San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Fighting For Injured Riders
Our Attorneys Hold Negligent Drivers Accountable For Motorcycle Crashes
People love to blame the biker. Reckless, speeding, weaving through traffic, that’s the story insurance companies push before they’ve even seen the crash report. The truth? Most riders in San Bernardino are hit while doing everything right: riding defensively, following traffic laws, and staying alert.
But once the crash happens, on Baseline Street, the 210 freeway, or a quiet neighborhood road, the system starts working against them. A San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyer at Oaks Law Firm knows how to push back against the bias and fight for what’s fair. We stand with riders and their families across San Bernardino and the San Fernando Valley because we know what you're really up against. Our lawyers get results. In one case, we secured $745,000 for a motorcyclist who was seriously injured due to another driver’s negligence.
Motorcycle accidents aren’t minor. They leave victims with broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and months, sometimes years, of recovery. And while fault might seem obvious, the insurance company will still try to shift blame or minimize the crash. Riders deserve full compensation for medical bills, lost income, future care, and the emotional toll of surviving a violent impact. But without the right lawyer, that kind of recovery is hard to win.
Oaks Law Firm makes it easier. If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle crash, contact us today for a free consultation with a team that listens and fights.
FAQs About Motorcycle Accident Claims in San Bernardino
Fairness after a motorcycle crash depends on having the right information that is clear, accurate, and from a legal authority you can trust. The FAQ below is here to help riders and families understand their rights, challenge bias, and take the first steps toward real recovery.
- What should I do after a motorcycle accident in San Bernardino?
- Who can be held legally responsible for a motorcycle crash in San Bernardino County?
- What are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents?
- Where do motorcycle crashes happen most often in San Bernardino?
- Do I still have a case if the driver said they didn’t see my motorcycle?
- How does California’s helmet law affect my claim?
- What state laws should riders know that could impact compensation after a crash?
- Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault?
- What should I do if the insurance company tries to blame me for the accident?
- How are motorcycle accident cases different from car accident claims?
- What injuries are most common in motorcycle crashes?
- Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit if my loved one died in a motorcycle accident?
- How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim?
- What compensation is available for injured riders?
- How can a San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyer help me?
What should I do after a motorcycle accident in San Bernardino?
After a serious motorcycle crash, it’s common to feel overwhelmed or uncertain about what to do first when you're dealing with pain, medical visits, or financial stress. Taking the right steps early on can help protect both your health and your legal rights. Here’s what you should do after the crash:
- Get emergency medical care: Even if you feel okay, internal injuries or concussions may not show symptoms immediately.
- Call law enforcement: A police report will be important for your injury claim and documenting fault.
- Collect evidence, if possible: Photos, witness contact info, and vehicle damage details can all support your case.
- Avoid speaking with the other driver’s insurance: They may try to record your statements and use them against you.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan: Gaps in care may weaken your claim or delay your recovery.
Speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer early can take the pressure off and help ensure no critical evidence or deadlines are missed.
Who can be held legally responsible for a motorcycle crash in San Bernardino County?
Motorcycle accidents often involve more than just one negligent driver. Several parties may be legally responsible depending on how the crash occurred and what contributed to it. Potentially liable parties may include:
- The at-fault driver: Most commonly, the person who violated traffic laws or failed to yield.
- A commercial vehicle operator or employer: If the crash involved a rideshare vehicle, delivery truck, or work van.
- A government agency: If poor road maintenance, missing signage, or dangerous conditions contributed.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer: In cases involving defective brakes, tires, or safety features.
- A construction contractor: If debris or equipment was left in the roadway without proper warning.
Identifying all responsible parties is key to securing full compensation, which is why legal guidance can make a real difference in these cases.
What are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents?
Southern California, and San Bernardino County in particular, presents unique risks for motorcyclists due to its mix of highways, city traffic, and aggressive drivers. Knowing the common causes of crashes can help determine who is at fault and whether negligence played a role. Frequent causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Left-turn collisions: Drivers often misjudge a rider’s speed or fail to yield at intersections.
- Unsafe lane changes: Common on the 215 or 10 freeways, where drivers may not check blind spots.
- Distracted or texting drivers: A leading cause of preventable accidents across the region.
- Speeding or tailgating: Common in congested corridors and off-ramps.
- Dooring and sudden stops: Common in downtown traffic or near parking zones.
A lawyer can help investigate the cause of your crash and build a case based on fault and negligence when the insurance company disputes liability.
Where do motorcycle crashes happen most often in San Bernardino?
Motorcycle accidents in San Bernardino tend to cluster around certain high-risk corridors and intersections, often due to heavy traffic flow, poor visibility, or driver impatience. Riders should be very cautious in these areas, but even the most careful rider can be hit when drivers don’t pay attention. High-risk locations for motorcycle accidents include:
- Baseline Street and Waterman Avenue: Busy intersections with fast-moving traffic and frequent red-light runners.
- Kendall Drive near CSUSB: A mix of student foot traffic, blind curves, and speeders.
- 210 and 215 freeway interchanges: High-speed merging zones where motorcyclists can disappear in blind spots.
- Del Rosa Avenue and Highland Avenue: Known for frequent left-turn crashes.
- Downtown corridors near 5th Street and D Street: Doorings, quick lane changes, and distracted drivers create hazards.
If you were hit in one of these or similar areas, a lawyer can help determine whether the location’s conditions contributed to your case.
Do I still have a case if the driver said they didn’t see my motorcycle?
Yes. “I didn’t see them” is one of the most common excuses drivers use after hitting a motorcyclist, but it’s not a legal defense. Drivers have a duty to stay alert and watch for all vehicles, including motorcycles, especially on busy routes like Foothill Boulevard, Waterman Avenue, or the 210.
