San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Following a motorcycle accident, you will likely be facing significant injuries and expensive medical bills. The limited protection provided in a motorcycle crash means riders often face significant challenges after a crash. Fortunately, an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in San Francisco can help you pursue compensation from the liable party.

At J&Y Law, we will focus on your needs after a motorcycle accident. With over 80 years of combined experience in personal injury law, our knowledgeable legal team is ready to help you fight for fair compensation. Contact us by phone or through our website to arrange a free case review with one of our San Francisco personal injury lawyers today.

Determining Liability After a Motorcycle Accident in San Francisco

Before you can file a claim to recover compensation for losses suffered in a motorcycle accident, you must first determine who is liable for your damages. Even if the fault for your accident seems clear, there may be details about your case that complicate the matter, and in many situations, multiple parties share the fault for a crash.

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney in San Francisco can help you identify all liable parties so you can file the paperwork necessary for an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Pure Comparative Negligence in California

When attempting to recover compensation after a motorcycle accident in San Francisco, it is important to remember that the state uses a pure comparative negligence model when assessing liability. What this means is that you can still pursue damages for the losses you sustained, even if you shared the fault for the accident.

As long as you were not solely responsible for causing your motorcycle crash, you can attempt to recover damages from any other liable parties. However, it is important to note that the money you can collect will be reduced in direct proportion to your level of liability. For example, if you were 30% to blame, you would only be able to recover 70% of the full value of your losses.

Damages You Can Pursue After a Motorcycle Accident in San Francisco

Following a motorcycle accident in San Francisco, you will likely be eligible to claim a wide variety of both economic and non-economic damages. Every motorcycle accident case is different, and the specific damages you are eligible to claim will depend on the details of your situation. 

To recover the full amount you are entitled to receive, you will need to identify all the damages applicable to your case. While making this determination on your own can be challenging, an experienced motorcycle accident attorney serving San Francisco can help.

Economic Damages

The economic damages you can pursue are meant to replace the financial losses you sustained as a result of your accident. These damages cover various expenses you incurred as well as any income you were prevented from earning. The economic damages most commonly awarded in motorcycle accident cases include:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, which focus on the financial toll of a motorcycle accident, non-economic damages are meant to address the impact of a crash on your quality of life. Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify, as the money awarded for these damages can never truly replace what was lost.

The non-economic damages most commonly awarded in motorcycle accident cases include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Permanent disability
• Mental anguish
• Loss of companionship
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional distress

Punitive Damages

In addition to compensatory damages, you may also be able to pursue punitive damages after a motorcycle accident. The main difference between punitive damages and the compensatory damages listed above is that punitive damages are meant to serve as a means of punishing the liable party for their actions rather than replacing the losses incurred by the accident victim.

Punitive damages are only available in a small percentage of cases as these damages are reserved for accidents resulting from criminal negligence or intentional harm.

An Experienced San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Meet All Applicable Deadlines

When pursuing compensation after a motorcycle accident in San Francisco, you need to pay attention to all the deadlines that apply to your case. In California, the personal injury statute of limitation is two years. That means that after a crash, you will have two years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit or risk losing your right to pursue compensation.

Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in San Francisco as soon as possible after your accident is the best way to ensure you get all your paperwork filed on time and protect your right to recover compensation for your losses.

Additionally, hiring a lawyer soon after your accident will help in building a strong case. The sooner your attorney can get started, the easier it will be for them to collect evidence before it can become corrupted or lost. Furthermore, your lawyer will be able to speak with eyewitnesses and record their testimony while their memories of the accident are still clear.

Get Help From a Knowledgeable Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving San Francisco Today

After suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident in San Francisco, hiring a skilled attorney is the best thing you can do to help ensure you recover fair compensation for your losses. At J&Y Law, we know the challenges you face after a crash and will provide you with compassionate support as we fight to secure the compensation you need from the liable party.

Reach out to us today by phone or through our website to set up a free case evaluation with a member of our legal team. We will review the details of your case, answer any questions you may have, and inform you of your legal options for pursuing damages.