When a Vehicle Hits a Motorcycle
Understanding Collision Dynamics & Rider Rights
When a car or SUV hits a motorcycle, it’s never a “fender-bender.” It’s a life-altering event that can leave a rider seriously injured, fighting to recover, or — far too often — taken from their loved ones.
Just this week in Orange County, a motorcyclist was killed after colliding with an SUV on Santiago Canyon Road — one of those long, sweeping stretches popular with local riders. Reports show that traffic was backed up for hours while investigators tried to piece together what happened. Like so many motorcycle crashes, the story is still under investigation. But one thing is certain: when a car hits a motorcycle, the rider always pays the higher price.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law — California’s Motorcycle Law Firm — we represent riders and families every week who are living through that nightmare. Some are trying to get back on their feet after broken bones, brain injuries, or spinal cord damage. Others are grieving someone they lost in a crash that should never have happened.
This article breaks down why these collisions happen so often, what the law says about fault, and most importantly, what riders and families can do to protect themselves and their rights.
Why So Many Motorcycle–Vehicle Collisions Happen
Most riders know it’s not reckless riding that causes the majority of collisions — it’s inattentive drivers. The data backs it up: in most crashes between a car and a motorcycle, the driver of the other vehicle is at fault.
Here are the most common causes we see on California roads:
Drivers often misjudge a motorcycle’s speed or fail to notice it entirely before turning left. These are some of the deadliest types of crashes, especially at intersections or when a car turns across the rider’s lane.
2. Lane-change and blind-spot collisions
Even in 2025, with all the technology in newer vehicles, drivers still say “I didn’t see the motorcycle.” High-riding SUVs and trucks have enormous blind spots, and distracted drivers rarely take that extra second to double-check their mirrors.
Texting, navigation systems, in-dash entertainment — you name it. Every second a driver’s eyes are off the road is a second a rider’s life is at risk.
A rear-end collision that might barely dent a bumper can be fatal for a motorcyclist. Riders often slow down with engine braking — a behavior many drivers don’t anticipate.
5. Unsafe passing and shoulder driving
Drivers sometimes assume they can “sneak past” a bike on the shoulder or swerve around without enough space. That arrogance has ended too many lives on roads like Santiago Canyon, Highway 9, and Highway 101.
The Physics of a Car-Versus-Motorcycle Crash
When a car hits another car, the vehicle absorbs much of the impact. Seatbelts, airbags, crumple zones — all designed to protect occupants. Motorcyclists have none of that.
Even at low speeds, a vehicle striking a motorcycle can eject the rider, send them airborne, or pin them under the car. The force of the impact is transferred almost entirely to the human body. A 3,000-pound SUV hitting a 500-pound motorcycle at 30 mph can generate an impact force greater than a fall from a three-story building.
That’s why what looks like a “minor” crash to a driver often results in catastrophic injuries to the rider:
Traumatic brain injuries (even with a helmet)
Every rider who’s been hit knows that even surviving the crash is just the beginning. The medical bills, lost income, insurance fights — they can all feel impossible to face. But you don’t have to face them alone.
What to Do After a Vehicle Hits You
If you or a loved one has been hit by a car, here’s what matters most — in order:
1. Get medical care immediately.
Adrenaline hides pain. What feels like a bruise today can be a fracture or internal injury tomorrow. Getting checked out creates a medical record that documents your injuries from the start.
2. Preserve evidence.
If you’re able — or if a friend can help — take photos of:
The scene (vehicles, skid marks, debris, traffic lights)
Your motorcycle and gear
The other driver’s car and license plate
Any visible injuries
If there are cameras nearby (businesses, traffic lights, doorbells), note their locations so your lawyer can subpoena footage before it’s deleted.
3. Don’t give a statement to the insurance company.
Insurance adjusters sound friendly — but they’re trained to limit payouts. Anything you say can be twisted later. Politely decline until you’ve spoken with an attorney who represents you.
4. Contact a motorcycle lawyer who actually rides.
A lawyer who understands how bikes handle, how crashes happen, and what evidence matters can make or break your case. At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, your case doesn’t get handed off to junior staff or paralegals — you talk directly to a trial lawyer who knows what it’s like to be part of the riding community.
And yes — your case evaluation is fast, free, and confidential.
