Victim of a Motorcycle accident?

After a motorcycle crash in Sacramento, you quickly learn you are up against more than just your injuries. 

You face an immediate and unfair bias—a stereotype that motorcyclists are reckless. This assumption may unconsciously affect the insurance adjusters evaluating your case, which may lead them to question aspects of your claim or argue for reduced responsibility.

The truth is that most riders are acutely aware of the dangers on the road and operate their bikes with exceptional care. But when a driver’s carelessness leaves you injured, you are the one left to prove it while juggling medical appointments and household bills that don’t stop coming. Our firm was built to address these challenges; our founding partner, James Bergener, is a dedicated rider himself and understands what you’re up against.

We work to address these stereotypes using evidence and applicable law. If you’re unsure what to do next, we can provide clear answers. 

Call Sweet James Accident Attorneys for a free, no-obligation case review today.

Key Takeaways for Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Claims

1. The “reckless rider” stereotype is a real obstacle. Insurance adjusters may use this bias to argue you were partially at fault, which may affect the amount of compensation available.
2. Your compensation may cover more than just current bills. It may account for future medical treatments, lost earning ability, property damage, and the physical and emotional pain the accident has caused.
3. Deadlines to take action are strict. You generally have two years to file a lawsuit, but if a government entity is involved, that deadline may be as short as six months to file an initial claim.

Why Choose Sweet James Accident Attorneys for Your Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Claim?

As mentioned in the intro, our founder, James Bergener, is a lifelong rider. He knows firsthand how easily a driver’s blind spot or moment of inattention can change everything. That perspective shapes how we build each case. We may gather dashcam footage, police reports, and expert analysis to show exactly what happened on the road and why.

Examples of Prior Case Results

Some of our results include:

• $10 million settlement for a client hit by a commercial vehicle.
• $8 million recovery in a catastrophic injury case involving disputed liability.
• $3.6 million settlement for a motorcyclist injured by a driver making an unsafe left turn.
• $1.3 million uninsured driver case, where we found a third-party route to compensation after others had given up. 

These are just examples of what thorough investigation, persistence, and strong negotiation have achieved in certain cases. We explore potential sources of recovery so that your medical care, lost income, and long-term needs can be evaluated.

Local Access in the Sacramento Region

You’ll meet our team in a location that’s accessible: 2260 Douglas Blvd., Suite 280, Roseville, CA 95661, near the Westfield Galleria at Roseville. 

Our Commitment to You

• We provide a free, no-obligation case review. Understand your rights and your options without paying a dime.
• No personal injury attorney fees unless a recovery is obtained.
• We understand the local roads, motorcycle injury law, and insurance company practices.

How Is a Motorcycle Accident Claim Valued?

The goal of a personal injury claim is to restore financial stability to your life after a crash. The settlement or award is meant to cover all the losses you have sustained because of another person’s negligence. 

These losses, called damages, fall into two main categories.

Economic Damages: The Measurable Costs

These are the straightforward, calculable expenses that have resulted from the accident. Think of them as the total of every bill and receipt.

• Medical Expenses: This covers everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room care to future surgeries, physical therapy, and necessary medications.
• Lost Wages: Payment for the income you lost while out of work.
• Loss of Future Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career or working at the same capacity, this compensates for the projected lifetime loss of income.
• Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and any other personal property damaged in the crash.

Non-Economic Damages: The Human Toll

While harder to calculate, these damages address the real, personal ways the accident has diminished your quality of life.

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This applies when your injuries keep you from hobbies, activities, or life experiences you previously valued.
• Disfigurement or Scarring: For permanent physical alterations resulting from the accident.

How Does California’s Comparative Fault Rule Affect Your Claim?

California operates under a “pure comparative negligence” system. Simply put, this means you may be able to recover financial damages even if you are partially responsible for the crash. However, your final award may be reduced by your percentage of fault. Our job is to use the evidence to help assign fault.

Why and Where Do Motorcycle Crashes Happen in Sacramento?

Sacramento’s blend of high-speed freeways, a dense downtown grid, and winding rural roads presents distinct dangers for motorcyclists.

