Motorcycle Accident Attorney San Francisco

San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Protecting Rider Rights

Motorcycle riders face unique dangers on the road — and unique challenges when pursuing an injury claim. Without the protection of a vehicle frame, airbags, or seatbelts, motorcyclists are far more vulnerable to serious injuries in a collision. Making matters worse, insurance companies routinely carry a bias against motorcycle riders, often trying to blame the rider regardless of the facts. Attorney Michael Martinovsky understands motorcycle law in California and fights aggressively to ensure riders receive fair treatment and full compensation.

Types of Motorcycle Accidents We Handle

Attorney Martinovsky represents motorcycle riders injured in all types of collisions throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area:

• Lane splitting accidents — California is the only state that legally permits lane splitting (CVC 21658.1). When motorcyclists are riding between lanes of slow or stopped traffic and are struck by a motorist who changes lanes without looking or opens a door, the motorist is often at fault. We protect riders who were lane splitting legally and safely.
• Left-turn accidents — One of the most common and dangerous scenarios for motorcyclists. A car or truck making a left turn fails to see an oncoming motorcycle and turns directly into the rider's path. These collisions often result in severe injuries.
• Rear-end collisions — A following vehicle strikes a motorcycle from behind, often at a stoplight or in traffic. Even a low-speed rear-end hit can throw a rider from the bike and cause serious injury.
• Dooring accidents — A parked vehicle occupant opens their door directly into the path of an approaching motorcycle. These sudden, unavoidable collisions are common on busy San Francisco streets and can cause devastating injuries.
• Intersection collisions — Drivers running red lights, failing to yield, or failing to see a motorcycle at intersections. Motorcycles are harder for other drivers to spot, making intersection crashes especially common.
• Road hazard accidents — Potholes, gravel, uneven pavement, railroad tracks, and other road defects that are minor inconveniences for cars but can be deadly for motorcyclists.

Severe Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

The lack of physical protection makes motorcycle accident injuries particularly severe. Common injuries include:

• Road rash — Abrasion injuries from sliding across pavement that can range from minor scrapes to deep wounds requiring skin grafts and leaving permanent scarring
• Bone fractures — Broken legs, arms, wrists, collarbones, and ribs are extremely common in motorcycle accidents and may require multiple surgeries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — Even with a helmet, the force of impact can cause concussions, brain contusions, or severe traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive effects
• Spinal cord injuries — Damage to the spinal cord that can result in partial or complete paralysis, fundamentally changing a rider's life
• Internal injuries — Damage to organs from blunt force impact that may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening
• Disfigurement and scarring — Permanent scarring from road rash, burns, or surgical procedures that affect both physical appearance and emotional well-being

Insurance Company Bias Against Motorcyclists

One of the biggest challenges motorcycle accident victims face is systemic bias from insurance companies. Adjusters often assume that motorcyclists are reckless thrill-seekers and will look for any reason to shift blame onto the rider. Common tactics include:

• Claiming the rider was speeding or driving aggressively without evidence
• Arguing that lane splitting was unsafe, even when it was performed legally and responsibly
• Suggesting that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous and the rider assumed the risk
• Minimizing the severity of injuries or attributing them to pre-existing conditions
• Offering lowball settlement amounts hoping the injured rider will accept out of desperation

Attorney Martinovsky knows these tactics and counters them with thorough evidence gathering, accident reconstruction when necessary, expert testimony, and aggressive negotiation. He ensures that bias against motorcyclists does not prevent you from receiving the compensation you deserve.

California Motorcycle Laws

Lane splitting (CVC 21658.1): California is the only state that explicitly permits lane splitting — the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. The California Highway Patrol recommends that riders lane split only when traffic is moving at 30 mph or slower and the motorcyclist does not exceed surrounding traffic speed by more than 10 mph. If you were lane splitting within safe parameters and were struck by another vehicle, you have every right to pursue compensation.

Helmet law (CVC 27803): California requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant helmet at all times while riding. Failure to wear a helmet does not bar you from recovering damages, but it may reduce your compensation for head injuries under California's comparative negligence system if the defense can show a helmet would have prevented or reduced those specific injuries.

Comparative negligence: California's pure comparative negligence rule applies to motorcycle accident cases just as it does to car accidents. Even if you were partially at fault — for example, slightly exceeding the recommended lane splitting speed — you can still recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault.

Why Choose Attorney Martinovsky for Your Motorcycle Accident Case

• Understands rider rights — Knowledge of California motorcycle laws including lane splitting and helmet requirements
• Fights insurance bias — Experienced in countering anti-motorcyclist prejudice from insurance adjusters
• Personal attention — You work directly with Attorney Martinovsky, not a paralegal or case manager
• Proven education — UC Berkeley undergraduate, University of Iowa College of Law (top 20 nationally ranked)
• Trilingual service — Representation available in English, Spanish, and Russian
• Contingency fee — No fee unless we win your case. You pay nothing upfront.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents