Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Bakersfield, the largest city in Kern County, sees substantial Interstate 5, SR-99, and oilfield-related injury volume — including heavy-truck, industrial, and commercial-vehicle crashes. If you or a loved one was hurt in a Bakersfield motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more — even if you were partly at fault.
Call (310) 288-3000 for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident attorney at Saeedian Law Group. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
California is home to more than 900,000 registered motorcycles and some of the best riding in the country — PCH, the Angeles Crest, Highway 33, Mulholland, the Sierra passes. It is also home to some of the most aggressive defense tactics against injured riders anywhere in the United States. Adjusters often start from a presumption that the rider was at fault and work backward from there. Saeedian Law Group represents injured riders and their families across California and pushes back against that bias with evidence.
Bakersfield — Where These Cases Happen
Saeedian Law Group represents injured people across Bakersfield — Downtown, Oleander-Sunset, La Cresta, the Northeast, Westchester, Rosedale, and the oilfield and ag corridors surrounding the city. Most serious Bakersfield crashes occur on SR-99 (Golden State Highway), SR-58, I-5 (the Grapevine), SR-178, Rosedale Highway, Stockdale Highway, and White Lane. Bakersfield PD, Kern County Sheriff, and CHP Bakersfield and Buttonwillow produce the primary collision reports.
For a preliminary estimate of case value, try our California accident settlement calculator or read our breakdown of how injury compensation is calculated in California.
California Motorcycle Law Every Rider Should Know
Lane splitting is legal in California.
California became the first U.S. state to formally legalize lane splitting under Vehicle Code § 21658.1. The CHP has issued lane-splitting safety guidelines, but no specific speed differential is codified — reasonableness is the standard. A lane-splitting rider is not automatically at fault for a resulting collision.
California is a universal-helmet state.
All riders and passengers must wear a DOT-approved helmet under Vehicle Code § 27803. However, a failure to wear a helmet does not automatically bar recovery — it goes to comparative fault only where the lack of helmet actually contributed to the specific injury claimed (the “seatbelt defense” analogue).
Types of California Motorcycle Accidents We Handle
Car turning left across the rider’s path of travel — the single most common rider-fatality scenario.
Drivers failing to see motorcycles in adjacent lanes — inattentive blindspot checks.
Following too closely or failing to anticipate a motorcycle’s shorter stopping distance.
A driver or passenger opening a door into a rider’s path — Veh. Code § 22517.
Crossover crashes on two-lane highways — often catastrophic or fatal for riders.
Traction-loss crashes triggered by road defects, fluids, or aggressive evasive input.
Red-light runners and stop-sign failures in urban and suburban intersections.
Motorists intentionally or negligently closing a gap a lane-splitting rider is occupying.
Potholes, gravel, uneven pavement, and Caltrans work-zone issues are severe for two-wheel vehicles.
Brake, tire, or frame defects — potential product-liability claims against the manufacturer.
Chain-reaction crashes where a third motorist triggers the pileup.
Impaired drivers striking riders — strong grounds for punitive damages.
Common Causes of California Motorcycle Accidents
Drivers violating Veh. Code § 21801 by turning across oncoming motorcycle traffic.
Drivers not clearing blind spots before merging — motorcycles disappear into mirror gaps.
Failing to account for shorter motorcycle stopping distance and quick deceleration.
Handheld device use prohibited under Veh. Code § 23123.5 — a top factor.
Triggers punitive damages under Civil Code § 3294.
Particularly in rain, fog, canyon roads, and crest-of-hill intersections.
Potholes, utility cuts, gravel, fluid spills — potential government-entity claims.
Opening a vehicle door into traffic without checking — very severe on motorcycle impact.
Brake, tire, or frame defects on the motorcycle itself — product-liability exposure.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Most common defendant — direct negligence under ordinary traffic rules.
Vicarious liability where the at-fault driver was on the job or in a fleet vehicle.
Caltrans or a city for a dangerous road condition — strict 6-month deadline under Gov. Code § 911.2.
Product-liability exposure for brake, tire, ABS, or frame defects.
Defective helmet retention, shell, or protective-gear claims in catastrophic-injury cases.
Negligent repair, recall neglect, or improper install of aftermarket parts.
Dram-shop claims where alcohol was served to an obviously intoxicated minor — B&P Code § 25602.1.
Third drivers whose conduct triggered the collision chain — pure comparative fault applies.
Damages Available in a California Motorcycle Accident Case
Economic Damages
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitation, PT, and home-health care
- Motorcycle repair or total-loss recovery
- Replacement of riding gear
- Funeral and burial costs (wrongful death)
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring (road rash)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (spouse)
- Loss of society (wrongful death)
Punitive Damages
- DUI / drug-impaired drivers
- Street-racing or reckless-driving conduct
- Deliberate aggressive-driving incidents
- Under Civil Code § 3294: oppression, fraud, malice
General California Settlement Ranges by Injury Severity
Motorcycle cases commonly recover more than comparable car-crash cases because the injuries tend to be more severe (riders have no crumple zone or airbag). The ranges below reflect general patterns and are not predictions or offers.
| Injury Severity | Typical Profile | General Range (CA) |
|---|---|---|
| Minor road rash / strain | Full recovery in weeks, no surgery | $10,000–$40,000 |
| Moderate injury | Fractures w/o surgery, skin grafts, months of treatment | $40,000–$175,000 |
| Serious / surgical | ORIF fractures, herniations with surgery, lasting impairment | $175,000–$800,000 |
| Severe / permanent | TBI, spinal cord injury, amputation, severe burns | $800,000–$3,000,000+ |
| Catastrophic / wrongful death | Paralysis, severe TBI, fatalities | $1,500,000–policy/asset limits |
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is evaluated on its own facts, liability evidence, and available insurance coverage.
