San Jose Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle riders depend on other drivers to notice them, respect their space, and make safe decisions on the road. When a driver turns across a rider’s path, changes lanes without checking a blind spot, follows too closely, or becomes distracted behind the wheel, the motorcyclist can suffer the consequences.

Our team of San Jose motorcycle accident lawyers at The Barnes Firm represent riders injured in crashes throughout San Jose and the Bay Area. These cases often require a close look at driver behavior, roadway conditions, witness accounts, video footage, and other evidence that can show how the collision occurred. Our attorneys can investigate the crash, preserve important evidence, deal with insurance companies, and help pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other documented losses.

Call (800) 800-0000 or contact The Barnes Firm online for a free case evaluation. There are no upfront attorney fees, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

How The Barnes Firm Helps Injured Motorcycle Riders

Insurance companies may question how a motorcycle crash happened, challenge the extent of an injury, or attempt to shift responsibility away from a negligent driver.

The Barnes Firm can help by:

• Investigating how the motorcycle accident occurred
• Preserving and gathering available evidence
• Identifying potentially responsible parties
• Reviewing applicable insurance coverage
• Documenting medical expenses and lost income
• Communicating with insurance companies
• Responding to attempts to unfairly blame the rider
• Evaluating settlement offers
• Negotiating for compensation supported by the evidence
• Preparing a lawsuit when necessary

Our attorneys handle the legal and insurance issues while keeping you informed throughout the process.

Why Motorcycle Accident Claims Require Careful Investigation

Motorcycle accidents can involve issues that do not always arise in standard passenger-vehicle crashes. Drivers may claim they did not see the rider, insurers may dispute how the collision occurred, and evidence from the scene can become especially important.

A San Jose motorcycle accident lawyer can examine driver behavior, traffic conditions, visibility, vehicle position, roadway design, witness accounts, and available video footage to help establish how the crash occurred.

Early investigation may also help preserve surveillance footage, dashcam video, physical evidence, and witness information before it becomes unavailable.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in San Jose

Many motorcycle crashes happen because another driver fails to safely account for a rider on the road.

Common causes may include:

• Unsafe lane changes
• Failure to check blind spots
• Left-turn collisions
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence
• Following too closely
• Unsafe merging
• Failure to yield
• Opening a vehicle door into a rider’s path
• Unsafe roadway conditions
• Defective vehicle components

San Jose riders regularly travel alongside heavy commuter traffic on routes such as US-101, I-280, I-880, State Route 87, and State Route 85. Frequent merging, congestion, and lane changes can increase the importance of drivers watching carefully for motorcyclists.

Who May Be Liable for a San Jose Motorcycle Accident?

The driver who caused the collision may be responsible for the resulting injuries and losses. Some motorcycle crashes, however, involve additional parties.

Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:

• A negligent driver
• A vehicle owner
• A rideshare or delivery driver
• A commercial driver
• An employer
• A trucking company
• A vehicle or parts manufacturer
• A repair or maintenance provider
• A roadway contractor
• A government entity responsible for certain unsafe road conditions

Identifying all potentially responsible parties may be particularly important when a collision involves a commercial vehicle, multiple vehicles, or a roadway hazard.

How Lane Splitting May Affect a California Motorcycle Accident Claim

Lane splitting is legal in California. After a crash, however, an insurance company may focus on the fact that a rider was lane splitting rather than the actions of the driver who caused the collision.

Lane splitting does not automatically mean the motorcyclist was responsible for the accident. Driver behavior, traffic conditions, vehicle movement, visibility, available video, and other evidence can help establish what actually happened.

A motorcycle accident attorney can review the circumstances and respond when an insurer attempts to unfairly shift responsibility onto the rider.

Evidence That Can Help Support a Motorcycle Accident Claim

Evidence can help establish how the collision occurred and document the losses that followed.

Useful evidence may include police reports, photographs, dashcam footage, traffic or business surveillance video, witness statements, vehicle and motorcycle damage, medical documentation, wage records, insurance correspondence, and electronic or vehicle data when relevant and legally obtainable.

Damaged helmets, riding gear, and motorcycle components may also provide useful information depending on the circumstances of the crash.

Injuries and Compensation After a Motorcycle Crash

Motorcyclists do not have the same enclosed protection as occupants of passenger vehicles, so a collision can result in significant injuries. These may include head injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, shoulder or knee injuries, internal injuries, road rash, scarring, paralysis, amputations, and fatal injuries. A medical provider can evaluate your condition and determine what treatment may be appropriate.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, reduced earning ability, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other documented losses. When a motorcycle accident results in a death, eligible family members may also have a wrongful death claim.

The value of a claim depends on the injuries involved, available insurance coverage, responsible parties, and the evidence supporting the losses.

Why Choose The Barnes Firm After a San Jose Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accident claims may involve serious injuries, complicated evidence, and insurance disputes. The Barnes Firm has the resources to investigate these cases carefully while providing legal representation to injured riders throughout San Jose and the greater Bay Area.

• Local representation for riders in San Jose and throughout the Bay Area
• More than 40 attorneys nationwide
• 500+ years of combined legal experience
• More than 200,000 accident and injury cases handled
• Over $2.5 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements for clients
• Experience handling motorcycle and other serious motor vehicle accident claims
• Resources to investigate driver negligence, roadway conditions, insurance coverage, and other contributing factors
• Free case evaluations
• No upfront attorney fees, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you

The Barnes Firm combines a strong California and Bay Area presence with the resources of a nationwide personal injury firm, giving San Jose riders legal support throughout the claims process.

How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in California?

California generally provides two years from the date of injury to file many personal injury lawsuits. Different deadlines may apply depending on who is responsible.

For example, claims involving a government entity may involve much shorter deadlines, including cases involving certain dangerous roadway conditions.

An attorney can review the circumstances and help determine which filing deadlines may apply to your motorcycle accident claim.

Contact a San Jose Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle crash in San Jose or elsewhere in the Bay Area, The Barnes Firm can help you understand your legal options.

Our team of San Jose motorcycle accident lawyers can investigate the collision, identify potentially responsible parties, address insurance disputes, document your losses, and help pursue compensation supported by the evidence.

Call (800) 800-0000 or contact The Barnes Firm online for a free case evaluation.

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

Matt Cuenot

I am so appreciative of Cody M. Christiansen, Esq. Through Cody’s efforts, he handled my injury lawsuit with excellence. I want to thank him for all that he has done!

James Centofanti

Mason Aria is an exceptional personal injury attorney and along with his paralegal Deborah, provided me with amazing counsel from the beginning of the Barnes representation. Mason and Debbie gave me up to date detailed information with everything germane to my case. I highly recommend the Barnes Firm and Mason Aria.

OSWALDO HERNANDEZ

I want to thank my injury lawyer Corinne D. Brophy and her team! They were very professional and informative throughout the whole process and were able to fight the insurance at fault and cover all my medical bills and got a little extra. I can’t thank them enough! Best of the best!