Chico Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Representing Injured Riders and Families Across Butte County and the Northern Sacramento Valley

There’s something about riding through Chico that feels different. Whether you’re ripping down Highway 99, winding past the orchards along Honey Run Road, or cruising through Bidwell Park on a sunny afternoon, this is the kind of riding that stays with you. It’s laid back. It’s scenic. And it’s part of what makes this corner of Northern California so special.

But when things go wrong on two wheels, they go really wrong. A careless driver. An unsafe intersection. A patch of gravel in just the wrong spot. And suddenly, you’re not planning your next ride—you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to pay for the ambulance, the surgery, or the funeral.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we represent injured riders and families in Chico, Paradise, Oroville, Gridley, and throughout Butte County. We’re not a billboard law firm. We’re riders. We know what it’s like to feel invisible to other drivers. And we’ve seen firsthand what happens when the system turns its back on the people it should be protecting.

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle crash—or lost someone you love—we’re here to help you make it right.

Built by Riders. Fighting for Riders.

You deserve more than a settlement mill that churns out cookie-cutter results. You need a lawyer who knows what it means to ride. Who understands that bikes don’t stop on a dime. That you don’t “just lay it down.” That most crashes don’t happen because the rider did something wrong—they happen because someone else wasn’t paying attention.

We’ve represented riders from all walks of life: commuters, weekend warriors, veterans, students, retirees, club members, solo travelers. And whether you went down on Skyway or got rear-ended on Nord Avenue, we treat every case like it matters. Because it does.

Motorcycle Crashes We Commonly SEE in and Around Chico

Chico might be more laid back than the big cities, but don’t let that fool you—there are plenty of dangers on the road for motorcyclists. The most common causes of injury and fatality we see in the area include:

  • Left-turn collisions — Especially common at intersections like Mangrove and East 1st Avenue or throughout downtown, where drivers fail to yield to oncoming riders.

  • Rear-end wrecks — Often when drivers follow too closely or don't anticipate a motorcyclist slowing for traffic or hazards.

  • Unsafe passing — On two-lane roads outside town, drivers sometimes make reckless moves around slower vehicles, endangering riders in the process.

  • Gravel and debris on rural roads — Especially after storms or farm equipment use on roads like Neal Road, Durham-Dayton Highway, or Honey Run.

  • Drunk or distracted drivers — Weekend nights around college bars and festivals are notorious for this.

  • High-speed crashes on Highway 99 or 32 — Where traffic often travels above posted limits and visibility issues are common.

  • Doored in town — Riders get clipped when someone swings open a car door near Chico State or downtown without checking their mirror.

Every crash is unique, but they all have one thing in common: the rider is the one who suffers most. We work to make sure your injuries, losses, and trauma aren’t minimized or brushed aside.

We Know the Roads. We Know the Risks.

Riding in Butte County and the surrounding valley means navigating a mix of urban, rural, and mountain roads. Some of the most dangerous areas for riders include:

  • Skyway from Paradise to Chico – Steep grades, blind curves, and reckless passing are a recipe for disaster.

  • Highway 99 – High-speed corridor with limited reaction time and frequent multi-vehicle crashes.

  • Highway 32 through Forest Ranch – Narrow mountain roads with elevation changes, poor maintenance, and sudden wildlife crossings.

  • Humboldt Road / Honey Run Road – Winding backroads that are scenic but often filled with loose gravel and limited shoulders.

  • East Avenue, Esplanade, and Mangrove Avenue – High-traffic urban areas with frequent left-turn and intersection-related crashes.

We’ve been up and down these roads. We know the trouble spots. And we know how to show a jury or claims adjuster exactly how and why a crash happened—even when the police report gets it wrong.

Injured Riders Can Recover More Than Just Medical Bills

We represent people who have suffered serious motorcycle injuries including:

In California, if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, you’re entitled to recover damages for all of your losses—not just your ER bill. That includes:

  • Hospital and emergency care

  • Follow-up treatment, rehab, and surgeries

  • Lost wages and future income

  • Property damage (bike, helmet, gear)

  • Pain and suffering

  • Permanent disability or disfigurement

  • Emotional distress and PTSD

  • Loss of enjoyment of life

  • Future medical needs (especially after brain or spinal injuries)

We also help you deal with liens, coordinate medical care, and fight the insurance company’s delay tactics—so you can focus on getting better.

What If the Rider Didn’t Survive?

There’s no easy way to say this: we’ve been there. We’ve helped families who got the call no one wants. We’ve sat across from parents, partners, and siblings who lost someone they loved in a motorcycle crash that never should have happened.

If you’ve lost a loved one, we are so sorry.

When you’re ready, we’re here. We’ll guide you through a wrongful death claim, which may allow you to recover:

  • Funeral and burial expenses

  • Medical bills leading up to death

  • Loss of financial support

  • Loss of companionship and care

  • Pain and suffering of the deceased

  • Your family’s emotional suffering

We don’t just handle the case. We walk with you through it. We take care of the paperwork, the calls, the investigation, and the legal fight—so you can focus on healing.

What To Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Chico

If you’re able—or if someone close to you can help—these steps can make a big difference in your case:

  1. Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel “okay,” get checked. Internal injuries and concussions aren’t always obvious at first.

  2. Preserve evidence. Take photos of your injuries, your bike, the scene, and anything that might help (like skid marks or weather conditions).

  3. Avoid giving a recorded statement to insurance. They're not on your side. They’re looking for ways to reduce or deny your claim.

  4. Get a lawyer who understands motorcycles and local roads. This isn’t just any personal injury case—and not every lawyer knows how to handle it right.

Representing Riders from Chico to Paradise to Oroville

We represent riders throughout the valley and foothills, including:

  • Chico

  • Paradise

  • Oroville

  • Magalia

  • Durham

  • Biggs

  • Gridley

  • Concow

  • Palermo

  • And across Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties

We know how to talk to local juries, how to deal with rural bias against riders, and how to get our clients treated fairly—even in counties where the system isn’t always kind to people on two wheels.

You Only Pay If We Win

We take motorcycle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means:

  • No upfront costs

  • No hourly billing

  • No risk to you

You pay nothing unless and until we recover money for you. And our free case evaluation is:

  • Fast

  • Confidential

  • Sent straight to a real lawyer (not an intake team)

  • Usually answered the same business day

We’ll let you know if we can help. If we can’t, we’ll point you in the right direction. Either way, you’ll get honest answers and real guidance.

Why McCarthy Motorcycle Law?

We don’t take every case. But if we take yours, it’s because we believe in it—and we believe in you.

We’re not based in a glass tower. We’re not afraid of rural roads, tight-knit communities, or old-school juries. We work in places like Chico because we know riders in these areas don’t always get the legal help they need. And we’re changing that.

We fight to:

  • Hold reckless drivers accountable

  • Challenge unfair police reports

  • Make insurance companies pay what’s right

  • Tell your story with honesty and strength

  • Help riders and families get justice—and peace

Contact McCarthy Motorcycle Law Today

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash, or lost someone you love, we’re ready to help.

  • Based in California.

  • Built for riders.

  • Ready to fight.

Fill out the free case evaluation form on this page. It’s fast, it’s confidential, and it goes directly to our inbox.

You’ve got enough to worry about. Let us take it from here.