Motorcycle riding is an exciting way to see the scenery in rural areas, and a convenient and fun way to get around cities such as San Francisco. Unfortunately, there is a higher risk of accidents when motorcycling, largely due to drivers failing to see motorcycles when making left turns and lane changes. Too often, drivers of cars in California don’t look carefully for motorcycles in their blind spots, or simply fail to see an oncoming bike when making a turn. Other accidents happen when drivers follow motorcycles too closely. Many drivers don’t realize that motorcycles have much better stopping ability than cars, and follow too closely. When a bike does go down, the injuries can be severe, even with a helmet and a full set of protective gear.

At Callaway and Wolf, our experience in handling motorcycle accident cases in San Francisco and around the Bay Area has given us insight in dealing with prejudices against motorcycle riders in injury claims. Callaway & Wolf partner Boone Callaway is a former motorcycle rider and owner, and partner Carl Wolf has handled many cases involving motorcycle injuries. Click to see what one of our motorcycle injury clients said about our firm.

We have handled many motorcycle injury cases over the years, and know that it is important to conduct an investigation as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident, sending investigators to take photographs, measure skid marks, and interview witnesses. Some cases will require accident reconstruction experts, and others will require experts in roadway safety or human factors.

In a motorcycle accident case, you are entitled to be compensated for all your related medical bills, whether or not they were paid by insurance, Medi-Cal, Medicare, etc. Additionally, you can recover for the cost of damage to your bike, for a new helmet and any damaged clothing, boots, or leather gear, and for loss of earnings. The largest part of a motorcycle injury claim is “general damages,” the compensation for pain, suffering, disability, emotional distress, inconvenience, etc. Since settlement is a one-time-only event in most cases, you should wait until the full extent of your injuries and healing is known. Settlements can include compensation for any likely future pain or problems, and any future medical expenses that a doctor says are likely.

For most cases, the statute of limitations (deadline by which you must settle your claim or file a lawsuit) in California for a case for injuries caused by an motorcycle accident is two years from the date of the injury. In cases involving the negligence of a public entity, such as the state, a city, county, or other public entity, a formal written claim must be filed with the appropriate entity within six months of the date of the incident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident in California, click here for a free consultation or call 415-541-0300 to speak to a California motorcycle accident lawyer experienced in handling these cases.