Distracted Driving Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in California

We Stand with Riders Who’ve Been Hit by Drivers Who Weren’t Paying Attention

You Were Focused on the Road. They Were Focused on Their Phone.

You did everything right. You were riding alert, cautious, and within your lane—maybe in traffic, maybe through a green light, maybe enjoying a weekend ride. Then, in an instant, everything changed.

A driver didn’t see you. Didn’t yield. Didn’t brake. Maybe they were looking at their phone. Maybe changing the song. Maybe scrolling through social media. Whatever they were doing, it wasn’t watching the road. And now, you're the one paying the price.

If that sounds like your story—or the story of someone you love—you’re not alone. Distracted driving crashes involving motorcycles are rising across California, and the consequences for riders are often catastrophic or fatal.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we don’t just help riders who’ve been hit by distracted drivers. We fight for them. And if you're looking for justice, accountability, and a law firm that takes motorcycle cases personally—you’re in the right place.

Distracted Drivers Are a Threat to Every Rider on the Road

Let’s be blunt: distracted drivers are everywhere. They’re behind you at red lights. Next to you on the freeway. Turning left in front of you while staring at their GPS. And every time they take their eyes or hands off the wheel, they put motorcyclists at risk.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety:

Distracted driving is now a leading cause of injury and fatal crashes statewide
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable, since they’re smaller, harder to see, and lack the protection of a car
Texting while driving increases crash risk by 23 times
In 2022, California reported over 140,000 distracted driving citations—and those are just the ones who got caught

For motorcyclists, a distracted driver isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a deadly threat. And when that threat turns into a crash, you deserve to be heard, believed, and compensated.

We’ve Seen Riders Hit by Distracted Drivers Doing All of This:

Texting
Watching YouTube or TikTok
Scrolling social media
Using GPS or Apple CarPlay
Talking on the phone without hands-free
Eating or drinking while steering with their knees
Turning to deal with kids or passengers in the back seat
Reading a book or applying makeup (yes, really)
Reaching into the glovebox or center console
Daydreaming and simply not paying attention

We’ve seen the aftermath of every one of these crashes. The broken bones. The totaled bikes. The families left behind. And we’ve helped people rebuild their lives afterward.

Because no one should have to pay the price for someone else’s distraction.

Most Distracted Driving Motorcycle Crashes Aren’t “Accidents”

The insurance company will call it an “accident.” So will the driver. But let’s call it what it really is: negligence.

When a driver looks at their phone instead of the road, they’re making a choice. And when that choice leads to someone getting hurt or killed, they should be held accountable.

Here’s the problem: drivers lie. Insurance adjusters minimize. Police reports are sometimes incomplete. And riders often get blamed just for being on a bike.

That’s why you need a motorcycle lawyer who knows how to fight back, build a case, and tell your side of the story—clearly, powerfully, and backed by evidence.

What Riders Can Recover After Being Hit by a Distracted Driver

Motorcycle crashes caused by distracted drivers can lead to devastating, lifelong injuries. We’ve helped injured riders recover compensation for:

Emergency medical treatment and surgeries
Hospital stays and follow-up care
Long-term rehabilitation
Permanent disability or disfigurement
Lost income and reduced future earning ability
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma (like PTSD, depression, or anxiety)
Motorcycle repairs or replacement
Loss of enjoyment of life or ability to ride again

If you lost a loved one, you may also have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit, which can include:

Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of your loved one’s financial support
Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
Mental anguish and suffering
Medical bills incurred before their passing

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we’ll help you understand exactly what you're entitled to under California law—and then we’ll go to work getting it for you.

What If the Police Didn’t Cite the Driver for Distracted Driving?

Don’t panic. This is extremely common. In many motorcycle crashes, the police are focused on immediate safety, not on investigating phone records or proving distraction. That doesn’t mean you don’t have a case.

In fact, you can still win a personal injury or wrongful death case even if the driver wasn’t cited or arrested.

Our job is to prove the driver was negligent—not to wait on law enforcement. We often build distracted driving cases using:

Eyewitness testimony
Dashcam or surveillance footage
Social media posts
Cell phone records (via subpoena)
Black box data from the car
Expert accident reconstruction
The physical evidence at the crash scene

We know how to dig. We know how to put the puzzle together. And we know how to get results.

