Pasco County Bicycle Accident Lawyer
King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that represents people charged with misdemeanors and felonies across Pasco County, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and the rest of the Tampa Bay area. A search for a Pasco County bicycle accident lawyer usually comes from someone hurt on a road like US 19, State Road 54, or State Road 52, and the first thing to say plainly is that King Law Group handles only criminal defense. We do not file injury claims against drivers or insurers, and we would rather tell you that at the start than waste your time.
Still, a bicycle crash in Pasco County is rarely just a civil problem. When a cyclist is struck, the driver may face a criminal case. And sometimes the person who needs a defense lawyer is the cyclist, the driver who says the rider came out of nowhere, or a motorist whose crash turned into a DUI or homicide investigation.
When a Pasco County Bicycle Crash Becomes a Criminal Case
Most collisions between cars and bicycles are handled as traffic matters and insurance claims. A crash crosses into criminal territory when the facts suggest impairment, death, or a driver who left the scene. Deputies and troopers working a crash scene are collecting evidence for a possible prosecution at the same time they are filling out a crash report, and statements made at the roadside often end up in both.
Florida’s DUI statute treats a crash that damages another person’s property or injures another person as a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail. If a cyclist dies and the driver was impaired, the charge becomes DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony with a mandatory minimum prison term of 4 years. Vehicular homicide is a separate offense, and a recent change known as Trenton’s Law raises it to a first-degree felony when the accused already has a prior conviction for DUI manslaughter, BUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or vessel homicide.
Why Choose King Law Group for a Crash-Related Criminal Charge
King Law Group is led by founder Cameron King, a Tampa Bay native and former Florida state prosecutor who handled cases from murder to DUI before moving to the defense side. He earned his law degree at Florida State University, concentrating his studies in criminal law, and then spent years as a criminal defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm. The firm focuses solely on criminal defense and is available 24/7, with a free consultation for anyone who has been arrested or is under investigation in Pasco, Pinellas, or Hillsborough County.
That background matters in crash cases because these prosecutions turn on details a former prosecutor knows how to test: how the crash was reconstructed, whether the stop and any blood or breath testing were lawful, and what a witness actually saw. Former clients describe Cameron King as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate, and several mention that he explains every step and returns calls quickly. When a driver or cyclist faces charges after a collision, we work toward a reduction, a dismissal, or a favorable plea, and we handle bond hearings and, later, record sealing or expungement where the law allows.
Criminal Charges That Can Follow a Bicycle Collision
- DUI With Injury or Property Damage: A driver who hits a cyclist while impaired faces a first-degree misdemeanor under the DUI statute, plus license revocation. A breath alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is one way the state proves impairment, and a reading of 0.15 or higher raises the fine range.
- DUI Manslaughter: If a cyclist dies and the driver was impaired, the charge is a second-degree felony with a 4-year mandatory minimum, and a conviction means permanent license revocation.
- Vehicular Homicide: Charged when a death results from reckless driving without impairment being the central issue. A prior qualifying homicide or manslaughter conviction now elevates it to a first-degree felony.
- Leaving the Scene of a Crash: Drivers who flee after striking a rider on rural stretches of Pasco County roads, especially at night, can face serious felony exposure when injury or death is involved.
- Driving on a Suspended License: Officers often discover a suspended license during a crash investigation. A knowing first offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, and repeat offenses climb to a first-degree misdemeanor.
- Reckless Driving and Traffic Citations: Careless or reckless driving citations after a collision can become evidence in a later civil claim, so how they are resolved matters beyond the ticket itself.
- Charges Against Cyclists: Riders accused of causing a crash, fleeing, or being intoxicated can face their own citations or charges, and statements made to deputies can be used against them.
What to Do in the Hours and Days After a Pasco County Crash
If you are the driver and the crash involved a cyclist, say as little as possible to deputies beyond identifying yourself and giving basic information. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer, and you should use both. Do not agree to a search of your vehicle or phone without understanding what you are consenting to, and do not sign a written statement. Call us before you speak with an insurance adjuster, because those conversations are recorded and can be requested in a prosecution.
If you are the cyclist, get medical care first. Then keep the crash report number, photos of the scene and your bike, witness names, and every medical record. Because we do not handle injury claims, you should speak with a personal injury attorney promptly. Florida cut the deadline for negligence claims from four years to two for causes of action that arose on or after March 24, 2023. Wrongful death claims generally run two years as well. Also know that a person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm cannot recover damages, while someone at 50 percent or less has their recovery reduced by their share of fault, so how fault is described early on can matter a great deal.