How Fault Works in California
California uses a system called comparative negligence. That means even if a rider is partly blamed for the crash, they can still recover damages — their compensation is just reduced by their percentage of fault.
For example:
If a driver was 90% at fault for turning left in front of you, and an insurance company says you were 10% at fault for “speeding,” your total recovery would be reduced by that 10%.
But here’s the truth: insurers love to over-blame riders. They’ll say you were speeding, weaving, or “should have been more visible.” Our job is to prove what really happened using expert witnesses, crash reconstruction, physics, and hard evidence — not stereotypes.
The law expects drivers to look for motorcycles.
Under the California Vehicle Code, all drivers must maintain a safe lookout and yield the right-of-way. The “I didn’t see them” defense doesn’t hold water when a reasonable driver should have seen them.
We’ve handled cases where dashcam data, skid-mark analysis, or even smartphone records showed the driver was distracted at the exact moment of impact. That’s the kind of evidence that wins cases — and changes how insurance companies treat riders.
The Common Excuses — and How We Beat Them
“The rider came out of nowhere.”
No, they didn’t. Physics says you can’t appear from thin air. Usually, it means the driver didn’t look carefully or misjudged a motorcycle’s distance.
“The rider was speeding.”
Even if true, speeding alone rarely causes a crash — driver inattention does. And our experts can calculate speed based on impact damage, road friction, and vehicle data to show the real cause.
“The rider was lane splitting.”
Lane splitting is legal in California. If a crash happens while lane splitting, fault depends on how each person behaved — not on the act itself. When a driver suddenly changes lanes without signaling, they can be held fully responsible.
“The rider wasn’t wearing enough gear.”
California law only requires a DOT-approved helmet. Lack of a jacket or gloves doesn’t reduce your right to recover for someone else’s negligence.
These excuses are designed to deflect blame. We don’t let them stand.
For Families After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash
If you’ve lost someone in a motorcycle accident, no words can fix what happened. What you can do — when you’re ready — is make sure their story is told and their rights are protected.
California’s wrongful death law allows certain family members (spouse, children, or sometimes parents) to bring a claim for:
Funeral and burial costs
Loss of financial support
Loss of companionship, guidance, and care
Time matters here. Evidence disappears quickly — witnesses move, camera footage gets deleted, and vehicles are repaired or scrapped. The sooner a lawyer investigates, the stronger the case.
We’ve represented families who didn’t even know there were security cameras nearby until we found them. That video changed everything.
You deserve answers, accountability, and justice — not silence from an insurance company.
Why It Matters Who Represents You
Any lawyer can say they handle motorcycle cases. But not every lawyer understands motorcycles.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, this isn’t a marketing niche — it’s who we are. We built this firm by riders, for riders. We know what it feels like to lean through the curves of roads like Santiago Canyon, Highway 9, and the Pacific Coast Highway. We know how split-second decisions and other drivers’ mistakes change lives.
That understanding helps us explain your story to a jury — not as a statistic, but as a human being who did everything right and got hit anyway.
We don’t hand you off to junior associates.
You deal directly with a trial lawyer. You can text, call, or email anytime. We use technology to move fast, keep communication open, and build airtight cases that can go the distance if insurers refuse to settle.
We’ve recovered millions for our clients.
Not because we chase quick settlements, but because we fight for what’s fair. We’re proud of the results we’ve earned, but even prouder of the trust our clients place in us.
What Justice Looks Like
Justice looks like the driver’s insurance company finally admitting fault.
It looks like medical bills paid, bikes replaced, and lost wages recovered.
It looks like accountability — not excuses.
And sometimes, justice looks like change. Every verdict and settlement that holds a distracted driver responsible makes the road a little safer for everyone who rides.
You Don’t Have to Fight Alone
If you’ve been hit by a car or SUV — whether in Orange County, the Bay Area, or anywhere in California — you have rights. Don’t let an insurance company tell you otherwise.
Reach out for a free, confidential case evaluation. It goes directly to our inbox, and we usually respond the same day. If we can help, we’ll schedule a free consultation. If not, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Because at the end of the day, we’re riders helping riders — and families who’ve lost riders. We know the roads. We know the risks. And we know how to fight for justice when someone in a car takes it all away.
McCarthy Motorcycle Law — California’s Motorcycle Law Firm
Built by Riders. For Riders.