Motorcyclists face dangers that drivers of passenger vehicles simply do not. They have no airbags, no seatbelts, no protection; just the rider, their gear, and the road. When another driver's negligence causes a crash, the consequences for the motorcyclist are almost always severe, and fatalities occur at a rate far higher than in car accidents.
At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, our San Francisco motorcycle accident attorneys represent injured riders and their families throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. With more than 75 years of combined experience handling serious personal injury cases in California, we know how to investigate motorcycle crashes, challenge unfair fault assignments, and fight for the full compensation our clients deserve.
In one recent case, we obtained a $3.8 million settlement for a motorcyclist after the police report incorrectly placed 100 percent of the fault on our client. This demonstrates how we do not back down in the face of a challenge or motorcycle bias.
Call (650) 345-8484 any time, day or night, for a free consultation. You pay nothing up front for us to begin working on your case.
Why Motorcycle Accidents in San Francisco Are So Dangerous
San Francisco has serious hazards for motorcyclists. Steep hills, tight turns, heavy traffic, and a constant mix of distracted drivers, rideshares, delivery trucks, and buses create conditions where collisions happen, and where riders pay a devastating price when they do.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area include:
- Left-turn collisions: One of the most frequent and deadly accident types, occurring when a driver turns left across a motorcyclist's path at an intersection or driveway
- Drivers backing out of driveways: A vehicle reversing onto a street without seeing an approaching rider
- Failure to yield at intersections: Drivers who run red lights or stop signs and strike motorcycles in the intersection
- Unsafe lane changes: Drivers who change lanes without checking mirrors or blind spots, cutting off or sideswiping riders
- Distracted driving: Inattentive drivers who simply do not see motorcycles until it is too late
- Dooring: A driver or passenger opening a car door into the path of an oncoming rider
- Dangerous road conditions: Potholes, uneven pavement, oil slicks, and loose gravel that are more treacherous for two-wheeled vehicles than for cars
In most motorcycle accidents, the fault lies with the driver of the other vehicle, but this doesn’t mean proving liability is simple. Our San Francisco motorcycle crash attorneys take over where the police report leaves off, collecting and preserving the evidence needed to prove what really happened.
Serving San Francisco and the Entire Bay Area
Our motorcycle accident law firm represents injured riders throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. Whether your crash occurred on city streets in the Mission or SoMa, on the Bay Bridge, along Highway 101, or anywhere else in the region, our team has the experience and resources to handle your case.
Bay Area motorcycle accident claims involve unique considerations. California's lane-splitting laws, the chaos of Bay Area freeway traffic, and the specific hazards of riding on San Francisco's hilly terrain all factor into how these cases are investigated and litigated. Our attorneys understand this environment and bring that knowledge to every case we handle.
If you are looking for a motorcycle accident attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, look no further. Our team is ready to help.
Injuries Sustained in Motorcycle Crashes
Because motorcyclists have no barrier between them and the road or another vehicle, the injuries they sustain are often catastrophic. Our motorcycle accident law firm in San Francisco has represented clients with life-changing and disabling injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The force of a motorcycle collision can cause vertebral fractures and spinal cord damage that result in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries are life-altering, requiring extensive and ongoing medical care and fundamentally changing how a person is able to live and work.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Even with a helmet, riders can sustain serious head trauma in high-impact collisions. Traumatic brain injuries range from concussions with serious effects to severe damage with lasting cognitive, emotional, and physical consequences.
Road Rash
When a rider is thrown from their motorcycle, contact with the pavement can cause severe abrasions that penetrate deep into muscle and tissue. Serious road rash can lead to nerve damage, infection, scarring, and the need for skin grafting.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Leg, arm, wrist, collarbone, and rib fractures are common in motorcycle accidents. Some fractures require surgery and extended rehabilitation, and complications can lead to chronic pain and lasting limitations in mobility and function.
