About McCarthy Motorcycle Law
A Focused Motorcycle Wrongful Death Practice in Northern California
McCarthy Motorcycle Law is a small, litigation-focused practice based in Monterey County.
The practice is built around motorcycle wrongful death cases in Northern California, along with a limited number of catastrophic injury cases involving permanent disability or lifelong medical care. These cases are different from standard injury claims. They are often contested from the beginning and require a level of investigation and preparation that does not fit most firms’ high-volume model.
For that reason, only a small number of cases are accepted at any given time.
Why Motorcycle Wrongful Death Cases Are Handled Differently
Fatal motorcycle crashes are not evaluated the same way as typical accident cases.
Liability is often disputed, even where the basic facts seem clear. Early assumptions about riders can influence how responsibility is assigned, how evidence is interpreted, and how insurance carriers approach the claim. In many cases, critical facts are still being developed while coverage decisions and liability positions are already forming.
These cases take time.
They also require a willingness to challenge incomplete or inaccurate narratives, particularly where the rider is no longer present to speak for themselves.
This practice is structured around that reality.
Geographic Focus: Northern California
The practice is based in Monterey County and focused on cases arising throughout Northern California.
Fatal motorcycle crashes frequently occur outside dense urban areas, on coastal highways, rural routes, and high-speed corridors where visibility, speed, and driver inattention intersect. These cases are often litigated in Bay Area and Sacramento-area venues, as well as in surrounding counties where the crash occurred.
The geographic focus reflects how serious motorcycle cases arise and where they are ultimately litigated, not a broad coverage model.
Case Selection and Practice Limits
This is not a general personal injury practice.
Most matters handled involve:
fatal motorcycle crashes
catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage
cases where liability, damages, or both are likely to be contested
Cases that depend on quick resolution or early settlement are generally not a fit.
If a case is accepted, it is with the expectation that it will be developed fully and, if necessary, litigated through trial.
Referrals and Co‑Counsel
A substantial portion of the practice comes through referrals from other attorneys.
These are often motorcycle cases involving wrongful death or severe injury that require additional investigation, expert analysis, and litigation resources. In those situations, the relationship with referring counsel is treated as part of the case itself, with clear communication and defined expectations throughout.
People
John McCarthy
John McCarthy was born and raised on California’s Central Coast, and that background continues to shape how he approaches this work.
Motorcycles were a part of his life before becoming a lawyer. That experience still influences how he evaluates cases and understands how crashes occur, not abstractly, but from the perspective of someone who has spent time on the road under the same conditions many clients were facing when everything changed.
His focus on motorcycle wrongful death cases became more personal after the loss of a close friend and mentor in a motorcycle crash. That experience reshaped how he understands both risk and responsibility and ultimately led to building a practice centered around these cases.
Today, the practice is intentionally limited. John remains directly involved in every case he accepts. If a matter is taken on, it is because it requires careful, deliberate handling, not speed.
Clay Griessmeyer
Clay is not a member of this firm, but a long-time colleague and trial lawyer who is frequently involved in complex cases.
He has substantial jury trial experience in both California and Wisconsin and focuses on representing individuals in serious matters. When a case requires additional trial support or expanded litigation capacity, he is someone John trusts to be involved.
A Limited Practice by Design
McCarthy Motorcycle Law is not structured for volume.
Cases are selected carefully. Some are referred elsewhere when they are not a fit. Others proceed only when it is clear they require a longer timeline, deeper investigation, and full litigation.
That limitation allows the practice to remain focused on motorcycle wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases in Northern California, and to handle them in a way that reflects their seriousness.