Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in California
After a motorcycle crash that wasn't your fault, you face two fights at once: serious injuries, and an insurance company that assumes the rider was to blame. We handle California motorcycle accident claims and push back on that bias so you can focus on recovering.
Were you hurt in a motorcycle accident?
Start with a quick, confidential case review — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
What to do after a motorcycle accident in California
The steps you take right after a crash can shape your entire claim. If you can, get to safety and call 911 so there is an official report. Get medical care even if you feel able to walk away — adrenaline and protective gear can hide serious injuries, and a gap in treatment can be used against you. Photograph the vehicles, your bike, the scene, the road, and your injuries; write down the other driver's name, insurance, and license plate; and get names and numbers for any witnesses. Keep your helmet and gear — do not throw them out, since they can be evidence. Be careful about giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before you have spoken with an attorney.
How we handle your California motorcycle accident claim
You focus on healing; we handle the rest. We gather the crash report, your medical records, and the evidence, deal with the insurance adjusters so you don't have to, and build the strongest version of your claim before demanding a fair recovery. We also confront the anti-rider bias head-on — insurers routinely assume a motorcyclist was speeding or reckless, and we build the proof that shows what actually happened. Every motorcycle accident matter starts with a free, confidential review. Se habla español.
Why work with Woods Law Group
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to pay you as little as possible — and with riders, they lean on the jury's assumption that motorcycles are dangerous. Having your own attorney levels the field. We take these cases on a contingency basis for clients we represent, which means no fee unless we recover for you. You get straight answers, real communication, and a firm that treats your recovery as the priority.
How much is my motorcycle accident case worth? →
Common motorcycle accident cases we handle in California
- Left Turn Accidents
- Lane Splitting Accidents
- Intersection Accidents
- Lane Change Blind Spot
- Head On Collisions
- Rear End Accidents
- Road Hazard Accidents
- Single Bike Accidents
- Helmet Use And Fault
- Uninsured Motorist Claims
Dealing with the insurance company
California deadlines and fault rules
In California, the deadline to file most motorcycle accident injury claims is generally two years from the date of the crash, and a much shorter deadline — often about six months — applies before you can sue a government agency, such as a crash caused by a dangerous road or a city vehicle. California follows a pure comparative-fault rule, so you may still recover even if you were partly at fault, with your share deducted — and lane splitting is legal in California, so it is not automatically your fault. These deadlines are strict; do not wait.
- Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)
- Comparative fault in California
- Claims against a government agency
- Evidence that builds your claim
California injury law: deadlines, fault and caps
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Free tools and guides
- Motorcycle accident FAQs
- Settlement & deadline calculators
- Free downloadable guides
- Checklists
- Calculators & estimators
- Side-by-side comparisons
- Questions & answers
Articles
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in California?
Deadlines vary by state and by who is involved, and they can be short — especially if a government vehicle or dangerous public road caused the crash. Because a missed deadline can end a claim entirely, the safest step is a free review right away.
The driver says the crash was my fault because I ride a motorcycle. Does that matter?
Riding a motorcycle is not fault. Insurers often assume the rider was speeding or reckless, but that assumption has to be proven, not asserted. We build the evidence — the crash report, witnesses, and reconstruction — that shows what actually happened.
How much is my California motorcycle accident case worth?
It depends on your injuries, your medical treatment, lost income, and other factors — and it is exactly what our attorney evaluates for free. Motorcycle injuries are often severe, which can affect value, but we will not quote a number sight unseen.
How much does a motorcycle accident lawyer cost?
We handle motorcycle accident claims on a contingency basis for cases we take, which means no fee unless we recover for you, and the initial review is always free. Cost should never stop you from finding out where you stand.
Ready to find out where you stand?
The case review takes about two minutes. It's free and confidential, with no obligation.