Riders are harder to see and far more exposed in a crash. Insurers sometimes try to blame the motorcyclist before the facts are in. If you were hurt on a motorcycle, you need a lawyer who will dig into what actually happened.
Common causes
- Drivers turning left across a rider's path
- Unsafe lane changes into a motorcyclist's blind spot
- Doors opened into traffic and road hazards like debris or potholes
- Rear-end collisions at lights and in stop-and-go traffic
- Impaired or distracted drivers
What you may be able to recover
Every case is different, and no outcome is guaranteed. Compensation in an injury claim can include:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and reduced ability to earn
- Pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage, where a vehicle or belongings were harmed
- Damage to your motorcycle and riding gear
California law to know
- Lane splitting by motorcyclists is legal in California when done safely (Vehicle Code section 21658.1). A lane-splitting rider is not automatically at fault.
- California requires motorcycle riders to wear a DOT-compliant helmet (Vehicle Code section 27803). Insurers may raise helmet use when arguing about injuries, so document what you wore.
- Pure comparative fault applies: shared blame reduces, but does not erase, your recovery.
- The general two-year injury deadline applies. Claims against a public entity, such as for a dangerous road, have a much shorter six-month claim window.
What to do now
- Get medical attention and follow the treatment plan.
- Photograph the scene, your bike, your gear and the road surface.
- Do not repair or sell the motorcycle until it has been documented.
- Avoid recorded statements and social media posts about the crash.
- Call us for a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Will the insurer say I was at fault because I was on a motorcycle?
Insurers may try. Fault is decided on the evidence, not the vehicle. Lane splitting, for example, is lawful in California when done safely.
Does not wearing a helmet end my claim?
Not automatically. It may be raised as an argument about the extent of certain injuries. Talk through the facts of your case with a lawyer.
Serving the Central Valley
The office is in North Fresno, and the firm helps injured people throughout the Valley.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different. Attorney advertising.