Criminal cases from western Pasco County are generally heard at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, and eastern Pasco cases are heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Both sit in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the same circuit that covers Pinellas County. A driver who is arrested will see a first appearance within a short time, and that is where bond is set. We can argue for release on a reasonable bond or no bail money at all.
How Criminal and Civil Cases Overlap After a Cycling Crash
The criminal case and the injury claim run on separate tracks, but they affect each other. A guilty plea by the driver can be used by an injured cyclist’s lawyer, and testimony in one proceeding can be quoted in the other. That is why a driver should never treat a crash-related traffic ticket as minor without talking to a lawyer first. Taking the wrong plea to get a case over with can hand the other side an admission.
For non-citizens, there is another layer. A conviction tied to a crash, particularly one involving death or injury, can carry immigration consequences, and some offenses are treated as crimes of moral turpitude or aggravated felonies. Talk through immigration exposure before accepting any plea.
Questions About Bicycle Crashes and Criminal Charges
Does King Law Group handle bicycle accident injury claims?
No. We handle criminal defense only. If you were hurt as a cyclist and want compensation, you need a personal injury attorney. If you are facing criminal charges connected to a crash, that is where we can help.
Can a driver be criminally charged for hitting a cyclist?
Yes, when the facts support it. Impairment, a death, leaving the scene, or reckless driving can all lead to criminal charges, in addition to any civil claim the cyclist brings.
What happens if a cyclist dies and the driver was drinking?
The driver can be charged with DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony carrying a 4-year mandatory minimum prison term and permanent license revocation on conviction.
Should I talk to the deputy at the scene if I was driving?
Give your identification and basic required information, then decline to answer further questions until you have spoken with a lawyer. What you say at the scene can appear in both the criminal case and a later injury claim.
What is the deadline to file a bicycle injury lawsuit in Florida?
For negligence claims that arose on or after March 24, 2023, the deadline is two years. Claims that arose before that date kept the older four-year window. Wrongful death claims generally run two years. A personal injury lawyer can confirm your exact date.
What if the cyclist was partly at fault?
Under current Florida law, a person more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm recovers nothing. At 50 percent or less, the recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault. Before March 24, 2023, Florida used a pure comparative negligence rule, and that changed.
Can a DUI after a bicycle crash cost me my license?
Yes. A first DUI conviction brings a revocation of at least 180 days and up to one year, and a first offense involving bodily injury carries a minimum three-year revocation under the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. DUI manslaughter means permanent revocation.
The deputy found my license was suspended during the crash investigation. Is that a separate charge?
It can be. Knowingly driving on a suspended, revoked, or canceled license is a second-degree misdemeanor on a first conviction and a first-degree misdemeanor on a later one. If the suspension stems from certain serious offenses, repeat violations can become a third-degree felony.
Where would my case be heard if I was arrested in Pasco County?
Western Pasco cases are heard at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, and eastern Pasco cases are heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Both are part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a crash-related traffic ticket?
Often, yes. A citation after a collision can be used later as evidence, and the way it is resolved can affect an insurance claim, your license, and a possible criminal case. A short consultation can tell you whether it is worth fighting.
Can a past conviction from a crash ever be sealed or expunged?
An adult conviction cannot be sealed or expunged in Florida. If a charge was dropped or you were not adjudicated guilty, you may qualify, but you must first obtain a certificate of eligibility from FDLE and meet the other statutory criteria.
Serving Pasco County Clients and the Wider Tampa Bay Area
We represent people charged after crashes throughout Pasco County, including New Port Richey, Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Bayonet Point, Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Leo, Shady Hills, and Spring Hill’s Pasco-side neighbors. We also serve clients in neighboring Pinellas County, in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, and Oldsmar, and in Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Whether the crash happened on a coastal highway or a rural road in the east county, we are ready to take the call.
Speak With a Pasco County Bicycle Accident Attorney About Your Criminal Exposure
If a collision involving a bicycle has left you under investigation or charged, a conversation with a Pasco County bicycle accident attorney who understands criminal defense can clarify what comes next. We can explain your exposure, protect what you say, and work toward the best outcome the facts allow. Call King Law Group for a free consultation, any hour of the day.
