Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Serving California
Motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger car occupants per mile traveled (NHTSA). Yet in the majority of motorcycle-car collisions, the other driver violated the motorcyclist's right-of-way — a breach of the duty of care that constitutes negligence per se in most jurisdictions. Left-turn violations, failure to yield, and SMIDSY ('Sorry, Mate, I Didn't See You') collisions account for over 42% of fatal motorcycle crashes.
Despite this, motorcycle accident victims face the assumption of risk defense and pervasive rider bias. Insurance adjusters invoke modified comparative negligence or contributory negligence rules to shift fault percentages, arguing the rider was speeding, lane-splitting, or 'inherently reckless.' In helmet-required states, the helmet defense allows insurers to argue reduced damages for head injuries if no helmet was worn — even though helmet use has no bearing on the cause of the crash.
At Bond Legal, we counter these tactics with motorcycle-specific accident reconstruction, including crush analysis, yaw-rate calculations, and speed-at-impact determinations using conservation of momentum principles. We challenge assumption of risk arguments with evidence-based presentations, apply the last clear chance doctrine where applicable, and present rider-bias voir dire strategies designed to identify and exclude prejudiced jurors at trial.
In California, California follows a pure comparative fault system — you can recover damages even if you are 99% at fault, though your award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is 2 years from date of injury (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1). Bond Legal's motorcycle accident lawyers are licensed and experienced in California courts, ready to advocate for the compensation you deserve.
