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Injured in a motorcycle accident in Santa Barbara? Contact the top Santa Barbara motorcycle accident lawyer to seek compensation.
Motorcyclists face unique dangers on Santa Barbara’s coastal highways and city streets, where drivers often fail to check blind spots or yield right-of-way at intersections. Motorcycle collisions often result in severe injuries because riders have little protection against larger vehicles, road hazards, and distracted drivers.
After a crash, you may be facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and insurers who work quickly to minimize their payouts. Insurance companies frequently argue that riders are at fault or assume a small settlement will resolve the claim before you understand the full extent of your losses.
At Crane Flores Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys understand the local roads where accidents frequently occur, from Highway 101’s congested corridors to State Street’s tourist-heavy intersections. We investigate every detail of your accident, preserve critical evidence, and build strong, evidence-based cases that counter insurance defenses. With deep knowledge of local traffic patterns and proven advocacy, we handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing.
Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
At Crane Flores Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we represent injured riders throughout Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities. Our team understands the unique challenges motorcyclists face both on the road and in the legal system.
We protect your rights after a motorcycle crash through:
When insurance companies try to blame you for the accident, we fight back with evidence and experience. Our personalized approach means you work directly with your attorney, not a case manager.
Call us today at (805) 292-7074 to schedule a free case review to discuss your legal options with our motorcycle accident lawyers in Santa Barbara.
Your injuries deserve full compensation for every loss you have suffered. California law allows injured motorcyclists to recover both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party. Understanding these categories helps you grasp what your case might be worth.
Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses:
Non-economic damages compensate for personal hardships that cannot be easily quantified:
The severity of your injuries directly impacts your compensation amount. Catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage typically result in higher settlements due to lifelong care needs.
Multiple parties may share responsibility for your crash, and identifying all liable parties is crucial for maximizing your recovery. We thoroughly investigate every potential source of compensation to ensure you receive full justice.
Liable Party | Common Scenarios | Insurance Coverage |
Other Drivers | Left turns, lane changes, distracted driving | Auto liability insurance |
Government Entities | Dangerous road conditions, missing signs | Municipal coverage |
Vehicle Manufacturers | Defective brakes, tires, or other parts | Product liability insurance |
Commercial Companies | Delivery trucks, rideshare drivers | Commercial auto policies |
Government liability cases require special handling because they have different rules and shorter deadlines, much like other complex cases handled by Santa Barbara premises liability lawyers. If a pothole, construction zone, or poorly maintained road contributed to your accident, we know how to navigate these complex claims.
Property owners can also be liable if their negligence created hazardous conditions. This might include debris in the roadway or inadequate lighting that contributed to your crash.
Insurance companies often blame motorcyclists unfairly, relying on stereotypes about “reckless riders” to minimize payouts. Adjusters receive training on how to shift fault to motorcyclists, even when other drivers clearly caused the accident. An experienced attorney levels this unfair playing field.
We protect your interests by:
Many riders try to handle their own claims, only to discover they have been taken advantage of by insurance companies. By the time they realize their mistake, crucial evidence may be lost and deadlines may have passed.
Don’t let insurers minimize your injuries or your claim’s value. Contact us for a free consultation to learn about your rights and options.
Your actions immediately after a crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Following these steps protects both your health and your legal rights, even when you are shaken up from the accident.
Always get medical care right away, even if you feel fine initially. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries like internal bleeding, concussions, or spinal damage that may not show symptoms for hours or days. Emergency room visits create official medical records that serve as crucial evidence for your claim.
Keep detailed records of all your symptoms, treatments, and how your injuries affect your daily activities. This documentation helps prove the full extent of your damages.
Take photos of everything if you are physically able. Capture images of your damaged motorcycle, the other vehicle involved, your visible injuries, road conditions, traffic signs, and the overall accident scene. These photos often provide the strongest evidence of how the crash occurred.
Get contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident happen. Independent witness testimony can be invaluable when the other driver disputes fault.
Insurance adjusters may contact you within hours of your accident asking for a recorded statement. You have no legal obligation to provide one, and we strongly advise against it. Adjusters are trained to ask leading questions that can be used against you later.
Politely decline and refer them to your attorney once you have legal representation.
The sooner you contact an attorney, the better we can protect your interests. We immediately begin preserving evidence, handling insurance communications, and ensuring you meet all legal deadlines. Early legal intervention often leads to better outcomes.
California’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, claims against government entities have much shorter deadlines, you have only six months to file a formal government claim for issues like dangerous road conditions.
Missing these deadlines means losing your right to compensation forever, regardless of how strong your case might be. Insurance companies sometimes delay settlement negotiations hoping you will miss these crucial deadlines.
We track all relevant deadlines for your case and take action well before time runs out. Some evidence also deteriorates quickly, making early legal action essential for building the strongest possible case.
Not every motorcycle accident leads to a successful legal claim, but many riders have stronger cases than they realize. A valid case typically requires proving that another party’s negligence caused your injuries and that you suffered measurable damages as a result.
You likely have a strong case if:
Even if you were partially at fault, California’s comparative negligence law may still allow you to recover substantial compensation. We have successfully handled cases where riders were initially blamed for accidents that were actually caused by other parties.
Santa Barbara’s mix of tourist traffic, commuters, and scenic coastal roads creates unique hazards for motorcyclists. Understanding common accident causes helps us build stronger cases by focusing our investigation on the most likely sources of negligence.
