Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable users of California's roadways. Even with proper gear and defensive riding, a motorcyclist can suffer catastrophic injuries in a collision that would cause only minor damage to a passenger vehicle. Beyond the physical harm, injured riders frequently face an uphill battle with insurance adjusters who are trained to blame motorcyclists, painting them as reckless or risk-taking regardless of the facts. At Yadegar Law Firm, we understand these challenges and are committed to protecting the rights of injured riders.
What Motorcycle Accident Cases Involve
- Drivers failing to see motorcyclists at intersections and during lane changes
- Lane splitting disputes and liability disagreements
- Left-turn collisions where drivers misjudge speed or fail to yield
- Road hazards and debris that pose outsized danger to two-wheel vehicles
- Drunk or distracted drivers who fail to notice motorcycles
How Yadegar Law Firm, PC Can Help
We counter anti-motorcyclist bias by building a factual, evidence-driven case from the outset. We document road conditions, vehicle damage, and rider safety compliance, including helmet use, licensing, and adherence to traffic laws. Motorcycle crashes often cause severe and permanent injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, fractures, and road rash requiring surgical intervention, and medical records and, in some cases, expert evaluation may be used to help document the full extent of harm. Our goal is to ensure the rider's story is told accurately and reflected in any settlement or verdict.
How Motorcycle Accidents Commonly Happen
Motorcycle crashes often happen because drivers of passenger vehicles do not see a rider in time. Common scenarios include left-turning cars cutting across an oncoming motorcycle's path, drivers changing lanes into a rider's blind spot, sudden stops that leave no room to brake, and dooring incidents where a parked car's door opens into traffic. Riders are also affected by road hazards, such as potholes, uneven pavement, gravel, and debris, that a car might absorb without incident but that can throw a motorcycle off balance. California allows lane splitting (riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic) under CHP guidance, and disputes over whether a rider was splitting lanes safely are common.
Injuries Specific to Motorcycle Crashes
Riders have far less protection than occupants of a car, so even a relatively low-speed collision can cause serious harm. We regularly see road rash and severe skin abrasions, fractures of the legs, arms, and pelvis, traumatic brain injury even where a helmet was worn, spinal cord injuries, and lower-extremity injuries such as crush injuries or amputation from the motorcycle itself pinning the rider's leg. Because riders often instinctively put out a hand or leg to brace for impact, wrist, ankle, and knee injuries are also common.
Who May Be Legally Responsible
Liability in a motorcycle case can rest with the other driver, but it can also extend further. Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include a negligent driver who failed to yield or turned across the rider's path, a government entity responsible for a dangerous road condition, a motorcycle or parts manufacturer if a defect contributed to the crash, or an employer if the at-fault driver was working at the time. Insurance companies frequently try to shift blame onto the rider based on the assumption that motorcyclists are inherently reckless, an assumption our firm works to counter with facts and evidence.
Evidence That Matters in a Motorcycle Case
- Police collision reports and CHP incident data
- Photos and video of the scene, skid marks, and vehicle and motorcycle damage
- Helmet and protective gear condition
- Witness statements, including other motorists and pedestrians
- Traffic and surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses or intersections
- Event data recorder ("black box") information from the other vehicle
- Medical records documenting the mechanism and extent of injury
Insurance Issues in Motorcycle Claims
Motorcycle insurance in California works differently in practice than auto insurance, even though the same minimum liability rules apply. Many at-fault drivers carry only the state minimum coverage, which is often far too little to cover a rider's medical bills after a serious crash. That makes your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage especially important: if you carry it, it can help fill the gap when the at-fault driver's policy is insufficient or when a hit-and-run driver cannot be identified. Insurers also sometimes argue that a rider's own conduct (speed, lane position, or gear) contributed to the crash or the injuries, which can affect the value of a claim under California's pure comparative fault rule.
Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Crash
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and orthopedic care
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Property damage to the motorcycle and gear
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members in fatal crashes
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
If you are able, get medical care immediately, even if adrenaline is masking pain. Preserve your helmet and riding gear without cleaning or repairing them, photograph the scene and your injuries, and get contact information for any witnesses. Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company, including your own, before speaking with an attorney, and do not sign any release of claims until the full extent of your injuries is understood.
How Yadegar Law Firm Handles Motorcycle Accident Cases
Jonathan Yadegar has experience on both the plaintiff and defense sides of personal injury litigation, which provides insight into how insurance companies and defense counsel may evaluate motorcycle claims and how to counter biased assumptions about riders. Yadegar Law Firm works directly with clients rather than handing cases off to case managers, takes motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis so there is no upfront cost, and offers free consultations in English and Spanish for riders throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, contact us for a free case evaluation.