A lot can change in the few moments it takes for a motorcycle crash to happen. Without the protection of a car’s frame, airbags, or seat belts, riders often suffer severe injuries that require months or even years of medical treatment.
If a negligent driver caused your injuries, an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can make a real difference in your recovery. At Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, our law firm has represented injured riders and their families throughout San Mateo County for more than 40 years.
Contact our office today at (650) 367-6811 for a free consultation with a San Mateo motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your legal options.
Why Choose Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP for Your Motorcycle Claim?
Insurance companies often treat injured motorcyclists differently from other drivers. Adjusters may assume a rider caused the crash, even when the evidence points to another driver’s carelessness. Our law firm knows how to push back against this bias and build a strong personal injury claim on your behalf.
Our attorneys accept a limited number of cases each year, which allows us to give every client the focused resources and attention a serious motorcycle claim deserves. This approach has helped us secure numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for our injured clients throughout California, including a $41,411,452 verdict for the 12-year-old victim of a motocross bike accident involving defective protective clothing.*
But the way your legal team treats you matters just as much as their track record when you’re working through the aftermath of a motorcycle wreck. Our clients consistently describe our team as compassionate, responsive, and relentless.
Consider this testimonial from Jonas Nikoloff:
“All staff members of Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP were extremely supportive and helpful. I had minimal effort for a 1.5 y long process which ended successfully. Everything was handled transparently, conveniently, and professionally. Communication was very fast, efficient and supportive. I would definitely recommend that office and am grateful for everything.”
Most Dangerous Corridors for Bikers in San Mateo
According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), the state reported about 10,000 injured riders and nearly 600 motorcycle deaths in just one recent year. That number made up about 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in California that year, even though motorcycles make up a small share of registered vehicles.
With 7 riders killed and about 130 injured, San Mateo County roadways are no exception to the threat to bikers, particularly:
- Highway 101 – Heavy commuter traffic makes this corridor prone to rear-end crashes, while frequent lane changes create dangerous blind spots.
- Interstate 280 – High speeds and long merging sections raise the risk of sideswipe and lane change collisions.
- Route 92 near the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge – Congested merge points and sudden lane reductions create hazards for riders passing between vehicles.
- El Camino Real – Frequent intersections and left-turning traffic make this a common site of T-bone collisions.
Our team can review the roadway conditions that may have contributed to the crash and piece together what happened.
California Motorcycle Laws That Affect Your Claim: Lane Splitting and Helmet Standards
California law includes rules specific to motorcyclists that can affect how insurers evaluate a claim, including:
Lane Splitting in California
Lane splitting (riding between rows of stopped or slow-moving traffic) is legal under Vehicle Code Section 21658.1. The law does not set a speed limit, but riding safely and prudently remains essential.
If you were lane splitting when you crashed, an insurance adjuster may try to argue that you share some fault. A lane splitting accident attorney in San Mateo can push back on these arguments and gather evidence to show that you rode responsibly.
California Motorcycle Helmet Rules
California also requires every motorcycle driver and passenger to wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards, under Vehicle Code Section 27803. Helmet use will not prevent you from filing a claim, but it can become relevant if an insurer argues that different gear would have lessened your injuries.
Common Causes of San Mateo Motorcycle Collisions
Motorcycle crashes happen for many of the same reasons as other vehicle collisions, but riders face added danger because they lack the protection of a metal frame. Some contributing factors our motorcycle accident lawyers frequently see include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe left turns in front of oncoming motorcycles
- Following too closely
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
- Poor lighting or weather conditions
- Dooring (when a parked driver opens a door into a rider’s path)
Understanding the cause of your crash is the first step in determining who was at fault.
What to Do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident in San Mateo County
The steps you take after a crash can affect your health and your ability to recover maximum compensation. We recommend that injured riders do the following:
- Seek medical care right away. Some injuries may not cause symptoms until hours or days later.
- Document the scene. Photograph your motorcycle, any visible injuries, and the roadway if you can safely do so.
