Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable people on San Francisco’s roads. When a collision occurs, riders face catastrophic injuries — often life-altering — while insurance companies work aggressively to minimize or deny claims. You need an experienced trial attorney in your corner.
I represent injured motorcyclists throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. I have recovered over $25 million for injured clients and fight hard against insurance companies for maximum compensation. Free consultation. No fee unless I win.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Devastating
Unlike car occupants, motorcyclists have no protective shell around them. Even at moderate speeds, a collision can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, road rash, fractures, and internal injuries. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, motorcyclists are approximately 29 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger car occupants per mile traveled.
Motorcycle riders who suffer head trauma are at serious risk of a subdural hematoma, even when wearing a helmet.
San Francisco’s unique road conditions — steep hills, foggy intersections, heavy rideshare and delivery traffic, and dense pedestrian activity — make riding here particularly dangerous.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in San Francisco
- Drivers failing to see motorcycles and making left turns into their path
- Lane change collisions — drivers merging without checking blind spots
- Rear-end collisions at stop lights on Market Street, Van Ness, and Geary
- Rideshare and delivery vehicles making sudden stops or illegal turns
- Dooring — a driver opens their car door into a motorcyclist’s path
- Speeding drivers on US-101 and I-280
- Dangerous road conditions including potholes, wet pavement, and debris
- Drunk or distracted driving
Common Injuries in San Francisco Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists suffer some of the most severe injuries seen in personal injury cases because there is nothing between the rider and the road:
Traumatic Brain Injury Even helmeted riders can suffer TBI in high-speed collisions or when the impact involves rotational force. TBI is the leading cause of motorcycle fatality and long-term disability. I have secured $6,000,000 and $2,185,000 for TBI victims in San Francisco.
Road Rash Sliding across pavement at speed causes deep tissue injuries that can require skin grafting, leave permanent scarring, and carry serious infection risk. Severe road rash is often undervalued by insurers but commands significant non-economic damages.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and spinal cord injuries are common in motorcycle crashes — particularly in rear-end and T-bone collisions. I have secured $650,000 and $495,000 in lumbar spine injury cases.
Fractures Broken legs, arms, wrists, collarbones, and pelvises are among the most common motorcycle injuries. Complex fractures often require surgical repair with hardware, followed by months of physical therapy.
Internal Injuries Blunt force trauma from a collision can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and pneumothorax — injuries that may not be immediately apparent and can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.
Psychological Injuries PTSD, anxiety, and fear of riding again following a serious motorcycle crash are real and compensable injuries. Many riders who loved motorcycling find they cannot return to riding after a serious accident — a loss that is part of your non-economic damages claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
You may be entitled to compensation for emergency medical care, surgery, and hospitalization, future medical costs including rehabilitation and long-term care, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress and PTSD, permanent disability or disfigurement, and damage to your motorcycle and gear.
Common Questions About Motorcycle Accident Claims in San Francisco
Liability depends on the specific facts of your crash. In most cases the at-fault driver bears primary responsibility, but I investigate every potential avenue of recovery. An employer may be liable if a commercial driver was on the job. Rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft may be liable if their driver caused the crash. The City of San Francisco may be liable if dangerous road conditions, poorly maintained pavement, or defective traffic signals contributed. A vehicle or parts manufacturer may be liable if a defect caused or worsened the crash. Identifying every liable party is critical in motorcycle cases — damages are often severe and insurance limits may be insufficient without pursuing multiple defendants.
Call 911 — a police report is essential evidence even if injuries seem minor. Seek medical attention right away — adrenaline masks serious injuries including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal trauma. If physically able, photograph and video the scene thoroughly — the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, your gear, and your injuries — before anything is moved. Get the other driver’s insurance information, license plate, and contact details. Collect names and phone numbers of witnesses. Preserve your damaged motorcycle and riding gear — both are critical evidence and should not be repaired until your attorney has documented them. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with me.