Failing to notice a motorcyclist is often a sign of negligence, not a reason to dismiss your claim. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help show that the driver failed in their duty of care and hold them accountable.
How does California’s helmet law affect my claim?
California law requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a DOT-approved helmet, and not wearing one can impact your case, but it doesn’t automatically disqualify you. If your injuries were unrelated to your head or neck, or the crash would have caused serious harm regardless, you may still recover substantial compensation.
Insurers often use the lack of a helmet to reduce payouts, even when it’s irrelevant. A skilled attorney can push back with evidence to minimize any reduction in your award.
What state laws should riders know that could impact compensation after a crash?
California motorcycle laws can significantly impact how your case is handled when insurance companies seek reasons to shift blame. Understanding the basics can help protect your right to recover damages. Important laws that may impact your case include:
- Universal helmet law: All riders and passengers must wear DOT-compliant helmets; non-compliance may reduce compensation.
- Lane splitting legality: Lane splitting is legal in California, but must be done safely; it’s often used against riders if a crash occurs.
- Minimum insurance coverage requirements: Riders must carry liability insurance. Failure to do so can affect claims.
- Right-of-way and turn laws: Failure to follow traffic rules can complicate comparative fault arguments.
- DMV motorcycle licensing and endorsements: Riding without proper credentials may weaken a claim.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help interpret these laws in your specific case and defend against unfair tactics.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Under California’s comparative fault law, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially to blame. For example, if you were speeding slightly but a car turned left into your lane near Highland Avenue, the driver can still be found primarily at fault.
Your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault, but it doesn’t bar you from recovery. A lawyer can help investigate the facts, negotiate liability percentages, and maximize your claim.
What should I do if the insurance company tries to blame me for the accident?
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts by shifting blame or downplaying injuries, even when they know the rider isn’t at fault. They may claim your injuries are pre-existing or suggest you were speeding, distracted, or reckless.
Never give a recorded statement without legal counsel. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can gather medical records, crash reports, and expert opinions to protect your credibility and demand full compensation.
How are motorcycle accident cases different from car accident claims?
Motorcycle injury claims often involve a different set of challenges than typical car accidents when it comes to the injuries involved and the legal hurdles riders face. Insurers often approach these cases with added skepticism. Key differences in motorcycle claims include:
- More severe injuries: Even a low-speed crash can result in catastrophic harm for a rider.
- Higher medical costs and recovery times: These affect both damages and settlement negotiations.
- Anti-biker bias: Riders are often unfairly blamed, even when they did nothing wrong.
- Greater impact on quality of life: Many riders suffer long-term disabilities or emotional trauma.
- More aggressive defense by insurers: They often challenge fault and minimize damages.
Having an attorney on your side levels the playing field and ensures your story is told accurately and completely.
What injuries are most common in motorcycle crashes?
Motorcycle riders are more exposed than drivers, which often leads to more serious and visible injuries. These injuries don’t just affect your health. They also directly affect how much your case may be worth. Injuries that often increase case value include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): These often involve lifelong treatment and cognitive effects.
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: These typically lead to long-term care and loss of independence.
- Broken bones and orthopedic trauma: Surgeries and extended rehab periods are common.
- Road rash and disfigurement: Especially when they require skin grafts or result in permanent scarring.
- Internal organ damage: Often overlooked initially but extremely serious.
An attorney can work with medical experts to fully document the long-term impact of your injuries and build a case for maximum compensation.
Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit if my loved one died in a motorcycle accident?
Yes. California law allows immediate family members, spouses, domestic partners, children, and sometimes parents, to file a wrongful death claim if a loved one dies due to another party’s negligence.
Whether the crash happened on the 215, the Cajon Pass, or a surface street like Del Rosa Avenue, you may be entitled to compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and financial support. These claims are emotionally difficult, but a compassionate lawyer can handle the legal side so your family can focus on healing.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash, or the date of death in a fatal accident, to file a lawsuit. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations.
Waiting too long could mean losing your right to take legal action, even if your case is strong. It’s best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to preserve evidence, meet legal deadlines, and protect your right to compensation.
What compensation is available for injured riders?
Compensation in a motorcycle accident case should reflect both the short-term and long-term impact of the crash on your life. If someone died in the crash, their surviving family members may also have legal rights under California’s wrongful death laws. Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses (past and future): Hospital bills, surgery, rehab, prescriptions, and more.
- Lost income and earning capacity: Including future loss of income if the injury prevents returning to work.
- Pain and suffering: For physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
- Wrongful death damages: Funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.
- Punitive damages: In rare cases involving extreme recklessness or DUI.
A San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyer can help calculate a fair case value based on the details of your crash.
How can a San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyer help me?
After a serious crash, dealing with treatment plans, missed work, and paperwork can quickly become overwhelming. A motorcycle accident lawyer can manage the legal and financial aspects so you can focus on healing. Here’s how an attorney can help:
- Negotiate with insurers for full medical coverage and ongoing treatment costs.
- Build documentation for lost income and reduced earning potential.
- Coordinate with your healthcare providers to delay billing while your case is pending.
- Ensure all legal paperwork is filed on time and correctly under California’s deadlines.
- Prepare your case for trial if insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement.
Having experienced legal support takes the burden off your shoulders and improves your chance of recovering everything you’re entitled to.
Get The Support You Deserve After A Serious Motorcycle Crash!
If you or someone you love was injured in a motorcycle accident, you shouldn’t have to fight for justice on your own when insurance companies are already working against you. At Oaks Law Firm, we listen, we care, and we fight to win. Our experienced San Bernardino motorcycle accident attorneys understand what you’re up against, and we know how to build a case that gets results.
There’s no cost to speak with us, and no fee unless we win your case. Let us make this process easier, so you can focus on healing. Contact Oaks Law Firm today for your free consultation!