Frequent Sacramento Accident Locations:

• Major Intersections: Busy crossroads along Fair Oaks Boulevard, Arden Way, and Florin Road are hotspots for left-turn accidents, where drivers turning left fail to see or yield to an oncoming motorcycle.
• Highways 50 and I-80: These major arteries see a large number of serious crashes due to high speeds, abrupt changes in traffic flow, and drivers making unsafe lane changes.
• Downtown and Midtown Grid: The one-way streets, frequent stoplights, and busy intersections create opportunities for collisions, particularly when drivers are not paying attention or forget to check their blind spots.
• County and Delta Roads: Rural routes like River Road can be misleadingly dangerous with poor nighttime lighting, uneven road surfaces, and sharp, unexpected turns.

What Are the Top Causes of Motorcycle Wrecks?

• Cars Turning Left: This remains one of the most frequent causes of motorcycle crashes. In fatal two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle, 43% occur when a car is turning left while the bike is proceeding straight. Drivers often misjudge a motorcycle’s speed or claim they never saw it at all.
• Unsafe Lane Changes: Drivers who merge without thoroughly checking their blind spots pose a direct threat to riders sharing the road.
• Rear-End Collisions: Drivers following too closely behind a motorcycle may not be able to react in time to a sudden stop.
• Road Hazards: Potholes, loose gravel, or slick pavement are minor annoyances for a car but can easily cause a motorcyclist to lose control.

What Are the Physical and Legal Realities of a Crash?

A motorcycle provides no structural protection in a collision. Riders absorb the full force of the impact, and the resulting injuries can be severe, altering every part of their lives.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents:

• Road Rash: This skin abrasion happens when a rider slides across pavement. Severe cases can strip away multiple layers of skin, leading to serious infections, nerve damage, and permanent scarring.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even with a helmet, the brain can suffer injury from the violent force of a crash. A TBI can lead to lasting cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or total paralysis, requiring a lifetime of medical care.
• Lower-Extremity Injuries: According to the CDC, 30% of non-fatal motorcycle accident injuries affect the legs and feet, which have minimal protection. Fractures to the legs, knees, and ankles are extremely common.
• Internal Injuries: The blunt force of an impact can cause significant damage to internal organs, leading to internal bleeding and other life-threatening conditions.

Key California Motorcycle Laws:

• Helmet Requirement: California Vehicle Code §27803 mandates that all motorcycle riders and their passengers must wear a safety helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards.
• Lane Splitting: California is one of the few states where lane splitting—i.e., riding between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic—is legal. However, riders must do so in a safe and prudent manner. Insurance companies may try to argue that your lane splitting was unsafe to place more fault on you.
• Statute of Limitations: For most personal injury claims in California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If your crash was caused by a dangerous condition on public property, the deadline to file a claim against the government entity is typically just six months.

Understanding the Insurance Company’s Position

Many people expect that an at-fault driver’s insurance company will promptly and fairly cover their losses. However, it’s useful to remember that no matter how friendly the adjuster may seem, at the end of the day these companies are for-profit businesses.

A Balancing Act of Interests

An insurance company operates as a for-profit business. This means its representatives must balance paying valid claims with protecting the company’s financial reserves. This business reality sometimes places your best interests in conflict with their goals.

How We Counter These Tactics

If you hire us, we take over all communication with the insurance companies. We launch our own thorough investigation to build a case strong enough to respond to unfair arguments. 

By gathering police reports, witness statements, and expert analysis, we base settlement negotiations on the truth of what happened, not on biased assumptions. We calculate the full, lifetime cost of your injuries so that any offer we consider reflects documented losses.

The “Reckless Rider” Myth Is Not the End of Your Story

The assumption that you must have done something wrong doesn’t have to define your future. Your right to fair compensation is based on facts and evidence, not on unfair biases.

Let us help present the facts. We can handle the legal work and the difficult negotiations, allowing you to focus your energy where it’s needed most—on your health. 

For a clear, straightforward conversation about your rights, call Sweet James Accident Attorneys today.

Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.