Injured in a Motorcycle Crash? Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers

Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys | Colvin

Injured riders, passengers, and families of riders killed in crashes often need motorcycle accident attorneys Fresno residents can call for clear answers. Colvin Accident Lawyers is a personal injury firm based in Bakersfield, California. It helps accident victims and families in Fresno, Visalia, Delano, Tehachapi, Lancaster, and Palmdale.

Who a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Helps and What the Service Covers

A motorcycle accident attorney represents people hurt in a motorcycle crash and families who lose a rider. Colvin Accident Lawyers handles these cases, along with car, truck, bus, bicycle, pedestrian, dog bite, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death matters.

Many motorcycle crashes involve:

• A car, truck, or bus turning across a rider’s path
• A driver changing lanes into a motorcycle’s space
• A pedestrian or other road user who steps into the rider’s path
• Road conditions that cause a rider to lose control

The work after the crash includes:

• Investigating how the crash happened
• Collecting police and medical records
• Communicating with insurers
• Valuing damages and negotiating
• Filing a lawsuit when a claim cannot be resolved without one

How Fault Is Decided in Fresno Motorcycle Accident Claims

Fault in motorcycle crashes often comes from:

• Left turns across a rider’s path
• Right-of-way mistakes at intersections
• Following too closely
• Distracted driving
• Lane changes into a motorcycle’s space

When more than one party is at fault, Civil Code § 1431.2 limits each defendant’s share of non-economic damages to its own percentage of fault.

California helmet rules matter too. Vehicle Code § 27803 requires a driver and any passenger to wear a safety helmet when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle operated on the highways, and it is unlawful to operate or ride as a passenger without one. The section does not apply to a person operating, or riding as a passenger in, a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle that meets its listed requirements. How a helmet question affects a claim depends on the facts of the crash.

Police reports, witness statements, photos, and vehicle damage all help show what happened.

Injuries, Damages, and Wrongful Death Claims

A motorcycle injury claim covers losses you can document and harm that is harder to measure. Under Civil Code § 1431.2, economic losses are objectively verifiable, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic losses are subjective, such as pain, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.

Common motorcycle injuries include road rash, fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injury, and amputations. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke provides general information about spinal cord injuries. The Administration for Community Living states that a motorcycle crash can cause traumatic brain injury, including severe brain damage.

Soft-tissue and concussion injuries can be harder to prove. Consistent treatment and clear medical records help show how the injury affects daily life.

For wrongful death, Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 lets a surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, or issue of deceased children bring the claim, or, if there is no surviving issue, the persons who would inherit the decedent’s property by intestate succession; the decedent’s personal representative may bring it on their behalf. Certain dependents, including parents and stepchildren, may also qualify.

The general limit is set by Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, which sets a two-year limit for actions for injury or death. Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, an action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another must be brought within two years.

If a public entity may be involved, Government Code § 911.2 requires a claim for death or personal injury to be presented within six months after it accrues.

How the Claim Process Works, Step by Step

A claim usually moves from a first consultation to evidence gathering, insurer talks, negotiation, and, when needed, a lawsuit.

1. First consultation: Review the crash facts, your injuries, and the insurance involved.
2. Evidence gathering: Collect the crash report, photos, medical records, and witness information.
3. Insurer communication: Your lawyer can handle contact with adjusters, so you don’t have to take those calls alone.
4. Demand and negotiation: Once injuries are documented and treatment status is known, the claim value is negotiated.
5. Lawsuit, if needed: If talks do not resolve the claim, the case may move into discovery, mediation, or trial preparation.

Timing varies with injury severity, treatment length, insurer response, and court schedules. No single timeline fits every case.

Insurance Companies, Recorded Statements, and What to Share With Your Lawyer

Insurance adjusters evaluate claims for the insurer. Early offers can come before the full extent of your injuries is known.

Sympathy is not the same as fault. Evidence Code § 1160 keeps expressions of sympathy from being used as an admission of liability, but a statement of fault is not protected. Insurance Code § 790.03 lists misleading a claimant about the statute of limitations as an unfair claims practice when done knowingly or as a general business practice.

Protect your claim by doing these things:

• Report the accident and get medical care. The California Highway Patrol advises calling 9-1-1 after an accident involving injury and giving the location and basic emergency details.
• Speak with your lawyer before giving a recorded statement or signing a release.
• Share all the facts, prior injuries, prior claims, and every treatment provider with your lawyer.
• Keep a simple log of symptoms, appointments, and missed work.
• Avoid guessing about fault or downplaying your injuries.

Why Riders and Families Choose Colvin Accident Lawyers

Colvin Accident Lawyers is a personal injury firm based in Bakersfield, California. Donald Norman Colvin is the responsible attorney for this page.

Support staff assist with case intake and records. Our team works with riders and families who need to understand their options after a crash.

Key features of the firm’s service include:

• A free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue
• Direct phone contact with the firm
• A Bakersfield base that serves Fresno County riders and families, with the intake process explained up front

Your Free First Consultation: What to Expect

Your first consultation is free, confidential, and without obligation to continue.

To make the most of it, bring:

• The crash report number, if you have it
• Photos of the scene, your bike, and your injuries
• Medical records and bills
• Insurance contact information for all parties
• A short written timeline of the crash

At the consultation, the attorney reviews how the crash happened, your injuries and treatment, the insurance involved, and which deadlines may apply. You can request your consultation through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Fresno Riders Rely On

Talk With Colvin About Your Fresno Motorcycle Crash

If a crash left you or someone you love hurt or grieving, the next decision is whether to speak with counsel before the insurer’s next call. Call Colvin Accident Lawyers or contact us now to start that conversation.

Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site. Responsible attorney: Donald Norman Colvin.