Motorcycle Accidents matters in San Jose
San Jose's freeway interchanges are among the busiest in the state, and riders feel every bit of that congestion. The 101, 280, 87, and 85 converge through the city, and the tight merges and stop-and-go commuter traffic leave motorcyclists exposed to drivers changing lanes without looking. Surface routes like Stevens Creek Boulevard, First Street, and Capitol Expressway add their own hazards with heavy turning traffic and frequent intersections.
Riders are often blamed unfairly after a crash, even when a car driver caused it. MMG Law Firm handles San Jose motorcycle accident claims remotely from Glendale, pushing back against insurer bias and documenting exactly how the collision happened.
Why San Jose Motorcycle Crashes Happen
- Drivers failing to yield at the 101, 280, 87, and 85 interchanges
- Unsafe lane changes in heavy commuter congestion
- Left-turn collisions on Stevens Creek Boulevard and First Street
- Distracted drivers on Capitol Expressway and surface arterials
- Road hazards and debris that throw riders
Lane-Splitting Is Legal in California
Many drivers wrongly assume a rider broke the law by splitting lanes. In fact, lane-splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code §21658.1, which authorizes motorcyclists to ride between rows of stopped or slow-moving traffic. A rider who was lawfully lane-splitting is not automatically at fault. Because California follows pure comparative negligence, even a rider found partly responsible can still recover, with damages reduced by their share of fault.
Injuries and Case Types
- Road rash and severe skin injuries
- Fractures and orthopedic trauma
- Traumatic brain injury, even with a helmet
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Wrongful death
Compensation You May Recover
California permits both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover medical treatment, future care, lost wages, and lost earning capacity, plus damage to your motorcycle. Non-economic damages address pain, disfigurement, and the loss of activities you valued. We never promise an outcome, but we work to counter the bias riders face and present the full picture of your harm.
Deadlines, Venue, and How MMG Law Firm Helps
Most California motorcycle injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash under CCP §335.1. San Jose cases are venued in the Santa Clara County Superior Court, with civil matters heard at the Downtown Superior Court on North First Street.
MMG Law Firm represents riders across California from Glendale. We handle your case by phone, email, and secure portal, and appear in Santa Clara County court when your case requires it. Consultations are free in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency — no fee unless we win.
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.
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