You pulled out safely onto a Sacramento street, preparing to make a left turn at the next intersection. You bring your bike to a slow stop at the red light. When it finally changes, you rev up and begin pulling through the intersection turn when…you’re hit by a car who “didn’t see you.” Left-turn accidents at intersections are among the highest-risk motorcycle collision patterns in the area. You wake up in a hospital room. Medical bills are piling up, you’re out of work, and you almost died. You’re not alone and you don’t have to take on insurance adjusters while you’re trying to heal.
Motorcycle accidents, especially those caused by negligent drivers, can be some of the most dangerous and traumatizing collisions on the road. These accidents can leave you in debt and without an income to help get yourself or your family back on their feet. That’s why if you’re hurt in a motorcycle crash in Sacramento, you need a successful and skilled motorcycle accident lawyer from BD&J.
Not sure if you have a case? Complete the form here to find out!
BD&J charges no upfront fees—you only pay if we recover compensation for you.
Representative outcomes: Results vary, but BD&J has secured six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts in serious injury cases, including catastrophic traumatic brain and spinal injury claims.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento?
As the region’s government and commuter hub, Sacramento sees heavy daily traffic volumes that increase the risk of serious crashes. In 2022, in Sacramento proper, the California Office of Traffic Safety reported more than 4,000 traffic accidents resulting in injury or death. More than 200 were motorcycle accidents. In Sacramento County, 17% of all accidents involving injury or death in 2022 included motorcycles. The factors that often lead to such a large percentage of motorcycle accidents include speeding, driving under the influence, reckless driving or road rage, and failure to yield to motorcycles, unsafe lane changes, and dangerous roadway conditions. Intersections, lane changes, and left turns are among the highest-risk motorcycle collision patterns in the area. For more information about local high-risk locations, see The Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections for Motorcyclists in Sacramento.
Common Causes of Sacramento Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycle collisions in Sacramento often involve preventable driver errors and roadway hazards. Common causes include:
- Unsafe lane changes
- Left-turn accidents (drivers turning across a rider’s path)
- Car-door incidents (“dooring”) in traffic and parking areas
- Distracted driving
- Sudden stops and following too closely
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding and reckless driving or road rage
- Dangerous roadway conditions (potholes, debris, uneven pavement, poor drainage, or broken signals)
- Motorcycle defects and other mechanical failures
When a crash involves a roadway defect, municipal-liability rules may apply, and public-entity claims can involve shortened deadlines.
California Motorcycle Laws, Fault, and Filing Deadlines
Helmet rules
California’s motorcycle helmet law generally requires riders and passengers to wear a compliant helmet while riding.
Lane splitting
Lane splitting and lane filtering are legal practices in California, but the specific facts of how a crash happened can still matter for fault.
Fault rules and motorcycle accident liability
Motorcycle accident liability can involve multiple parties, including a negligent driver, an employer (in some work-related driving situations), a manufacturer (defective parts), or a public entity responsible for unsafe road design or maintenance.
California comparative negligence
California comparative negligence means fault can be divided between parties, and your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of responsibility rather than automatically barred.
Filing deadlines
In many motorcycle injury cases, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit, but deadlines can be shorter in certain situations, especially when a government entity may be involved.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident?
If you’re hurt in a motorcycle crash in Sacramento or you lost a loved one to a motorcycle accident, you could be entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in compensation or more. With a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer, you’re even more likely to secure enough compensation to cover:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Trauma and therapy treatment
- Lost income
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Damage to your bike
- Pain and suffering
Punitive damages may also be available in limited cases where the facts justify them.
Economic damages
Economic damages are the financial losses tied to your crash, including past and future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages address the human impact of the crash, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Future medical costs
If your injuries require ongoing care, your claim can include future medical treatment, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and long-term support needs.
Wrongful death damages
If you lost a loved one, a wrongful death claim may include funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.
Damages table
| Damage type | What it may include | Supporting evidence |
| Economic damages | Medical bills, rehab, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage | Medical records, billing statements, pay stubs, tax returns, repair estimates |
| Non-economic damages | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life | Treatment notes, symptom journal, testimony from you and witnesses |
| Future damages | Future medical care and long-term support needs | Doctor opinions, life-care plans, expert reports |
| Wrongful death damages | Funeral costs, lost support, loss of companionship | Receipts, financial records, family testimony |
| Punitive damages | Additional damages intended to punish particularly harmful conduct | Police reports, DUI evidence, witness statements, other proof of egregious behavior |
When you hire a personal injury attorney for your motorcycle accident, you’re significantly more likely to recover greater compensation than if you try to make a claim alone.
Find out how much you could qualify for by completing the form!
Common Injuries in Sacramento Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious or fatal injuries. Our Sacramento motorcycle lawyers have seen a wide variety of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Burn injuries
- Road rash
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Spinal injuries and paralysis
- Whiplash
If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, you deserve a compassionate advocate who will aggressively fight for your rights. Schedule a free consultation 24/7 with BD&J!
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Sacramento
If you were just hurt in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait. Follow these steps to ensure your safety and to preserve your rights to compensation.
- Move to safety. Get yourself and your bike off the road safely, if possible. If you’re too injured to move or you can’t move your bike, stay where you are and call 911 immediately.
