Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield has a heart for injured motorcyclists.
We want to see them get supported through a full recovery.
We never want to see these heartbreaking situations in particular:
- Injured riders left to stress about medical debt while insurers delay.
- Injured victims unable to pay their rent, mortgages, and other monthly bills because they can’t work.
These and other hardships are 100% the responsibility of reckless drivers and their car insurance providers.
These and other hardships are 100% the responsibility of reckless drivers and their car insurance providers.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation for all motorcycle accident victims in Kern County. It’s a chance to find out how to hold car insurance companies fully accountable.
How Do I Decide If I Need a Lawyer After a Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident?
The seriousness of your injuries determines whether you need a lawyer:
- If you have a few minor scrapes and bruises or just motorcycle damage, you may not require the assistance of a lawyer. You can probably get fair treatment by filing yourself.
- If a careless driver hits you and you come away with serious injuries, it’s a good idea to speak to a reputable lawyer about your options.
A skilled Bakersfield motorcycle accident lawyer is a safeguard when car insurance companies bristle over rising medical bills due to injuries like broken bones or neck and back injuries. Your lawyer fully investigates your accident and collects all evidence so you can fight back when insurers try to blame you.
Your attorney doesn’t let insurers discount the severity of your injuries, simply to get away with providing you with less. The experience of a great attorney often means you’ll be getting much more for your motorcycle injury than if you decide to handle your claim yourself.
How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
An experienced attorney will need to go over your accident with you and investigate the case before being able to give you an accurate estimate on what you might earn.
A partial estimate can be arrived at by calculating the totals on your medical bills. The paychecks you’ve lost while you’ve been out of work will also factor in. How long you are off your motorcycle with an injury and how long you are off the job are major parts of your take-home support.
But your attorney will be demanding support for much more than just your financial concerns:
- The costs of medical care (Current and Future)
- The cost of long-term care when riders suffer a permanent physical disability
- Money for motorcycle repairs or replacement
- Travel costs when visiting doctors and specialists
- Support for the income and benefits victims lose while unable to work
- Support for pain and suffering, including emotional trauma caused by a frightening crash and by a difficult recovery
- Support for the loss of enjoyment of life, including the time motorcyclists must be off the road
Wrongful Death Benefits. Families can lose a loved one to a driver’s mistake in the blink of an eye. They’ll have to grieve the heartbreaking loss, but they’ll also have to cope with the financial difficulties that a tragic accident can bring. Families must receive help with buying a casket and the cost of a proper funeral.
They should get support for the emotional loss they’ll experience now and in the years ahead. Close relatives must also get prompt assistance in replacing the income the deceased motorcyclist may have supported the family with each month.
The Driver Mistakes That Lead to Motorcycle Accidents
Drivers across Kern County don’t always keep their focus on the road, and that error in judgment can be deadly for riders. It just takes a bit of attention to realize a motorcyclist is riding alongside your vehicle or traveling in the opposite lanes.
Unfortunately, not all drivers look twice before switching lanes and turning, leaving riders to either lose control while trying to steer out of the way or send them into collisions.
These are just a few of the driver mistakes that force motorcycle crashes:
- Distracted Driving – drivers looking at cellphone screens or distracted by conversations can miss the smaller profile of a motorcycle and pull into the path of a rider.
- Left and Right Turns – Drivers can get anxious while waiting on traffic to pass to make a turn. They can see an opening and hit the gas, only to discover they didn’t wait long enough to spot an approaching rider.
- Lane Splitting – This is a legal maneuver for motorcyclists in California. It’s usually done at intersections where traffic is stopped. Riders are allowed to pull between cars and move to the front of the pack. But not all drivers are aware of the rider’s right, or just don’t care. They can open their doors when a motorcycle pulls up alongside. They can switch lanes while in an intersection to cause a devastating collision.
- Aggressive Lane Changes – Drivers in their bigger cars, SUVs, and trucks can fail to check blind spots when they merge onto a highway or switch lanes on a busy road like Ming Avenue.
- Rearend Collisions – Distracted drivers can fail to notice a light changing to red. They might never hit the brakes before slamming into the rear end of a motorcycle. The rider can end up flying over the car or end up on the hood to suffer major injuries.
- Dooring Accidents with Parked Cars – Drivers rarely look properly for motorcyclists while they drive. They make even less effort with the park and get out of their cars. If they park along a street, they can pop open a door in front of an approaching rider. This puts a wall of metal door frame and window in front of the motorcyclist.
These types of collisions often lead to obvious decisions about who is to blame. A Bakersfield police report may also make it clear that a careless driver was to blame. However, insurance companies get away with shifting the blame to riders all the time.
They like to play on old stereotypes of “reckless motorcyclists.” A skilled attorney delivers the evidence to make sure the fault stays with the driver.
How Many Motorcycle Accidents Happen In Bakersfield?
According to California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Bakersfield has averaged 87 motorcycle accidents involving injury annually (2020-2024). In that time, the city has seen around 5 tragic fatalities a year.
In 2024, Bakersfield recorded 99 serious motorcycle accidents, and thankfully, no fatalities. Unfortunately, 2023 had fewer accidents but many more fatal outcomes. 2023 brought 90 serious motorcycle accidents and at least 7 deaths.
Highway 99 was the scene for 10 serious motorcycle accidents in Kern County in 2024.
State Route 178 was the scene for 15 serious motorcycle accidents and at least 4 tragic deaths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait before filing a motorcycle accident claim?
Victims are granted up to two years to file a claim in California. However, you should move as soon as possible on your case. Waiting can make it harder to secure valuable evidence and to locate witnesses who have moved away.
How will I afford to pay a motorcycle accident lawyer while trying to cover my hospital bills?
We understand that accidents leave victims both physically and financially devastated. It’s why our Bakersfield lawyers work under contingency agreements. It’s a contract that states the lawyer doesn’t earn anything unless the case is won. If the case is lost, you don’t owe our law firm any money. If the case is successful, you still don’t have to find the money to pay us. Our fee is covered out of the motorcycle accident settlement check that an insurance company must provide for you.
Contact an Attorney Who Backs Your Motorcycle Accident Claim with Evidence and Fights to Earn You More
Our attorneys never want to see injured riders struggling to pay medical bills after an accident caused by a reckless driver. Those costs are the responsibility of the at-fault drivers and their auto insurance providers. Our Bakersfield motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to get aggressive with insurers that don’t immediately accept blame.
If you have a serious injury, and a driver caused your accident, contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield to schedule a free consultation. It’s a confidential, no-obligation review of your case with a real car accident lawyer.
We don’t stop fighting until you are healthy again, you have a motorcycle you can ride again, and your financial worries are a thing of the past.