Motorcycle Accident
Whether you've been injured in an accident, are dealing with a personal injury claim, or facing another legal issue, Mendez & Sanchez APC is here to fight for you. We handle a wide range of cases and focus on one thing—getting results. Our goal is to win the maximum compensation you deserve and help you get the justice you're owed in California or Nevada. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Motorcycle accidents often result in life-changing injuries that cost an arm and a leg to treat. Some victims are sidelined from work for months while they recover, and the loss of income puts their financial security in jeopardy. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle wreck, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages arising from the accident.
The California motorcycle accident attorney at our East Los Angeles office will assess your case for free to determine if you have grounds for a claim. Our attorneys know how important this case is to you and your family. We will compassionately represent your interests and aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve.
We have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Call us today at (323) 88 - 1444 to arrange a free consultation.
Contact our motorcycle accident lawyers right away
As if the pain was not enough, there’s a lot to do after a motorcycle crash to give your lawsuit the best chance of resulting in a fair settlement. Many of these tasks need to be completed as soon as possible, while valuable evidence is still available.
You will need strong evidence to prove liability and damages in your lawsuit, but much of this evidence might be erased or altered to cover up evidence of negligence. For example, if you were hit by a semi-truck, the truck driver or trucking company might destroy black box data or alter the hours of service log book. If a dashcam or surveillance camera recorded your crash, its footage might be erased before you have a chance to obtain a copy. The less evidence you have to support your claim, the more challenging it will be for your lawyer to recover fair compensation.
There are also deadlines for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in California. If you wait too long, your case will most likely be dismissed.
The motorcycle accident attorneys at our East Los Angeles law firm specializing in accident motorcycle will guide you through every stage of the claims process from start to finish. We will help you avoid crucial mistakes early in the proceedings that would jeopardize your claim. We will explain the importance of avoiding social media websites, following your doctor’s treatment instructions, tracking your damages, and taking other steps to give your claim the best chance of success.
Proving Negligence & Liability after a Motorcycle Accident in California
As previously mentioned, the strength of your evidence will ultimately determine the outcome of your case. Our motorcycle accident attorneys will help prove that the defendant breached a duty of care owed to you, and this breach of duty contributed to your injuries.
Breaching a duty of care is also called “negligence.” Some of the most common examples of negligence that give rise to motorcycle accident claims include:
- Drivers who speed, drive while distracted, and engage in other illegal behaviors;
- Drivers who make left turns without checking for other vehicles; including motorcycles that may be lane splitting;
- Drivers who make unsafe lane changes; potentially cutting of lane splitting motorcyclist;
- Drivers who get behind the wheel while drunk or fatigued; and
- Companies that manufacture defective auto parts.
Experienced Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorney - You Can Rely On
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, California, you need experienced legal representation that you can rely on. Our team of skilled motorcycle accident lawyers in Los Angeles has a proven track record of success in helping clients recover the compensation they deserve. We understand the unique challenges and legal issues that arise in motorcycle accident cases, and we are committed to fighting for your rights.
Contact our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at Mendez and Sanchez Law Firm in Los Angeles, California. We offer a free consultation to discuss your legal options and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in California?
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, or two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. If your accident involved a government vehicle or a dangerous road condition maintained by a public agency, you may have as little as six months to file a government tort claim under California Government Code § 911.2. Missing these deadlines will almost certainly result in your case being dismissed, so it's critical to contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash.
Who can be held liable for my injuries after a motorcycle accident in California?
Liability in a California motorcycle accident case can extend beyond just the at-fault driver — it may include a trucking company if a commercial vehicle was involved, a government agency if a dangerous road condition contributed to the crash, or a parts manufacturer if a defective component like faulty brakes caused the collision under California's strict products liability doctrine. California also follows a pure comparative fault system under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975), meaning even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover compensation — your damages are simply reduced by your percentage of fault. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will investigate every potential liable party to maximize your recovery.
What types of compensation can I recover after a motorcycle crash in California?
In a California motorcycle accident claim, you may be entitled to economic damages such as past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life under California Civil Code § 3333. In cases involving especially reckless or malicious conduct — such as a drunk driver — you may also be eligible for punitive damages under California Civil Code § 3294. Our clients at Mendez & Sanchez have recovered millions of dollars in combined settlements and verdicts, and we'll fight to make sure every category of your loss is accounted for.
What should I do immediately after a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles to protect my case?
Right after a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, call 911 to report the crash and get medical attention even if you feel fine, since adrenaline can mask serious injuries and gaps in treatment are often used by insurance companies to minimize your claim. Photograph the scene, your injuries, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any skid marks before evidence disappears, and get contact information from witnesses. Contact a motorcycle accident attorney as quickly as possible so your lawyer can send spoliation letters to preserve critical evidence like dashcam footage, truck black box data, and surveillance video before it is erased or overwritten.
What are the biggest mistakes injured motorcyclists make that hurt their case in California?
One of the most damaging mistakes injured motorcyclists make is posting on social media after the accident — insurers and defense attorneys routinely monitor platforms like Instagram and Facebook for photos or statements that can be used to contradict your claimed injuries. Another common error is giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurance company without an attorney present, which can lock you into details that hurt your case later. In California, failing to follow your treating doctor's prescribed care plan can also be used as evidence that your injuries are not as serious as claimed, potentially reducing your compensation under comparative fault principles.
Do I really need a lawyer for a motorcycle accident claim, or can I handle it myself?
While California law does not require you to hire an attorney to file a personal injury claim, motorcycle accident cases are among the most aggressively defended by insurance companies, who often argue that motorcyclists were lane splitting illegally or were inherently reckless — stereotypes that can significantly reduce an unrepresented victim's settlement. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can independently investigate the crash, retain accident reconstruction experts, negotiate with insurers, and if necessary take your case to trial to recover full and fair compensation. At Mendez & Sanchez, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win — so there is no financial risk in getting professional representation.
Can I still recover compensation if the other driver claims I was lane splitting when the accident happened?
Yes — lane splitting is legal in California under California Vehicle Code § 21658.1, making it one of the only states where motorcyclists have an explicit right to ride between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. Even if the defense argues your lane splitting was unsafe, California's pure comparative fault system means you can still recover damages proportional to the other driver's share of fault — for example, if a driver made an unsafe left turn without checking mirrors, they may still be found predominantly liable. A skilled motorcycle accident attorney at our East Los Angeles firm can gather the evidence needed to demonstrate that the other party's negligence was the primary cause of your injuries, protecting your right to full compensation.