- Seek medical attention. When you call 911, request an ambulance to the scene of the crash. Never assume you’re “just a little shaken up” after a motorcycle accident. Not only are motorcycle accidents often severe, but injuries can often be masked by shock and adrenaline.
- Collect contact information. Make sure you get as much information as possible from the driver who hit you. If they speed off, try to recall their make, model, vehicle color, and license plate. Witness contact information is also important for supporting your claim.
- Call a trustworthy motorcycle accident attorney in Sacramento. There are dozens of well-known personal injury lawyers throughout California, but only a few are loyal and skilled advocates who won’t stop until you get a fair settlement or verdict. An attorney can also help you understand your rights and coach you on how to make your claim with the insurance company to avoid implying fault, and to protect motorcycle accident liability issues from being unfairly shifted onto you.
- Report your accident to the insurance company. Stick to the facts when speaking to the insurance adjuster as any apologies or claims that you weren’t being attentive on the road could be used to downplay your claim. A motorcycle accident lawyer can also ensure an adjuster doesn’t undervalue your injuries.
Evidence checklist
- Scene photos and videos (vehicles, skid marks, debris, signals, injuries)
- Witness names and contact information
- The police report number and responding agency information
- Medical records and discharge paperwork
- Repair estimates and receipts for your motorcycle and gear
- Dashcam, helmet-cam, or nearby surveillance footage (if available)
Do not admit fault or give a detailed recorded statement to an insurance adjuster before speaking with counsel.
If the driver is uninsured or it was a hit-and-run, UM/UIM coverage and other evidence (including witness statements and video footage) may still support a claim.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Often Cause Severe Injuries
Bikers are disproportionately involved in traffic accidents; while they only make up 3% of traffic, motorcycle riders accounted for 15% of fatalities. This number appears to only be rising year-over-year. Because of this, it’s more important than ever to understand how quickly a crash can become catastrophic, especially in intersection impacts, higher-speed collisions, and situations where a driver claims they “didn’t see” a rider.
Why Sacramento Riders Trust BD&J
The Sacramento motorcycle accident attorneys at BD&J know what it’s like to experience the pain and frustration of injuries on the road, because we’re bikers too. We’ve helped thousands of hurt clients in Sacramento and throughout California claim more than $3 billion* in compensation for injuries over the course of our 20-year history.
How BD&J Helps With a Motorcycle Accident Claim
- Investigate and build the case. We gather records, interview witnesses, analyze crash scenes, and preserve video and other time-sensitive evidence.
- Handle insurer communications. We manage calls, paperwork, and claim strategy so you can focus on treatment and recovery.
- Negotiate and prepare for trial. We pursue a fair settlement and prepare your case for trial when the insurer refuses to pay what your claim is worth.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Sacramento, don’t rely on any old lawyer; trust BD&J with your recovery. Contact us for a free, confidential case evaluation.
FAQs About Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Claims
Where do I find a motorcycle accident attorney that will win?
Check the results on a potential lawyer’s website to ensure they take motorcycle cases like yours and have a history of winning significant compensation. If all their results seem low, they may settle early and lose you money. Read reviews from real clients as well to make sure you’ll be cared for the way you deserve. You don’t need to be treated like a case number; you should be treated like a human being in need of justice.
How much do motorcycle accident lawsuits usually get in Sacramento?
Motorcycle accident lawsuits can vary widely in compensation because not every collision is the same. The severity of the injuries, the lifelong prognosis, the amount of evidence, and the kind of negligence at play can all impact how much you could recover in court. While there’s no hard-and-fast rule for what you can expect to claim, in general, BD&J’s motorcycle accident attorneys recover anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars for their clients.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in California?
In many cases, you have two years to file a lawsuit for injuries, but the statute of limitations can be shorter in certain situations, especially if a public entity may be responsible for a roadway defect or other dangerous condition.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Under California comparative negligence, you can still recover compensation in many cases even if you were partially at fault, although your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Is lane splitting legal in California after a motorcycle crash?
Yes. Lane splitting and lane filtering are both legal practices in California. That said, please take great care when doing so. Even if they are legal, you’re still responsible for ensuring it’s safe to split lanes. If you take precautions and another driver injures you while you’re splitting or filtering lanes, you could have a case.
What evidence should I save after a motorcycle accident?
Save scene photos and videos, witness contact information, the police report number, medical records, receipts, repair estimates, and any dashcam or helmet-cam footage you can obtain.
Should I talk to the insurance company before calling a lawyer?
You can report the crash, but avoid detailed recorded statements or speculation about fault before you speak with an attorney.
Are motorcycles actually more dangerous than cars?
Motorcycles are more dangerous than cars in that the stakes are much higher while riding. Not only are riders lacking the same protection that car or truck drivers have, but they’re smaller and faster as well. This makes motorcycles harder to see on the road. It’s this that often gives riders the stereotype of being reckless or dangerous. In truth, few road users want to get into a wreck less than a biker. Where an accident may result in a broken bone or two for a car driver, a motorcycle rider could suffer life-threatening injuries.
Where do most motorcycle accidents happen?
Most motorcycle accidents occur in urban areas, on non-interstate roads. In fact, many crashes happen at intersections in cities and towns. While Florida remained the top state for motorcycle fatalities in the country, California was the third-most deadly in 2023, according to the National Safety Council.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Sacramento, don’t rely on any old lawyer; trust BD&J with your recovery. Complete the form to get started!