We Know How to Handle These Cases—Because We Know Bikes, and We Know the Roads

This isn’t just another “motorcycle crash” practice area on a generic personal injury firm’s website. At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, representing riders is what we do. We’re proud to be considered “California’s Motorcycle Law Firm.”

We understand how bikes maneuver, how rider visibility works, and how even the best motorcyclists can be taken out by a distracted driver with one hand on their phone and one foot out the door.

We’ve handled cases across California—on Highway 1 in Monterey County, through the Central Valley, across San Diego, in San Francisco traffic, on mountain roads near Santa Cruz—and we’ve seen how distracted drivers behave in every type of setting.

We bring that road knowledge, combined with legal skill, into every single case.

We Also Know What You’re Up Against

Let’s be honest. Motorcyclists still get blamed unfairly in crash reports, in the media, and especially by insurance companies.

Here’s what they might say:

“You were going too fast.”
“You came out of nowhere.”
“You were in the driver’s blind spot.”
“You should’ve seen the car drifting.”
“There’s no proof the driver was distracted.”

We’ve heard it all. And we know how to dismantle those arguments—starting with the fact that none of those things excuse a driver from failing to pay attention and causing a crash.

You don’t have to prove the driver was texting at that exact second. You only have to prove they were negligent. And we’ll take care of that.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident Caused by a Distracted Driver

If you were hurt—or if someone you love was killed—by a distracted driver, here are the steps you or someone close to you should take:

Call 911 – Get emergency medical help and make sure the crash is documented.
Report your suspicion – Tell officers at the scene if you believe the driver was distracted.
Take photos – Of your bike, the crash scene, road conditions, and the other vehicle.
Get witness information – Someone nearby may have seen the driver using their phone.
Go to the ER – Even if you “feel fine,” internal injuries or concussions can develop later.
Don’t talk to insurance adjusters – They may try to trick you into saying something harmful to your case.
Contact a motorcycle injury lawyer – The sooner we’re involved, the more evidence we can preserve.

And if it’s already been a few days or weeks? That’s okay. It’s not too late.

What If the Driver Denies Being Distracted?

They almost always do.

That’s why we use multiple tools to uncover the truth. We can subpoena cell phone records. We can request vehicle data. We can review security footage. We can depose the driver under oath. We can bring in reconstruction experts.

Even if they won’t admit it, we’ll build a case that shows the pattern—and the negligence—that caused your crash.

Why Riders Trust McCarthy Motorcycle Law

We’re not your typical personal injury firm. We don’t hand off clients to junior lawyers. We don’t chase volume. We don’t hide behind receptionists.

Instead, we:

Take cases personally—especially when someone hurts or kills a rider
Give you direct access to your attorney (you can call, email, or text)
Offer fast, free case evaluations that go straight to our inbox
Use technology to stay lean and responsive
Go to trial if that’s what it takes to win full compensation
Fight insurance companies that try to blame the rider

We’ve recovered millions for riders and their families across California—and we’ve done it by listening first, fighting smart, and never backing down.

If You Lost a Loved One in a Distracted Driving Motorcycle Crash, We’re So Sorry

We’ve seen firsthand how fast a distracted driver can take everything away from a family. One second you’re planning a ride. The next, you’re planning a funeral.

If that’s the situation you’re in right now, we want you to know: you’re not alone. We’ve helped grieving spouses, parents, siblings, and children get answers, accountability, and some sense of closure after losing a loved one to a distracted driver.

A wrongful death lawsuit won’t fix the hole in your heart. But it can shine a light on the truth. It can help support your family while you grieve. And it can make sure the person who did this faces the consequences.

Talk to a California Distracted Driving Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has been hit by a distracted driver, don’t wait. Evidence can disappear. Witnesses move on. And the insurance company is already working to protect itself.

Let us fight for you.

👉 Submit a Free Case Evaluation
We’ll read every word. We’ll respond fast. And if we can help, we’ll set up a time to talk. If not, we’ll point you in the right direction.

You’re not just another claim. You’re a rider. You deserve to be seen, heard, and treated with respect.

We’ve got your back.