San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Bay Area Motorcycle Accident Injury Claims Explained

Motorcycle accidents kill hundreds and injure thousands of riders in California every year. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are preventable, and are often caused by other negligent motorists who cut motorcyclists off in traffic, nearly run them off the road, or fail to yield when the biker had the right-of-way.

According to statistics from the NHTSA, motorcyclists are five times more likely to suffer injuries in a motor vehicle accident and 26 times more likely to die than the occupants of a passenger vehicle. The fact is: Drivers of larger vehicles tend not to see motorcycles; this negligence often results in accidents and injuries.

Negligent Motorists: Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Driving while distracted or intoxicated
• Making an unsafe lane change
• Opening car doors without looking
• Making an abrupt or sudden stop
• Turning into the path of a motorcyclist
• Failing to give riders enough space

At Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, our motorcycle accident attorneys in San Francisco understand the dangerous situations that motorcyclists must commonly face. They have far less protection than passenger vehicles and are subject to much more devastating injuries. Let us fight to help you recover the compensation you deserve after another driver causes an accident that leaves you suffering from a serious injury.

Call Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn at (415) 940-7176 to discuss how we can help.

Advocating for Motorcyclists' Rights: Overcoming Bias in Claims

One of the challenges of a motorcycle accident claim isn’t proving that the other driver was negligent, but overcoming jurors’ negative perceptions of motorcyclists. A majority of jurors have no experience riding motorcycles and may view riders as "rebels" who accept the dangers of riding. As persuasive trial attorneys, we help jurors acknowledge that they may have a blind spot when it comes to recognizing motorcyclists’ legal rights. The result has been substantial verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured motorcyclists.

Understanding Lane Splitting: Is It Legal in California?

Currently, California is the only state in the U.S. that permits the practice of lane splitting.

In 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 51, legalizing the practice of lane splitting, which allows motorcyclists to pass other vehicles by riding between them along the lane line. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), helps define and establish clear rules on late-splitting to ensure safety on the road.

The legislation was drafted in response to the growing confusion and concern of lane splitting among motorcyclists and motorists in California. While lane splitting has been in use by motorcyclists for decades, it was unclear whether the practice was legal or illegal, thus falling into a controversial gray area.

AB 51 removes this gray area and hopes to reduce the number of lane-splitting accidents by allowing the DMV and the California Highway Patrol to create official safety guidelines for lane-splitting behavior.

Our Proven Success: Motorcycle Accident Case Results

Our lawyers are recognized for the results we obtain on behalf of our clients. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury, it is crucial that you choose an attorney with a proven record of success.

As an example, our firm was able to recover $8,750,000 in a wrongful death case on behalf of a family who lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident that was caused by an inattentive driver. In another case, our firm recovered $1,250,000 when a driver made a last-second lane change and struck the motorcyclist.

Attorney John Feder discusses a $8,750,000 recovery he obtained in a fatal motorcycle accident case.