Internal Injuries
Blunt force trauma from a collision or impact with the road can damage internal organs in ways that are not immediately visible. Internal injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Soft Tissue and Nerve Damage
Ligament tears, muscle injuries, and nerve damage can cause chronic pain, weakness, and loss of sensation that persist long after the visible injuries have healed. These injuries are frequently undervalued by insurers despite their significant impact on a rider's quality of life.
Never assume that your injuries are too minor or severe to seek legal help from our team.
Demonstrating Fault in San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Cases
Fault is one of the most contested aspects of any motorcycle accident claim. Insurance companies and defense teams routinely attempt to blame the rider, as the law reduces an injured claimant’s compensation if they share some of the blame. These arguments are typically designed to reduce or eliminate the compensation owed, and they do not always reflect what actually happened.
Overcoming Motorcycle Bias
Motorcyclists face a bias that follows them from the accident scene into the insurance process and sometimes, even into the courtroom. Insurers and juries alike can have preconceived assumptions that riders are reckless by nature. In California, where lane-splitting is legal, adjusters and opposing counsel frequently use it to paint a rider as careless, even when it had nothing to do with the crash. Our legal team anticipates these arguments and builds cases that address them head-on, keeping the focus on the driver's conduct and the facts of what actually happened.
Proving and Recovering Damages After a Motorcycle Accident in California
Knowing what you are owed is only part of the equation. Building a claim that actually recovers those damages requires documentation and, often, expert support.
Medical expenses are the foundation of most motorcycle injury claims, but they require more than a stack of bills. Our team works with your treating physicians to establish the full scope of your injuries, the necessity of each treatment, and the projected cost of any future care. For riders facing long-term or permanent conditions, we consult medical experts who can speak to what ongoing treatment will realistically require and cost over time.
Lost income and earning capacity must be documented with pay records, tax returns, and employer statements to establish what you were earning before the crash. When injuries prevent a return to your previous occupation, vocational experts can speak to how the injury has affected your career options and what that loss is worth over the course of a working life.
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are harder to quantify but no less real and no less recoverable. Building a compelling case for non-economic damages requires detailed medical records, testimony about day-to-day limitations, and a clear picture of how the injury has changed the rider's life. For crashes resulting in permanent disability, disfigurement, or PTSD, this documentation becomes especially important.
The strength of a damages case often determines the difference between a fair settlement and an inadequate one. Our attorneys build the evidentiary record from the start so that every category of loss is supported, documented, and fully accounted for.
Why Choose Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos?
Injured motorcyclists throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area choose our firm because we bring genuine experience and full commitment to every case. Here is what that means in practice:
- We investigate immediately: Evidence disappears fast after a motorcycle crash. We move quickly to document the scene, secure surveillance footage, obtain police reports, and locate witnesses before critical evidence is lost.
- We handle cases on contingency: There are no upfront costs and no fees unless we recover compensation for you. We advance all costs of investigation and litigation throughout the case.
- We are trial-ready: While many motorcycle accident cases resolve through settlement, we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. That preparation changes how insurers negotiate and consistently produces better outcomes for our clients.
- We have results: Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for motorcycle accident victims in San Francisco and throughout California, including in cases where initial fault findings worked against our clients.
Why You Should Never Delay in Seeking the Right Legal Help
Time is critical after a motorcycle accident. Evidence that supports your case disappears quickly. Injured riders who wait to seek guidance often find themselves at a disadvantage before they fully understand what is at stake. Early statements to insurance adjusters, gaps in medical treatment, and delays in preserving evidence can all be used to limit the compensation you receive.
There is also a firm legal deadline. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, injured victims generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline forfeits the right to pursue compensation entirely, and certain cases involving government entities or publicly maintained roadways carry even shorter deadlines.
Acting quickly protects your evidence, your rights, and your ability to recover the full compensation you deserve.
Contact a San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in San Francisco or anywhere in the Bay Area, Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos is ready to help. Our consultations are free, available 24 hours a day, and carry no obligation.
Call (650) 345-8484 or contact us online to speak with a San Francisco motorcycle accident attorney today. Never wait, as every day matters when it comes to preserving your case.