California Motorcycle Amputation & Lost Limbs Lawyer
Fighting for Those Who’ve Lost PART OF THEMSELVES
No one ever forgets the sound of the crash — or the silence that follows. For many riders, that moment divides life into “before” and “after.”
When a motorcycle accident leads to the loss of an arm, leg, hand, or foot, everything changes. Simple things — walking, driving, hugging your kids, turning a wrench — suddenly become complicated, painful, or impossible.
If you’re reading this because you or someone you love lost a limb in a motorcycle crash, you already know: recovery isn’t just physical. It’s emotional. It’s financial. It’s about learning to live again — and demanding justice from the person or company that caused it.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we fight for riders who’ve lost everything because of someone else’s carelessness. We’re California’s Motorcycle Law Firm — built by riders, for riders — and we understand that when a crash takes your freedom, your livelihood, or your sense of self, it’s about more than money. It’s about dignity.
The Reality of Motorcycle Amputation Injuries
Motorcycle crashes are uniquely violent. With little to protect you from impact, your arms and legs often take the brunt of the force.
Sometimes the amputation happens instantly — what’s called a traumatic amputation — when a limb is crushed, torn, or severed during the crash. Other times, the damage is so severe that doctors must perform a surgical amputation to save your life.
Both are devastating.
Motorcycle amputations often involve:
Leg or foot amputations from being pinned, crushed, or trapped under a vehicle
Arm or hand amputations from being thrown or bracing for impact
Partial amputations requiring reconstructive surgery or prosthetics
Multiple limb loss in catastrophic crashes
Beyond the physical pain, there’s a mental toll that can be hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t lived it — the phantom sensations, the stares, the frustration, the loss of independence.
But there’s also hope.
We’ve stood beside riders who fought their way back — who learned to walk again, ride again, and rebuild their lives. And we’ve helped them secure the financial support to do it.
Common Causes of Amputation in Motorcycle Crashes
Most riders don’t lose limbs because of bad luck — they lose them because someone else made a preventable mistake.
The most common causes we see include:
Sideswipe and merge collisions on highways
Rear-end crashes at intersections
Defective parts or brakes leading to loss of control
Unsafe road conditions, including potholes and debris
Our job is to prove what happened, who’s responsible, and how that negligence led to catastrophic injury. We work with accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and medical specialists to connect every dot — and hold the at-fault parties accountable.
The Physical and Emotional Toll of Losing a Limb
Amputations aren’t just medical events — they’re lifelong adjustments.
After the initial surgeries and hospital stay, riders often face months or years of rehabilitation, prosthetic fittings, and physical therapy. Phantom limb pain and nerve damage can last a lifetime. Everyday tasks can require new strategies, equipment, or help from others.
The emotional trauma can be just as severe. Many riders experience grief, anger, depression, and even guilt — especially when they were doing everything right and someone else caused the crash.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we take all of that into account. We don’t just look at your hospital bills — we look at your future. Your career, your mobility, your independence, your ability to ride again if you choose to. Because your life isn’t over. It’s changing — and we’re here to help you fight for what comes next.
The Financial Impact of Amputation Injuries
Amputation injuries are among the most expensive catastrophic injuries a person can suffer. Between surgeries, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and lifelong care, the costs can reach millions of dollars over a lifetime.
A single prosthetic limb can cost tens of thousands of dollars — and they often need to be replaced every few years. Add in home modifications, specialized vehicles, medical equipment, and lost income, and the financial burden becomes overwhelming.
That’s why it’s so critical to have a lawyer who understands the full scope of what these injuries mean — not just today, but for the rest of your life.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we work with life care planners, economists, and medical experts to calculate every dollar of your current and future needs — so the insurance company doesn’t get away with offering a fraction of what your case is worth.
Proving Negligence in Amputation Cases
To win a motorcycle amputation case, you must prove more than the injury itself — you have to prove why it happened, and who is legally responsible.
That’s where we come in.
We build these cases with the same intensity we bring to every catastrophic injury or wrongful death case. Our process includes:
Scene Investigation: Reviewing photos, video footage, police reports, and physical evidence from the crash.
Expert Reconstruction: Using engineering and physics experts to show exactly how the impact caused the amputation.
Medical Documentation: Working with trauma surgeons and rehabilitation specialists to demonstrate the injury’s cause and permanence.
Economic Analysis: Quantifying lifetime costs for prosthetics, therapy, and income loss.
Human Impact Evidence: Gathering testimony from family, coworkers, and friends about how the injury changed your life.
We don’t back down — and we don’t accept lowball settlements from insurance companies trying to save a buck at your expense.
What Compensation Covers in a Motorcycle Amputation Case
Every amputation case is unique, but we pursue every category of compensation available under California law, including:
Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
Prosthetics and assistive technology
Physical and occupational therapy
Home and vehicle modifications
Lost wages and future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium (for spouses and partners)
And when the crash was caused by gross negligence, such as drunk driving or street racing, we also pursue punitive damages — because some actions deserve more than compensation. They deserve punishment.
Why Riders Choose McCarthy Motorcycle Law
We don’t just represent riders — we stand with them.
When you hire McCarthy Motorcycle Law, you don’t get passed off to a junior associate. You get John McCarthy, a trial lawyer with a national reputation for compassion and results.
John has recovered millions of dollars for riders and families, and he does it the old-fashioned way — through preparation, persistence, and care.
We know the stakes. We know the system. And we know what it means to fight for your life after a catastrophic injury.
Our clients talk directly with John. You can call, text, or email him anytime. When you reach out, you’re not just another case file — you’re a person who deserves justice.
We Know California’s Roads — and What Riders Risk Every Day
From the twisting mountain roads of Highway 50 through Lake Tahoe to the long open stretches of Interstate 5 through Stockton and Sacramento — we know California’s roads, and we know what can happen when drivers don’t respect riders.
We’ve handled cases across the Central Coast from Santa Cruz to Monterey, from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara and throughout the state. We understand how local law enforcement, CHP, and insurance adjusters handle motorcycle crashes — and we know how to build the kind of case that makes them pay attention.
We’re not afraid to take on the tough cases, because we’ve seen what’s at stake when a family’s future depends on the outcome.
Take the First Step Toward Justice and Recovery
If you’ve lost a limb — or a loved one has — in a motorcycle crash, you don’t have to face this alone.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we offer free, confidential case evaluations, and every one goes directly to John McCarthy. There’s no cost to talk, no fee unless we win, and no pressure to hire.
We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and if we can help, we’ll fight like hell to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.
You’ve already survived the hardest part. Now let us help you rebuild.
McCarthy Motorcycle Law — California’s Motorcycle Law Firm. Built by Riders. Fighting for Justice.