- Get witness information. Independent witnesses can provide valuable support for your claim.
- Report the crash to law enforcement. A police report creates an official record and often notes any citation issued.
- Avoid discussing fault. Let your attorney handle conversations with insurance adjusters.
- Contact a motorcycle injury lawyer in San Mateo, CA. Early legal guidance can help you avoid mistakes that reduce your compensation.
Our office can walk you through these steps and start building your San Mateo personal injury case right away.
Who Can Be Liable for Your Crash?
More than one party can share responsibility for a motorcycle crash, including:
- Negligent drivers – A driver who fails to yield, turns without checking for traffic, or drives distracted may bear responsibility for a resulting crash.
- Vehicle, gear, or parts manufacturers – Defective gear or a faulty motorcycle or auto part can make a manufacturer liable for the injuries it causes.
- Government entities – A city or county may bear responsibility for a dangerous road condition it knew about and failed to repair.
- Commercial companies – An employer may be liable when its driver causes a crash while working.
Our San Mateo personal injury attorneys can investigate all angles of your collision to identify each party that may owe you compensation.
What Compensation Can You Seek in a Motorcycle Claim?
Motorcycle injuries often lead to significant financial and personal losses. Depending on the circumstances, a motorcycle accident claim could include compensation for:
- Medical Bills
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity
- Lost wages if your injuries kept you from working
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Damage to your motorcycle and gear
Compensation generally falls into two categories: economic losses with a clear dollar value, such as medical bills, and non-economic losses that are harder to measure, such as pain and suffering. Our attorneys will take the time to fully understand how the accident has affected you and build a complete picture of what your claim is worth.
How California’s Pure Comparative Fault Rule Applies If You Are Assigned Partial Blame
California follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can still recover compensation even if you share some blame for your crash. The law simply reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your losses total $100,000, you could still recover $80,000.
Insurance companies often push to assign extra blame to motorcyclists, since bias against riders is common in this industry. Our attorneys can combat unfair fault arguments and work to keep your percentage of responsibility as low as possible.
How Much Is a San Mateo Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
The value of a motorcycle accident claim in San Mateo depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the extent of your losses, and the strength of the evidence against the at-fault party. Because every crash is different, no attorney can guarantee a specific result before reviewing the facts of your case.
Our track record speaks for itself: we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome, since every claim involves unique facts, but they show our capability to handle high-value motor vehicle claims.
Catastrophic Motorcycle Injuries and Their Long-Term Financial Impact
Motorcycle crashes often cause harm that permanently alters a rider’s life, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe fractures, and amputations. With those severe injuries, victims tend to need ongoing medical care and assistance with daily activities, as well as home or vehicle modifications.
The financial toll of a life-changing injury can extend far beyond initial hospital bills, including years of physical therapy, lost future income, and reduced quality of life. Our catastrophic motorcycle injury lawyers in CA can work with medical and financial experts to calculate the true, long-term cost of your injury so that any settlement reflects what you will actually need going forward.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in California?
California law generally gives injured riders two years (2) from the date of the crash to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, though certain circumstances can extend or shorten the deadline. For instance, if a government entity, such as a city or county, contributed to your crash, you may only have six months to file an administrative claim before that right disappears.
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation, so it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a San Mateo Motorcycle Injury Lawyer?
Our law firm handles motorcycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll pay no upfront costs to hire us. We’ll collect a fee only if we recover compensation on your behalf. This way, injured riders can access experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation.
Your initial consultation with our office is free of charge and comes with no obligation to move forward.
Contact an Experienced San Mateo Motorcycle Accident Attorney at CHM Law Firm Today
If a careless driver left you injured in a motorcycle crash, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. The trial-tested team at Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP is ready to fight to hold the responsible parties accountable and pursue the full compensation you are owed by law.
Contact our office today at 650-367-6811 or fill out our online contact form for your free consultation with a San Mateo motorcycle crash attorney who genuinely cares about your recovery.
*Each case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
