Motorcycle Accidents matters in San Rafael
San Rafael Roads Riders Know — and Their Hazards
The same roads that make Marin great riding also concentrate risk. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard runs west out of San Rafael toward Ross, San Anselmo, and ultimately the coast, and its curves, blind driveways, and mix of commuter and weekend traffic produce serious crashes when drivers turn across a rider's path. US-101 through Central San Rafael and Terra Linda brings fast lane changes and merges where motorists simply do not check for a motorcycle in their blind spot. State Route 1 and the routes toward West Marin draw recreational riders into tight, scenic corners where a single careless driver crossing the centerline can be catastrophic.
In town, Fourth Street and the downtown grid create the classic left-turn collision, where an oncoming car turns left in front of a rider it never registered. The I-580 approach to the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge adds heavy, fast-moving traffic near Bellam Boulevard. Across all of these, the danger is the same: a rider has no crumple zone, so the impact goes straight to the body.
Fighting the Bias Against Riders
Motorcyclists face an unfair assumption that they must have been speeding or riding recklessly. Insurers lean into that bias to reduce or deny claims, even when the rider did nothing wrong. California's pure comparative negligence rule means you can recover even if you were partly at fault, with your award reduced by your share — but it also means insurers will try to pin as much blame on you as possible. Notably, California does not require helmet use to be raised against a rider for failing to predict another driver's negligence, and we work to keep the focus on the at-fault motorist's conduct.
Documentation defeats the bias. We secure the police report, gather witness statements, photograph the scene and sight lines, and make sure your injuries are fully evaluated and recorded at MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae. Road rash, fractures, and head injuries need proper treatment and a clear medical record that ties them to the crash.
California Deadlines and the Marin Courts
Most California motorcycle injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a dangerous public road condition or a government vehicle contributed, you may have just six months to file a government claim under Government Code section 911.2 — a short window that catches many riders off guard. Marin County lawsuits are handled at the Marin County Superior Court at the Civic Center on North San Pedro Road. MMG Law Firm prepares each rider's case thoroughly and is ready to present it to a Marin jury if an insurer will not deal fairly.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with motorcycle accidents
Riders walk in facing a built-in bias, and Mihran M. Ghazaryan's job is to dismantle it. He documents the mechanics of the crash — often with reconstruction — to show what actually happened, presents your injuries in full, and pushes back hard when an insurer tries to blame the rider. You deal directly with the attorney building that narrative, not a rotating intake team.
Types of motorcycle accidents we handle
Left-turn and right-of-way collisions
The classic cause: a car turning across the rider's path. Witness statements and timing analysis are key.
Lane-change and unsafe-merging crashes
California lane-splitting is legal — but reasonable. We document compliance with CHP guidelines to defeat shared-fault claims.
Road-defect and dooring claims
Government-entity claims have a six-month presentation deadline. Dooring claims involve California Vehicle Code §22517.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every motorcycle accident claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Get medical care immediately — adrenaline and gear can hide serious injury.
- Photograph the bike, your gear, and the scene before anything moves.
- Preserve your gear — helmet, jacket, gloves — without cleaning it.
- Identify any witnesses; bystanders often vanish quickly after motorcycle crashes.
- Call us before talking to either insurer.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.