San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you have two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your crash involved a government vehicle or a poorly maintained city road — common on stretches like 19th Avenue or the Bay Bridge approaches — claims against public entities must be filed within six months. Missing these deadlines typically means losing your right to compensation entirely, which is why we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible after the crash.

First, call 911 so SFPD can respond and file an official incident report — this document becomes critical evidence. Seek medical treatment right away, even if you feel okay, because adrenaline can mask serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding. Document the scene with photos, collect contact information from witnesses, and do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with us.

Liability depends on the facts, but potentially responsible parties include negligent drivers, the City and County of San Francisco if a road defect contributed (such as a dangerous pothole on Market Street or a missing lane marking on the 101), a vehicle manufacturer if a defect caused the crash, or even a bar under dram shop liability if an intoxicated driver caused the collision. We investigate every angle to identify all liable parties so we can maximize your recovery.

Yes — California follows a pure comparative fault system, meaning your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover even if you were partially at bay. For example, if a jury finds you 25% at fault and your damages total $400,000, you would still recover $300,000. Insurance companies frequently try to inflate the victim’s share of fault to reduce their payout, so having experienced attorneys negotiate on your behalf is essential.

You may be entitled to economic damages such as past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage to your motorcycle and gear. Non-economic damages — including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life — are also recoverable and often represent the largest portion of a motorcycle injury settlement. In cases involving egregious conduct like drunk driving, punitive damages may also be available.

The vast majority of motorcycle accident cases in San Francisco resolve through negotiated settlements before trial, but we prepare every case as if a jury at the San Francisco Superior Court on McAllister Street will decide it. This rigorous preparation is actually what motivates insurance companies to offer fair settlements. If a defendant refuses to pay what your case is worth, we are fully prepared to take the case to verdict.

We handle motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay absolutely nothing upfront and owe us no attorney fees unless we win compensation for you. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, so our interests are fully aligned with yours — the more we recover for you, the better for everyone. There are no hidden fees or upfront costs, and your initial consultation is always free.

Many medical providers in the San Francisco Bay Area will treat motorcycle accident victims on a medical lien, meaning they defer payment until your case resolves. Your own health insurance can also cover treatment, and we can help coordinate that process. We work to ensure your medical providers are paid from the settlement proceeds so you are not personally burdened with large bills while your case is ongoing.

We strongly advise you not to give a recorded statement or accept any offer from the other driver’s insurer before consulting with us. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim. Let us handle all communications with the insurance company — once we are retained, they must direct all contact through our office.

California law requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which may compensate you when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. San Francisco sees a significant number of hit-and-run accidents, particularly in high-traffic areas like the Mission District and SoMa, and UM coverage can be the only avenue to recovery in those situations. We review all available insurance policies — yours, the defendant’s, and any umbrella coverage — to identify every source of potential compensation.

Cases with clear liability and fully documented injuries can sometimes settle within six to twelve months. However, more complex cases — particularly those involving catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injury — often take longer because we need to wait until you reach maximum medical improvement before accurately valuing your future care needs. We keep you informed at every stage and never rush a settlement at the expense of full and fair compensation.

California law requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets, and if you were not wearing one, the defense will likely argue this contributed to your head injuries under comparative fault principles. However, not wearing a helmet does not automatically bar your recovery — it only affects the portion of damages attributable to that factor, and injuries unrelated to head trauma are unaffected by the helmet question. We work with accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals to isolate causation and protect your recovery.

We regularly handle lane-change collisions on the 101 and 280 corridors, left-turn accidents at intersections like Van Ness and Market, dooring incidents in neighborhoods with heavy street parking such as the Castro and North Beach, and rear-end crashes during stop-and-go traffic on the Bay Bridge. San Francisco’s dense urban layout, trolley tracks, and frequent road construction also create hazards unique to this city. Understanding the local geography helps us reconstruct what happened and build a stronger liability argument.

A police report is valuable evidence and can support your claim, but its absence does not prevent you from pursuing compensation. If SFPD responded to the scene, we can obtain the incident report directly. If police were not called, we can still build your case using witness statements, traffic camera footage, medical records, and independent crash reconstruction. We also advise clients that California requires drivers to self-report accidents resulting in injury or more than $1,000 in property damage to the DMV within ten days.

Contact our office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation — we can meet in person, by phone, or via video conference at whatever is most convenient during your recovery. We will review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and give you an honest assessment of the potential value of your claim. There is no pressure and no cost, and if we take your case, you will have a dedicated legal team fighting for every dollar you deserve.