Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash in Delano? Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle Accident Attorney Serving Delano and Kern County

Colvin Accident Lawyers represents injured motorcyclists and the families of riders killed in crashes. The firm is based in Bakersfield and serves Delano and surrounding Kern County. Choosing a motorcycle accident attorney Delano families can trust starts with understanding how the claim works.

This page is for three kinds of readers. You may be a rider who was hurt. You may be a passenger. You may be the spouse or parent of a rider who died. Each of you faces decisions that move quickly.

Calling early helps. The crash facts, photos, witness names, and medical records are easier to gather while they are still fresh. You can call Colvin Accident Lawyers to talk through what happened. The first consultation is free and confidential, with no obligation to continue.

The firm also handles car, truck, bus, bicycle, pedestrian, dog bite, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases. This page focuses on motorcycle crashes.

Motorcycle Crashes We Handle in Delano

The firm handles motorcycle crashes where another driver, a vehicle, or a road condition caused the injury. Accident claims in Delano may involve a few common patterns.

• Left-turn collisions. A driver turns left across a rider’s path at an intersection. The rider often has little time to react.
• Rear-end and lane-change collisions. A car, pickup, or truck strikes the rider from behind or moves into the rider’s lane.
• Failure to yield or stop. A driver runs a stop sign or signal, ignores a yield sign, or is distracted.
• Road defects. Potholes, debris, or poor pavement can cause a rider to lose control. A public agency may be involved, which brings different filing rules.
• Uninsured or underinsured drivers. Some at-fault drivers carry no insurance, or not enough to cover serious injuries.
• Bus and commercial truck crashes. Larger vehicles add complex questions about who is responsible.
• Fatal crashes. Family members may bring a wrongful death claim after a rider dies.

California Law That Shapes a Motorcycle Injury Claim

California does not shut out an injured rider just because the rider shares some blame. Under the state’s pure comparative fault rule, an injured person’s own negligence does not bar recovery. Damages are reduced in proportion to that person’s percentage of fault, as Daly v. General Motors Corp. explains.

Deadlines matter. California law generally gives two years to file an injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.

Claims against a public agency follow a shorter path. A claim for injury to a person generally must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Road-defect crashes often raise this issue, so early contact helps.

Lane splitting is defined in the Vehicle Code § 21658.1 as riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane. Fault still depends on the specific facts of each crash.

Damages a Motorcycle Accident Claim May Include

A motorcycle injury claim can include two broad types of losses. California law defines them in Civil Code § 1431.2.

Economic damages are objectively verifiable money losses. These include:

• Medical bills for emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future treatment
• Lost wages and lost employment or business opportunities
• Costs to repair or replace the motorcycle, helmet, and riding gear

Non-economic damages are subjective losses. These include pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. Under the same statute, a defendant pays non-economic damages only in proportion to that defendant’s share of fault.

Families of a rider who died may have a wrongful death claim.

No amount can be promised here. Each claim’s value depends on its own medical records, bills, and evidence.

How a Delano Motorcycle Claim Moves Forward

A claim usually moves through clear stages. The steps below describe the typical path.

1. Free first consultation. You describe the crash and your injuries. The firm reviews the facts with you and answers your questions.
2. Evidence preservation. The firm works to secure photos, the police report, witness contact information, and the motorcycle and helmet. It also looks for any dashcam or traffic video.
3. Medical documentation. Treatment records are tied to the crash. Future care needs are tracked.
4. Insurance claim. The claim goes to the at-fault driver’s insurer. If the driver is uninsured, your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply. The Insurance Code § 11580.2 defines when a vehicle counts as uninsured.
5. Negotiation. The firm reviews each offer with you before any decision is made.
6. Lawsuit if needed. If a fair resolution is not reached, a lawsuit may be filed within the deadlines that apply.

Each case moves at its own pace. After the consultation, the firm explains the likely next stages for your situation.

Why Riders and Families Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield and serves Delano and Kern County. Donald Norman Colvin is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our team includes support staff who help manage each case, from records to scheduling.

The firm explains each step in plain language. You will know what evidence is being gathered and which decisions are yours to make.

California also requires every motorcycle rider and passenger to wear a helmet, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Helmet use is part of the facts reviewed in your case.

If you want to ask how the firm would approach your crash, you can contact Colvin Accident Lawyers at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents in Delano

Talk With a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Delano Now

If a crash has left you hurt, or a rider you love has died, the next weeks matter. Evidence fades, and deadlines keep running. Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers today to schedule your free, confidential first consultation and review your motorcycle claim.

Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site.