San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyers

​Motorcycle accident injury case experts

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We handle your motorcycle accident claim so you can focus on your life!

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Riding a motorcycle in San Francisco is awesome! You can get places more quickly and with the ease and convenience your friends envy. And parking... it's a dream compared to that of your car-dependent compadres. 

But the convenience can be dangerous! San Francisco is rated by the Office of Traffic Safety as the #1 large city in California for motorcycle accident related injuries and deaths. 

There are almost 25,000 motorcycles registered in San Francisco County alone. Ridership has increased steadily for years as motorcycles have become more socially acceptable and fuel-efficient alternative transportation. However, motorcycles can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Every year there are nearly 4,000 fatal motorcycle accidents nationwide, with almost 500 of those in California. That number has continued to climb steadily even as the number of overall traffic accidents in the U.S. has decreased. In fact, while motorcycles comprise 2% of all registered vehicles, riders (drivers and passengers) are 37 times more likely to die than those in automobiles.

​What You Can Do to Avoid Motorcycle Accidents in San Francisco

If you’re a rider, ride safely and ride smart. If you’re a driver, watch out for motorcycles and you could save a life. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of accident and potentially reduce the severity of any injuries you may suffer.

If you answered “yes” to these questions, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers - with over 2 decades of experience and a 5-star rating as a San Francisco personal injury law firm - is a great fit for you.

#1 You May Ride Alone, but You Don't Need to Handle Your Case Alone

Serious injury motorcycle accidents in San Francisco are more commonplace than any other large city in California. With so many motorcycle accidents in the City, you can expect that there is a good selection of highly qualified San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyers to choose from.

A very important thing to look for when hiring an attorney for your motorcycle accident case is a lawyer who will treat you like an individual, not just a number. Quality customer service is not just something that restaurants and hotels need to strive for. Whichever SF motorcycle accident firm you hire, they should provide you with a high level of attention and service throughout your motorcycle accident claim process. You need an attorney who will be by your side through the entire case, not just when they sign you up and collect their fee.

Most clients who come to us at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers never thought they would need to hire a San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer, but once they did, the stress was lifted. They were no longer alone!

#2. If You Have Car Insurance, It Won't Cover You for Your San Francisco Motorcycle Accident

Although standard California auto insurance can sometimes cover pedestrians and cyclists, it won't cover you when you're riding your motorcycle. There are specific exclusions, because you are required to carry separate motorcycle insurance coverage. Unless you have this coverage, you may not be able to cover your medical expenses (or any of the damages you may cause or suffer) in a motorcycle accident in San Francisco. Any San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer will tell you that without this coverage you most definitely won't be able to get any compensation for the pain and suffering from your motorcycle crash. Even if you only ride on occasion or on long weekends, or even just once… you need specific motorcycle insurance.

All this talk about having your own motorcycle insurance doesn't mean you’ll be using your insurance coverage if someone else caused your motorcycle accident. In those cases you will get paid from the at-fault party's insurance company for property damages, lost earnings, your medical expenses and pain and suffering.

#3. Even if You Are Partially at Fault, You May Be Entitled to Compensation 

California is what is called a comparative negligence state. That means when we determine liability for an accident between two vehicles, each party in the accident is attributed with a percentage of the fault (or liability) for the crash. That percentage of liability is crucial in determining how much money you might be entitled to for your San Francisco motorcycle accident.

Your financial recovery might be reduced by the percentage of fault that you contributed to the accident, but it likely be eliminated altogether - unless you are found 100% at fault. In dozens of instances, our experienced San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer team has successfully reversed liability findings that were initially against our clients. Motorcyclists often get a raw deal from the cops, eyewitnesses and drivers. Getting the best San Francisco motorcycle crash lawyer can give you the leverage you need to tip the scales in your favor.

#4. Your Case Probably Doesn't Even Have to Go to Court

As explained above, Sally began her career as a San Francisco District Attorney trying cases in court. However, the majority of San Francisco motorcycle accident claims are settled outside the court system. 

Not dragging their motorcycle accident case through the process of filing a lawsuit, contentious litigation and a trial is often welcomed by motorcycle accident victims who could use the money from a fair settlement now rather than much later. But, it's a fine line. Getting the best possible motorcycle settlement isn’t always about just getting the quickest possible settlement. 

You should always get a consultation from a top-rated San Francisco motorcycle attorney before you accept any payout or settlement. Why? Because the amount you’re offered without a lawyer may not be as much as you’re entitled to.

#5. Things You Do Before You Hire a San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Attorney May Negatively Affect Your Claim

The things you say at the scene of the accident - either to the motorist who hit you or to witnesses or the police can be twisted and used against you. The same goes for any conversations you have with the insurance companies involved in the case.

At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we are very familiar with the tricks used by the insurance industry to shift fault for accidents onto motorcyclists. That’s why we strongly recommend you only volunteer the essential information such as your name, contact details, and insurance information to anyone other than your San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyer.

If the San Francisco PD asks you for more information, you'll probably want to cooperate with them, but be careful not to admit fault or say anything about your speed, unless you are 100% certain of how fast you were going. Also, if the driver’s insurance company contacts you, don’t give them any statements - especially recorded. The best thing to do is just refer them to your SF motorcycle attorney.

#6. You Are Entitled to More than They Will Offer

Several of the leading insurance companies use complex computer software applications to determine what they are willing to pay motorcycle accident victims. The human element is lost in this process. The insurance adjusters input a few pieces of data and their computer tells them what you and your case are worth.

Although it would be nice if these billion dollar insurance companies used a more personal approach to case valuation, they are not going to. You have to give them as much of the right information as possible so that their mega-computer spits out the biggest number feasible for your case. If you don't, you will just get a bottom-line offer that doesn't take into account all the damages suffered in a motorcycle accident such as:

You need to ask for all damages allowed by California law for your motorcycle claim. However, getting a bigger payout isn’t easy. That’s why hiring a good San Francisco motorcycle crash lawyer is crucial.