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A severe traffic collision on a bike can leave you with serious injury, growing medical bills, and a difficult insurance process. A local motorcycle accident lawyer helps protect your rights, coordinate care, and pursue full compensation. Our law firm serves riders across the Inland Empire—San Bernardino and Riverside—from first call to settlement or verdict. Motorcycle cases differ from car wrecks: unique visibility issues, lane splitting, and road‑surface hazards change how fault and causation are analyzed under California law. Before you speak with an adjuster or sign any policy forms, get clear legal advice about your claim, the statute of limitations, and next steps. Prefer phone, SMS, or email? Use the telephone number below or send a quick message—a local attorney or paralegal will respond fast.
What To Do After a Motorcycle Crash in the Inland Empire (First 48 Hours)
Get medical help immediately. Use emergency care if needed. Follow physician instructions, take prescribed medication, and attend physical therapy. Save every bill, receipt, and appointment notice.
Call law enforcement. A police report (local PD, Sheriff, or California Highway Patrol) documents the scene. Ask the police officer for the report number.
Document the scene. Photograph the road, intersection, speed limit/stop sign markings, road surface, pothole, debris, and both vehicle positions. Capture damage to your bike, your helmet, protective gear/clothing, and any abrasion, road rash, or visible wounds.
Exchange information. Record the other driver’s license, insurance policy, and telephone/email address; collect witness names.
Don’t give a recorded statement or consent to broad medical releases until you get legal advice.
Call our office. Early guidance preserves evidence, traffic‑camera surveillance, and black‑box data.
California Fault & Comparative Negligence in Motorcycle Cases
California follows comparative negligence, not contributory negligence. Every driver owes a duty of care; if a reasonable person would have acted differently, legal liability is assigned by percentage. Lane changes, left‑turn errors, tailgating, distracted driving, drunk driving/driving under the influence, and unsafe speed can shift fault. Even if a plaintiff is partly at fault, compensation is reduced—not barred. Our team compiles evidence, obtains expert witness analysis, and presents clear testimony to the court or jury if a trial becomes necessary.
Lane Splitting, Visibility & Road Hazards in the Inland Empire
Riders face unique risks: lane splitting in heavy traffic, sudden merges, poor visibility, construction zones, traffic congestion, loose debris, slick weather conditions, and failing brake/tire equipment on other vehicles. Interactions with truck drivers, buses, and Uber/Lyft pickups add complexity at curbside and sidewalk edges. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes rider statistics and motorcycle safety guidance; California Highway Patrol patrols IE highway corridors (I‑10, I‑215, SR‑60, SR‑210, SR‑91). While headlines focus on Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco, the same safety principles apply here in Southern California.
Injuries & Medical Issues in the Inland Empire (Neck, Back, Brain, Skin)
Motorcycle accidents often involve orthopedic bone fractures, knee/ankle injuries, neck strain/sprain, soft tissue damage, spinal cord trauma, concussion/brain injury, and internal bleeding. Skin abrasion and rash (“road rash”) can lead to infection and scarring; severe cases cause disfigurement and reduced quality of life. Nerve pain and arm/ligament injuries are common after high‑energy impacts. We help coordinate health care, navigate health insurance issues, and document wage loss and household help. Keep all bills and payment records—these support your claim for financial compensation.
Damages You Can Pursue (Economic & Non‑Economic)
Recoverable damages may include medical expenses (ER, imaging, surgery, rehab), future care, lost income, property damage to your bike/gear, and out‑of‑pocket costs. Non‑economic harms include pain and suffering, emotional suffering, and loss of consortium. In rare cases of extreme recklessness or intoxication, punitive damages may apply. After a fatal collision, families may bring a wrongful death claim.
Insurance, Claims & Negotiation Strategy
Motorcycle claims can involve the at‑fault driver’s liability insurance, your insurance (liability insurance limits, policy coverages), and sometimes product liability if parts fail (tires, manufacturing defects). We identify policies, track claim deadlines, manage communication with each insurance company, and lead negotiation. If a carrier delays or denies unreasonably, we assess insurance bad faith. We also coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles when reporting is required after a traffic collision in the United States.
How We Build Your Case: Evidence, Experts & Legal Proceedings
Free evaluation with a local attorney—timeline, options, and your questions.
Investigation: scene mapping, bike inspection (controls, lights, tire condition), ECM/camera data, surveillance, and witness interviews.
Liability analysis: expert witness reconstruction, causation opinions, and roadway design/hazard review.
Demand & negotiation: we present damages and fault with references to California law and safety standards.
Lawsuit if needed: file the legal proceeding/complaint against each defendant; proceed through discovery, depositions, mediation, and, if necessary, trial before a judge and jury.
Resolution: settlement or verdict—we address liens so your net recovery is clear. Contingency fee; no upfront payment.
Timelines, Statutes & Reporting Duties
Strict statute of limitations rules apply in California; some public‑entity claims have shorter notice statute requirements. Call as soon as possible so we can inspect the motor vehicle, preserve camera data, and secure nearby intersection footage before it’s overwritten. We also advise on DMV reporting and license status issues (license checks) after a traffic collision. Seat‑belt statistics don’t apply to bikes (no seat belt), but helmet use and protective gear matter to injury outcomes and insurer arguments about rider behavior and risk.
Local Patterns & Safety Resources
IE riders share the road with heavy freight transport, school zones, and frequent construction. Common crash points include merges, lane splits in slow traffic, and surface hazards near stop sign corners. For safety information, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rider pages. Although media in Northern California and coastal cities often highlight different risks, Inland routes face unique traffic congestion and weather‑related hazard patterns.
We also handle personal injury matters connected to your crash: bicycle and pedestrian impacts, product liability (helmets/parts), premises liability (defective parking‑lot design contributing to a spill), and separate claims like dog bite. If nursing‑care is required after severe trauma, we coordinate with appropriate providers (note: we also handle tort claims unrelated to nursing home abuse on separate pages).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a motorcycle accident lawyer if the insurer already called me?
Yes. An adjuster represents the carrier. A lawyer protects your rights, preserves evidence, and avoids statements that harm your claim.
Is lane splitting legal?
Lane splitting has specific guidance in California. Whether it was done safely can affect negligence, comparative negligence, and legal liability analysis.
Who pays my medical bills now?
Options include health insurance, MedPay (if any), and lien‑based treatment. We seek reimbursement at settlement or verdict.
What if the driver was drunk or texting?
Drunk driving, driving under the influence, or distracted driving can support fault findings and, in extreme cases, punitive damages.
How long do I have to file?
The statute of limitations depends on the claim. Call for legal advice so we can protect your timeline under California law.
What does it cost to hire you? Contingency fee—no upfront payment. We only recover a fee if we obtain compensation for you.
Do you take cases near me?
Yes. We handle riverside motorcycle accident cases and IE crashes throughout San Bernardino and Riverside.
Talk With an Inland Empire Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, get answers now. We’ll review liability insurance, benefits, treatment options, and the path from claim to lawsuit if needed. Start by telephone at 909‑915‑0181 (Redlands) or 760‑835‑9353 (Palm Springs). Prefer text or email? Send an SMS or email to our law offices—share your telephone number and we’ll reply with next steps.
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information, not legal advice. Deadlines vary; contact a lawyer promptly.