California is the only state that explicitly permits lane splitting under California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, so riding between lanes is legal here. However insurance companies routinely argue that lane splitting contributed to your crash in order to reduce your payout under California’s comparative negligence rules. I know exactly how to counter these arguments — with traffic engineering evidence, CHP lane splitting guidelines, and accident reconstruction when necessary. Legal lane splitting does not bar your recovery and I fight hard to make sure insurers don’t use it against you.
Generally two years from the date of your accident under California’s statute of limitations. However if a government entity is responsible — such as the City of San Francisco for dangerous road conditions, Caltrans for freeway hazards, or a public agency vehicle — you may have as little as six months to file a government tort claim. Missing that deadline permanently bars your recovery. Contact me immediately so I can identify all liable parties and protect your rights before any deadline passes.
Yes — but helmet use matters in California. Under California Vehicle Code Section 27803, helmet use is required for all motorcycle riders. If you were not wearing a helmet and suffered head injuries, insurance companies will argue your injuries were worsened by your own negligence, potentially reducing your recovery under comparative fault rules. However not wearing a helmet does not bar your claim entirely. I work with medical experts to establish what injuries would have occurred regardless of helmet use and fight to maximize your recovery under the specific facts of your case.
Motorcycle accident victims typically suffer more severe injuries than car accident victims due to lack of protection — which means damages are often substantial. Compensation can include emergency and ongoing medical treatment, future medical costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, motorcycle repair or replacement, and permanent disability. The value of your specific case depends on injury severity, liability clarity, and available insurance coverage. I have recovered multi-million dollar results for Bay Area accident victims and offer free consultations to evaluate your situation.
Nothing upfront. I handle all motorcycle accident cases on a pure contingency-fee basis — you pay no attorney fees unless I recover compensation for you. No hourly charges, no upfront costs. My fee is a percentage of your final settlement or verdict, clearly explained in writing before you sign anything. If I don’t win, you don’t pay.
How Insurance Companies Fight Motorcycle Accident Claims — And How I Fight Back
Motorcyclists face unique bias in personal injury claims. Insurers exploit stereotypes about riders to minimize payouts. Here is what to expect:
“The Motorcyclist Was Speeding or Lane Splitting Recklessly” California permits lane splitting but insurers routinely argue it was unsafe in the specific circumstances. I obtain traffic camera footage, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction to establish your speed and the reasonableness of your lane splitting at the time of the crash.
“The Rider Assumed the Risk” Insurers argue that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous and that serious injury was foreseeable. California law does not bar recovery based on assumed risk when a third party’s negligence caused the crash. I establish the driver’s specific negligence and its direct causal role in your injuries.
“You Weren’t Wearing Proper Gear” Absence of a helmet (for adults), protective clothing, or other gear is used to argue comparative fault. I counter with medical evidence showing the nature of your injuries and whether gear would have made any difference in the specific collision dynamics.
“The Injuries Are Exaggerated” Road rash, PTSD, and chronic pain following motorcycle crashes are frequently minimized. I build objective evidence through medical records, treating physician testimony, psychological evaluations, and testimony from family members and colleagues who observed the impact on your life.
Serving Injured Motorcyclists Throughout San Francisco
Whether your motorcycle accident occurred on the Richmond District streets, SoMa corridors, near Civic Center, in the Marina District, through Bernal Heights, or in the Sunset District, I serve every neighborhood in San Francisco and the Bay Area. View all areas I serve.
Why Choose Me
I have extensive trial experience fighting for injury victims throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. I have recovered over $25 million for clients, I am recognized as a Super Lawyer 2021–2026, I am bilingual in English and Spanish, and I handle every case personally. No fee unless I win.
Contact a San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Call (415) 851-4557 for a free consultation. Available 24/7. No fee unless I win.
Related Practice Areas
If you were injured in another type of accident, I can help. I also represent clients in Bicycle Accidents, Car Accidents, and Trucking Accidents throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.