Most motorcycle accidents result from other drivers failing to see or properly account for motorcycles on the road, negligence issues our Santa Barbara car accident lawyer team encounters daily. Left-turn accidents are particularly common, occurring when drivers turn left directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. These crashes often happen because drivers are looking for cars and trucks, not smaller motorcycles.
Government agencies have a legal duty to maintain safe road conditions for all vehicles, including motorcycles. Potholes, uneven pavement, construction debris, and missing or obscured traffic signs can cause serious motorcycle crashes. When public agencies fail in this duty, they can be held liable for resulting injuries.
Construction zones pose particular dangers when not properly marked or when debris is left in travel lanes. These hazards that might only cause minor problems for cars can be deadly for motorcyclists.
“Dooring” accidents occur when someone opens a car door into a motorcycle’s path, often in parking areas or along busy streets. These crashes can throw riders into traffic or cause them to lose control completely.
Rear-end collisions at traffic lights and stop signs are also common, particularly dangerous because motorcyclists have no protection from behind. Lane-change accidents happen when drivers fail to check their blind spots before moving over.
Motorcyclists face severe injury risks even in seemingly minor crashes because they lack the protective shell that cars provide. We represent clients with the full spectrum of motorcycle accident injuries, from temporary disabilities to permanent, life-changing conditions.
Traumatic brain injuries occur when riders strike their heads during a crash, even when wearing helmets. These cases require a specialized Santa Barbara brain injury attorney to navigate the complex medical and legal issues involved. Such injuries may lead to cognitive impairments, personality changes, and physical disabilities, often requiring lifelong care and support.
Spinal cord injuries may result in partial or complete paralysis, fundamentally changing every aspect of a person’s life, requiring experienced Santa Barbara spine injury lawyers to calculate lifetime care costs. Handling these cases often involves extensive medical expert testimony and careful calculation of long-term expenses.
Road rash happens when riders slide across pavement after being thrown from their motorcycles. While not usually fatal, severe road rash can require skin grafts and leave permanent scarring that affects both appearance and self-esteem.
Broken bones and fractures are extremely common in motorcycle crashes, particularly in the arms, legs, and ribs. Complex fractures may require multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy to heal properly.
Many motorcyclists worry that their own actions will prevent them from recovering compensation, but California law still protects your rights even if you contributed to the accident. Lane splitting is legal in California when done safely, and comparative negligence rules allow you to recover damages even when partially at fault.
If you were not wearing a helmet, the insurance company may argue this increased your injuries. However, the lack of a helmet does not cause accidents – it only potentially affects the severity of head injuries. An experienced attorney can minimize the impact of these factors on your case.
We work to shift focus back to the other party’s negligence that caused the crash in the first place. Even if you are found partially responsible, you can still recover substantial compensation under California’s comparative fault system.
We believe everyone deserves access to experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation. Crane Flores Injury & Car Accident Lawyers works exclusively on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
We advance all case expenses including expert witness fees, medical record costs, and court filing fees. You only pay us a percentage of any settlement or judgment we obtain on your behalf. This arrangement aligns our interests with yours, we only succeed when you do.
Most personal injury cases settle without going to trial, but we prepare every case as if it will be tried before a jury. This thorough preparation often leads to better settlement offers from insurance companies.
We advance all costs and collect fees only when we win. Get your free consultation with no financial risk to you.
You should always seek medical evaluation after any motorcycle accident, regardless of how you feel initially. Some serious injuries like concussions or internal bleeding may not show symptoms for hours or days after the crash.
Never accept an initial settlement offer without consulting an attorney first. Insurance companies typically offer far less than cases are actually worth, hoping you will accept quickly before understanding your full damages.
The at-fault driver’s property damage liability insurance should cover your motorcycle repairs or replacement costs. If they are uninsured, your own collision coverage may apply.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can provide compensation when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. We help you navigate these complex coverage issues.
Yes, we maintain relationships with medical providers throughout Santa Barbara who understand motorcycle injuries and will treat patients on a lien basis when needed.
Take photos of all vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, and traffic signs if possible. Get contact information from witnesses and request a copy of the police report once it is available.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Early legal intervention helps preserve crucial evidence and protects you from making costly mistakes during the claims process.
Yes, you have the absolute right to change attorneys at any point during your case if you are not satisfied with the representation you are receiving.
Yes, we represent clients injured in all types of two-wheeled vehicle accidents, including cases handled by our Santa Barbara bicycle accident lawyer team. The same negligence principles apply whether you were riding a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle.
Yes, our firm provides full bilingual services with fluent Spanish-speaking team members available to assist you throughout your case.
Time is critical after a motorcycle accident – evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and legal deadlines approach quickly. Our Santa Barbara office is ready to begin fighting for your rights immediately, providing the aggressive representation you need during this difficult time.
We have dedicated our careers to helping injured motorcyclists recover the compensation they deserve. Our track record of successful settlements and verdicts demonstrates our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Contact Crane Flores Injury & Car Accident Lawyers today for a free consultation and let our experienced legal team put their expertise to work for you. Your recovery and your future depend on the actions you take today.
Call our Santa Barbara motorcycle accident lawyers today at (805) 292-7074 to schedule a free and confidential case review.
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Awards & Affiliations
Santa Barbara Office
15 W Carrillo St.
#310 Santa Barbara,
CA 93101
Ventura Office
701 E Santa Clara St.
#21 Ventura,
CA 93001
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