Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash?

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Delano & Tehachapi | Colvin

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash in Delano or Tehachapi, a motorcycle accident lawyer can review who may be responsible and what your claim may include. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield and represents injured riders, passengers, and families. If you need a motorcycle accident lawyer Delano Tehachapi residents can reach, this page explains the claim process before you call.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Services for Delano and Tehachapi Riders

Colvin Accident Lawyers helps injured motorcyclists, passengers, and families of riders who died after crashes with cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. The firm serves Kern County, including Delano and Tehachapi. Its listed areas also include Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, and Palmdale.

Donald Norman Colvin is the lawyer handling these matters. Our team includes office staff and assistants.

A motorcycle claim differs from a car claim in important ways. A rider has no car body around them. Injuries are often more severe, and fault is more often disputed.

For more on Kern County motorcycle crashes, read our Kern County motorcycle crash claims guide.

What a Motorcycle Accident Claim Can Include

A motorcycle accident claim can seek money for medical bills, lost income, property damage, and other losses from the crash.

• Medical costs. Emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
• Lost income. Wages lost during recovery, and lost earning ability if injuries limit future work.
• Pain and suffering. California law treats pain, suffering, and emotional distress as non-economic losses. Each defendant pays only its own share of those losses, based on its percentage of fault (Civ. Code § 1431.2).
• Property. The motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and personal items.
• Catastrophic injuries. Brain and spinal cord injuries can require long-term care planning. A motorcycle crash can cause a traumatic brain injury, including severe brain damage. Injuries between C1 and C4 in the spine can stop breathing, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
• Wrongful death. When a rider dies, certain family members may bring a claim. California allows the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children, or, if there is no surviving issue, the persons entitled to the decedent’s property by intestate succession, and certain dependents, such as parents or stepchildren who depended on the decedent, to sue (Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60). Burial costs and lost earnings are among the economic losses California law defines (Civ. Code § 1431.2).

Common Motorcycle Crash Causes and California Rules That Apply

Many motorcycle crashes start with a driver who turned, changed lanes, or did not see the rider. Knowing the common patterns helps you describe what happened.

• Left turns. A driver turns across the path of an oncoming motorcycle.
• Lane changes and blind spots. A car or truck moves into the lane where a rider is traveling.
• Lane splitting. California defines lane splitting as driving a motorcycle that has two wheels in contact with the ground between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane (Veh. Code § 21658.1). Disputes often focus on speed and lane position.
• Helmets. A driver and any passenger must wear a helmet that meets the statute’s requirements (Veh. Code § 27803).
• Hit-and-run. A driver in a crash that causes injury must immediately stop at the scene (Veh. Code § 20001).
• Public road hazards. Claims for death or injury against a public agency must be presented within six months after the claim accrues (Gov. Code § 911.2).
• Defective parts. A defective motorcycle or part can add product issues to the claim.

How a Motorcycle Injury Claim Moves Forward, Step by Step

A motorcycle injury claim usually moves from a first consultation to evidence gathering, medical records, insurance talks, and, if needed, a lawsuit.

1. First consultation. The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue. We review the crash, your injuries, and the insurance details.
2. Preserve evidence. Take photos of the scene and the bike. Save the police report number and your helmet and gear. Bikes are often towed or repaired quickly, so early records matter.
3. Investigate fault. Witness statements, scene evidence, and each vehicle’s insurance all shape who may be responsible.
4. Document care. Medical records should connect your treatment to the crash, starting from your first visit.
5. Present the claim. Insurers receive the claim, and negotiation follows.
6. File suit if needed. If an insurer will not resolve the claim fairly, a lawsuit may be the next step.

California generally allows two years from the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). The California Courts Self-Help Guide gives the same general rule, subject to exceptions and tolling. How long each step takes depends on the facts.

Why Riders in Delano and Tehachapi Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers

Colvin Accident Lawyers is a Bakersfield-based practice that handles motorcycle accident claims for riders and families in Kern County.

• The lawyer. Donald Norman Colvin handles motorcycle accident matters for the practice.
• Local base. The office is in Bakersfield. The practice serves Delano, Tehachapi, and surrounding Kern County communities.
• Support staff. Office staff and assistants are part of the team.
• Other claims. The practice also handles car, truck, bus, bicycle, pedestrian, dog bite, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims.
• Direct contact. You can reach the office by phone or through the online contact form.

No lawyer can promise a specific result in a motorcycle claim. Each claim turns on its own crash, injuries, and insurance.

Questions Riders and Families Ask Before Calling

Riders and families often ask whether they need a lawyer, who is at fault, and how long they have to act.

What if I was partly at fault?

Call Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Delano or Tehachapi Motorcycle Crash

If a car turned in front of you on a Delano street or a Tehachapi road, and you now face hospital bills and insurer calls, Colvin Accident Lawyers can help you understand your options. Send the crash details through our online contact form, or call the office to start your first consultation.

Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site. Donald Norman Colvin is the California-licensed lawyer responsible for this site.