clients at our offices in West Palm Beach, Stuart, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Deerfield Beach, Florida, allowing us to serve clients quickly and efficiently across four major counties. Whether your crash occurred in Jupiter, Stuart, Palm City, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, or Port St. Lucie, we have you covered locally.
Our Trial Team: A Former Insurance-Defense Trial Lawyer and a Former Prosecutor
At Van Riper & Nies Attorneys, you not only have me, a former insurance defense trial lawyer, but also my law partner Christian Van Riper, a highly experienced attorney who previously served as a Florida prosecutor.
Florida Trial Attorney
Christian’s prosecutorial background provides powerful litigation skills in the courtroom, including cross-examination, case strategy, and witness evaluation.
Together, we bring a balanced and formidable approach to representing motorcyclists injured in crashes throughout South Florida and the Treasure Coast. From understanding the inner workings of insurance carriers, preparing for trial and mediation and for being real advocates for our clients. Our combined backgrounds create a strong team for motorcyclists seeking justice and maximum compensation.
Understanding Florida Motorcycle Accident Law
Motorcycle accidents are treated differently from standard auto collisions under Florida law. Here are key legal points every rider should know:
- Comparative Fault: Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system. Riders can still recover compensation as long as they are 50% or less at fault, with damages reduced accordingly.
- No-Fault Exemption: Unlike drivers of cars, motorcyclists are not covered under Florida’s PIP (no-fault) insurance system. This means every dollar of recovery must come from the at-fault party or through litigation.
- Helmet Law: Riders 21+ may ride without a helmet if properly insured. Failure to wear a helmet is not an absolute bar to recovery but may reduce damages in certain injury categories.
- Serious Injury Threshold: Motorcycle injuries often exceed Florida’s serious-injury threshold, allowing riders to pursue full tort damages.
- Catastrophic Injuries: Motorcycle crashes frequently result in orthopedic trauma, spinal injuries, brain injuries, amputations, and long-term disability.
What a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Does for You
When you hire me as your personal injury lawyer and my team at Van Riper & Nies Attorneys, this is how we fight for you:
- Rapid Investigation: Collecting evidence quickly: witness statements, accident reconstruction, video footage, and police reports to preserve the truth.
- Medical Coordination: Ensuring proper specialists evaluate your injuries to build a strong medical foundation for your claim.
- Damage Analysis: Calculating medical bills, future care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and non-economic damages.
- Insurance Negotiation: Using my background as a former insurance defense lawyer to counter the insurance company’s strategies.
- Litigation & Trial: We prepare each case for trial from day one, which often forces fair settlements.
Why Riders Choose Van Riper & Nies Attorneys
- Decades of injury-litigation experience.
- Former insurance-defense trial lawyer (Tim Nies).
- Former prosecutor (Christian Van Riper).
- Licensed motorcyclist — real-world riding experience.
- Army Ranger veteran — prepared, disciplined, relentless.
- Local offices in four major South Florida counties.
Our Personal Injury Law Office Locations & Contact Information
Contact us for a free consultation at any of our South Florida personal injury law offices:
West Palm Beach Office
801 Northpoint Parkway, Suite 375
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 948-5588
Stuart Law Office
900 SE Ocean Boulevard, Suite 140-E
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 283-8712
Delray Beach Office
55 SE 2nd Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
(561) 894-9862
Boca Raton Office
9825 Marina Boulevard, Suite 100A
Boca Raton, FL 33428
(561) 948-5589
Deerfield Beach Office
10 Fairway Drive, Suite 139
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
(954) 369-0776