Why Choose Saeedian Law Group?
Founded in 2009, focused exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death.
Lane-splitting, helmet, and rider-bias issues handled with evidence, not assumptions.
Insurers track which firms actually try cases. We prepare every file as if it will be tried.
Work directly with your attorney — not a rotating cast of case managers.
Contingency representation — nothing up front and nothing along the way.
English and Spanish speaking staff for every case consultation.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in California
Rider-specific steps in the first 24 hours often determine how an adjuster frames your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
⚠ Statute of Limitations Alert
- Personal injury: 2 years from the crash (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1).
- Property damage: 3 years from the crash (Code Civ. Proc. § 338).
- Government entity claim (Caltrans, city, transit agency): 6 months to file a formal claim (Gov. Code § 911.2).
- Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death.
- Special rules apply to minors, incapacitating injuries, and cases with criminal charges pending.
Miss the deadline and your claim is almost always permanently barred, regardless of merit.
Where Your Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Case Gets Filed
Bakersfield civil matters are filed in Kern County Superior Court at the B.F. Sisk Metropolitan Division Courthouse (1415 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield). Venue is governed by CCP § 395.
Speak With a Bakersfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
A motorcycle crash can change your health, your work, and your freedom of movement in a single instant. You do not have to handle it alone, and you do not have to let an insurance adjuster decide what your claim is worth.
Call (310) 288-3000 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a California motorcycle accident attorney at Saeedian Law Group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in California?
Yes. California formally legalized lane splitting in 2017 under Vehicle Code § 21658.1. A rider is not automatically at fault for a lane-splitting crash — insurers often assert otherwise, but the law does not support that presumption. Reasonableness under the circumstances is the standard.
Does not wearing a helmet hurt my case?
Lack of a helmet only matters where the absence of a helmet actually contributed to the injury you are claiming — typically head or brain injury. For leg fractures, road rash, or internal injuries unrelated to the head, helmet status is generally inadmissible. Insurers still try to use it; a motorcycle lawyer can keep the issue in its proper lane.
How much is my California motorcycle case worth?
Value depends on injury severity and permanence, medical expenses, lost earnings, liability evidence, available insurance, and comparative fault. Because rider injuries tend to be more severe than car-occupant injuries, motorcycle settlements commonly exceed comparable car-crash outcomes.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit?
Two years from the date of the crash for personal injury, three years for property damage, and six months for government-entity claims. Wrongful death is two years from the date of death. Exceptions can toll deadlines — talk to a lawyer promptly.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if partly at fault — your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. A rider found 25% at fault on $200,000 in damages could still recover $150,000.
What if the other driver had no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is the primary source. If the driver had some coverage but not enough, underinsured (UIM) coverage fills the gap. These claims are governed by Insurance Code § 11580.2 and frequently end in arbitration.
Who pays my medical bills after a California motorcycle accident?
In the short term — your own health insurance, your MedPay coverage, or a medical provider willing to treat on a lien. The at-fault driver’s insurer typically does not pay until the case is resolved. See our guide on who pays medical bills in a car accident in California.
What if a road defect caused my crash?
You may have a dangerous-condition-of-public-property claim against Caltrans or the responsible city under the Government Claims Act. The deadline is strict: six months from the date of injury. These cases require notice of the condition, notice of prior incidents, and expert roadway-engineering testimony.
Will I have to go to court?
Most California motorcycle cases settle before trial. Insurers are, however, more willing to take rider cases to trial than typical auto cases — they expect juror bias. Trial readiness is therefore especially important for motorcycle claims.
How much does a California motorcycle accident lawyer cost?
Motorcycle attorneys typically work on contingency — no fee unless the firm recovers. Standard percentages range from 33.3% pre-litigation to 40% once a lawsuit is filed, plus reimbursement of case costs. The fee agreement must comply with Business & Professions Code § 6147.
Can I recover if I was lane splitting when the crash happened?
Yes, as long as the lane split was reasonable and the other driver’s conduct was a substantial factor in the crash — for example, suddenly changing lanes without checking mirrors. Pure comparative negligence still applies if you share fault.
Do I need to report the accident to the California DMV?
Yes — Vehicle Code § 16000 requires drivers to file an SR-1 within 10 days when a crash results in injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Failing to file can result in license suspension.
About the Author
Michael Saeedian, Esq. — Founding Attorney, Saeedian Law Group (California State Bar #265470). Michael founded Saeedian Law Group in 2009 and has spent more than 16 years representing injured Californians and their families in personal injury and wrongful death matters, including motorcycle crashes across the state. Content on this page is reviewed for legal accuracy by Michael Saeedian as editor-in-chief.
Legal disclaimer: This page provides general information about California motorcycle accident law and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different; past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship with Saeedian Law Group. For advice specific to your situation, contact our office at (310) 288-3000 or schedule a free consultation.
I was referred to Saeedian Law Group by a friend and couldn’t be happier with my experience with this firm! Everyone was professional, attentive, and pleasant to work with. I wasn’t familiar with how these cases work but Mr. Michael Saeedian explained everything every step of the way and made me feel comfortable that I was being represented by the best people. Thank you!!!
