Hurt on your bike? Talk to a lawyer who rides.
Ari Friedman knows the road from the saddle and knows what your injuries mean medically. Free, confidential consultation.
Call 323-596-1234Free case reviewMotorcycle crashes are different. A rider has no seatbelt, no airbag and no steel frame, so even a low-speed collision can mean broken bones, road rash or a head injury. Riders also face something most drivers don’t: an insurance adjuster who starts from the assumption that the motorcyclist must have been riding recklessly.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
“I never saw the motorcycle.”
It’s the line riders hear over and over. It isn’t a defense. It’s often an admission that the driver wasn’t looking.
What to do after a motorcycle accident in California
- Get medical care right away. Adrenaline can hide serious injuries, including concussions and internal injuries. A delay in treatment is one of the first things insurers use to argue you weren’t really hurt.
- Call the police and get a report number. The report records the scene, the witnesses, and often the officer’s opinion of who caused the crash.
- Keep your gear. Don’t throw away or repair your helmet, jacket or boots. Damage to your gear can show how the crash happened and how hard you were hit.
- Document everything. Take photos of your bike, the other vehicle, the road, your injuries, and the other driver’s license and insurance card. Ask witnesses for their contact information.
- Report the crash to the DMV. California requires an SR-1 report within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000.
- Be careful with the other driver’s insurance company. You don’t have to give a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to reduce your claim. Talk to a lawyer first.
It can feel like a lot to handle while you’re hurt.
When Ari represents you, he helps untangle all of it, from the police report and DMV paperwork to medical bills, bike repairs and calls from insurance adjusters, and he assists you throughout your claim.
Why medical experience matters
Motorcycle injuries are often serious: fractures, road rash that needs skin grafts, spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Most claims are won or lost on the medical evidence.
Ari reads ambulance reports, ER records and treatment notes the way the people who wrote them do. He knows what each entry means, what is missing, and how to show an insurer the full course of your injuries. His knowledge of emergency medicine is recognized beyond his own cases: Ari has been retained as an expert witness on EMS standards of care.
Lane splitting in California
California recognizes lane splitting, riding between lanes of slowed or stopped traffic. Lane splitting by itself doesn’t mean you caused the crash. Insurers may still argue the way you were splitting was unsafe, so the details of speed, traffic and visibility matter.What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
California requires every rider and passenger to wear a DOT-compliant helmet. If you weren’t wearing one, you may still have a claim. The insurer may argue your recovery should be reduced for injuries a helmet would have prevented, but that doesn’t apply to injuries a helmet wouldn’t have changed, like a broken leg.What compensation may be available
Depending on the facts, an injured rider in California may be able to recover:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Repair or replacement of your motorcycle, helmet and gear
California deadlines you should know
There are many deadlines that can affect an injury claim. A few common ones are listed below, but this list is not complete.
- Two years to file a lawsuit for personal injuries in most cases (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1).
- Six months to file a written claim if a government vehicle or agency is involved, such as a city bus or county truck, or a dangerous public road (Government Code § 911.2).
Which deadlines apply, and when they start, depends on the facts of your case. Some are much shorter than two years. Review the deadlines with an attorney early so the statute of limitations doesn’t run on your claim. Missing one can end your case.
Uninsured and underinsured drivers
California’s required minimum coverage is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage. That rarely covers a serious motorcycle injury. The uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own motorcycle policy may help make up the difference, and Ari can review your policy.
Talk to Ari about your accident
Free and confidential consultation. Serving Los Angeles County and all of Southern California.
Call 323-596-1234Free case review formAttorney advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.