Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash in Bakersfield? Talk to Colvin Accident Lawyers.

If you’re looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Visalia, here is the short answer. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California, and represents motorcycle riders and passengers in Visalia and Tulare County. This guide covers local crash patterns, the state rules that shape a claim, and the first steps to take.

Motorcycle Accidents in Visalia and Tulare County

Motorcycle crashes in Visalia happen on city streets, rural roads, and busy highways. Highway 198 runs through the Visalia area. Riders share lanes with commuter cars, delivery vehicles, and farm trucks.

Each road type brings its own risks. Heavy, slow traffic near town centers leaves little room to react. Rural roads can have sudden curves and loose debris. Drivers on faster roads may misjudge how quickly a motorcycle is closing in.

A motorcycle offers far less protection than a car. There is no steel frame or airbag between the rider and the road. That exposure is one reason a crash can cause serious injury.

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California. The firm represents motorcycle riders and passengers in Visalia, Tulare County, and the other communities it serves. Its work covers the crash, the medical care that follows, and the claim with the insurance company.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in the Visalia Area

Some motorcycle crashes involve a driver who turns or changes lanes into a rider’s path. Certain collision patterns are worth understanding.

• Left turns and lane changes. A driver turns across the rider’s lane or moves over without checking mirrors and blind spots.
• Rear-end impacts. A driver shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, under Vehicle Code § 21703. Heavy, slow traffic makes this a frequent problem.
• Speed. Driving faster than is reasonable or prudent for the conditions breaks Vehicle Code § 22350.
• Road hazards. Gravel, debris, potholes, and uneven pavement can cause a rider to lose control.

Crashes involving commercial trucks or buses can add another party and more insurance coverage. For interstate for-hire carriers hauling nonhazardous property in vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds, federal rules set a minimum of $750,000 in public liability coverage, under 49 C.F.R. § 387.9.

California Rules That Shape a Motorcycle Injury Claim

Your own share of fault lowers what you can recover. It does not automatically end your claim.

Helmet use is also part of the picture. Vehicle Code § 27803 requires a driver and any passenger to wear a safety helmet that meets state standards. Cal. Veh. Code § 27803 reads: “(f) This section does not apply to a person operating, or riding as a passenger in, a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle that is not less than seven feet in length and not less than four feet in width, and has an unladen weight of 900 pounds or more, if the vehicle meets or exceeds all of the requirements of this code, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the rules and regulations adopted by the United States Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.” How helmet use is weighed depends on the crash.

Timing matters. Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 provides for an action for injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect within two years. The California Courts Self-Help Guide says motorcycle injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years, subject to exceptions.

If a city, county, or other public agency is involved, a shorter clock may apply. Government Code § 911.2 requires a claim for injury to a person to be presented not later than six months after the claim accrues. The Insurance Code also lists misleading a claimant as to the applicable statute of limitations as an unfair claims settlement practice when done knowingly or with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice, under Insurance Code § 790.03.

Steps to Take in the First Days After a Motorcycle Crash

Get medical care first. Even if injuries seem minor, a doctor can check for hidden harm. Keep every appointment and follow-up visit.

Call 9-1-1 if anyone is hurt. The California Highway Patrol advises calling 9-1-1 after a motorcycle accident involving injury. Give the dispatcher the location and basic emergency details.

Once the scene is safe, take these steps:

• Photograph the scene, your motorcycle, damaged gear, and visible injuries before repairs or cleanup.
• Get names, phone numbers, and insurance details for every driver and witness.
• Make sure a police report is filed.
• Keep receipts for medical bills, lost wages, and damaged property.
• Write down how the crash affects your daily life, work, and family.

Think carefully before giving a recorded statement to an insurer. Do this especially before you understand your injuries and options.

Injuries and Losses Common in Motorcycle Crashes

Road rash, broken bones, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries are among the injuries riders often suffer. A motorcycle crash can cause a traumatic brain injury, including severe brain damage. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that the spinal cord is protected by three layers of tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. An injury between the C1 and C4 segments can stop breathing, because those nerves control the diaphragm.

Catastrophic injuries can need long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and changes to work or family life. These effects can shape a claim over time.

Wrongful death is a separate claim. Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 lists who may bring a wrongful death claim. That includes the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner (meaning a person in a registered domestic partnership established in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 297 of the Family Code), and children, or the personal representative on their behalf. Civil Code § 3333 measures damages for breach of an obligation not arising from contract, except where otherwise expressly provided by this Code, as the amount that compensates for all the detriment proximately caused.

If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own policy may matter. Insurance Code § 11580.2 requires insurers to provide uninsured motorist coverage in each bodily injury liability policy they issue, but the insurer and applicant may delete the coverage completely or delete it when a motor vehicle is operated by a natural person or persons designated by name.

Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Visalia Motorcycle Crash

A first consultation lets you review the crash facts, your injuries, and the insurance claim with a California lawyer. Donald Norman Colvin is the responsible lawyer for this page.

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