What does Florida Law require to operate a motorcycle?

To legally operate a motorcycle in Florida, the law requires:

A Florida motorcycle operating license, or equivalent out-of-state motorcycle endorsement;

Attaining at least 16 years of age;

Completing a 15-hour basic rider education course, accredited by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), including skills training, road safety knowledge exam, and hearing and vision tests;

If an operator is 16 to 20 years old, a state-approved safety helmet is mandatory;

If an operator is 21 years or older and carries the required $10,000 in insurance, the motorcyclist may "ride free," without a helmet;Riders must use state -approved eye protection, such as goggles, glasses, or a windshield;

Daytime use of a headlight;

Riders may not use head phones;

Handlebars that are no higher that the rider's shoulders;

Use of turn signals

Any passenger or rider on a motorcycle under 21 years of age must wear an state-approved helmet;

Operators may not consume alcohol and ride with a BAC of .08 or greater.

See the FLDMV "2006 Florida Motorcycle Operating Manual," online for more information.

Florida PIP Law Changes

With changes to auto insurance laws, its a good idea to review your auto policy. Perhaps you need to update some coverage's, possibly even add some new ones. We will take a look at some of the key points you should be concerned about with your auto policy.

The first thing to be aware of is the new P.I.P (Personal Injury Protection) changes.

The first thing to be aware of is now if you are injured in car accident you will have only 14 days to seek initial treatment as opposed to the previous policy that placed no time limit on treatments.

If treatment is sought after two weeks, NOTHING will be reimbursed by the insurance company.

 Another change as well states, policyholders may be eligible for only $2,500 in coverage, instead of the previous limit of $10,000.

Only persons with serious injuries are eligible for the higher limit, while those with less severe injuries will receive only up to $2,500.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, patients will need certification by a medical doctor, osteopathic physician, dentist, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner corroborating that the injury required immediate medical attention.

The new law excludes massage therapists and acupuncturists as covered providers under PIP.

Another disturbing aspect to the law is that it does NOT require insurance companies to notify policyholders of the changes, potentially reducing a policyholders coverage's without their knowledge.

The new PIP law forces insurance companies to reduce their PIP rates by at least 25% by 2014.

This appears to be good news for policy holders, however the PIP cost is such a small portion of the insurance premium (approximately 20%) that the insignificant savings, stacked up next to the lost coverage's is actually benefiting the insurance industry, not policyholders.

If you are involved in an accident, it is important to remember that the new 14-day PIP limit only allows a very small window of time for injured motorists to seek medical treatment.

Many drivers hesitate to seek help immediately, waiting to see if things will get 'better' before seeking medical attention. This hesitation could keep you from receiving PIP compensation in the event of an accident related injury.

Due to the changes in the law, it is absolutely critical to seek medical attention after an auto accident as well as to contact a personal injury attorney immediately following your accident to ensure that your rights are protected.