Drunk Driving Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in California
Justice for Riders Hurt or Killed by Impaired Drivers
When a Drunk Driver Wrecks a Life, We Step In to Hold Them Accountable
If you’re here because a drunk driver hit you—or worse, killed someone you love—then first, we want to say this: We’re sorry. No one should have to go through what you’re facing right now. It wasn’t an accident. It was a choice.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we’ve seen what’s left behind when a drunk driver makes a reckless decision. A totaled bike. A shattered spine. A funeral for someone who should still be here. And too often, a family stuck with medical bills, lost wages, and unanswered questions.
This firm was built for riders. Built by someone who understands the roads we ride and the pain left behind when another driver doesn’t take your life seriously. When you’re ready to take back some control and demand justice, we’re here to fight for you.
Drunk Driving Destroys Lives—And Riders Are Among the Most Vulnerable
In California, thousands of motorcyclists are seriously injured or killed every year. And a tragic number of those crashes involve alcohol or drug-impaired drivers.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety:
In over 30% of all fatal motorcycle crashes, alcohol is involved—often from the other driver
Riders are significantly more likely to suffer life-threatening injuries when struck by a drunk driver
Drunk driving crashes are more likely to happen at night and on weekends—when riders are out enjoying open roads
It doesn’t matter if the driver had “just a few drinks,” or “only smoked a little.” When someone gets behind the wheel impaired and plows into a rider, they are responsible for everything that happens next.
You shouldn't have to carry that burden alone.
We Know How These Crashes Happen—Because We've Seen Too Many
Every drunk driving motorcycle crash starts with a selfish decision. One more beer. One more shot. One more “I’m fine to drive.”
And then someone’s life is destroyed.
We’ve seen drunk drivers:
Blow through red lights and t-bone a rider
Drift across a double yellow and cause a head-on collision
Swerve into a bike while lane splitting on the freeway
Veer onto the shoulder and clip a rider trying to avoid them
And we’ve seen what happens after—the mangled helmets, the shattered bones, the tearful families in emergency rooms.
These crashes aren't just physically devastating. They’re emotionally wrecking. And they leave behind a pile of medical bills, missed work, unanswered questions, and—too often—a deep, aching anger.
We’re here to channel that anger into action.
What Riders Can Recover After a Drunk Driving Motorcycle Crash
When a drunk driver hits a motorcyclist, the harm can be life-altering or fatal. But under California law, injured riders—and the families of those who are killed—can recover compensation for every kind of loss.
If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to:
Emergency medical bills, hospital stays, and surgeries
Ongoing care like physical therapy, counseling, or in-home assistance
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma and PTSD
Motorcycle repairs or replacement
And if your loved one was killed, we’ll walk you through a wrongful death claim, which can include:
Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of income your loved one would have provided
Loss of love, guidance, and companionship
Grief and mental suffering
Medical expenses incurred before death
We also pursue punitive damages in drunk driving cases—extra financial penalties designed to punish the driver for their recklessness.
You only get one shot at making a claim like this. Let’s make sure you do it right.
What If the Driver Was Arrested—or Not?
In California, drunk drivers can be charged with a crime—and they often are. But criminal cases are handled by the District Attorney and focus on punishment, not compensation. A criminal conviction doesn't pay your hospital bills or help your family stay afloat.
To recover compensation, you need to file a civil personal injury claim or a wrongful death lawsuit. These cases are separate from any criminal trial. And we don’t have to wait for the DA to act.
We launch our own investigation, gather our own evidence, and go after the driver directly—or their insurance company.
Even if the driver wasn’t arrested or blew just under the legal limit (0.08 BAC), they can still be held liable in a civil court. Impairment is impairment—and we’ll prove it.
What If the Drunk Driver Was Uninsured or Fled the Scene?
It’s sadly common for drunk drivers to hit a rider and then run. They panic. They know they’re in trouble. Some don’t even stop to call 911.
If this happened to you or your family, we may still be able to help—especially if you or your loved one had uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This kind of coverage can step in and pay for damages when the driver can’t or won’t.
But be warned: even your own insurance company might push back hard. That’s why having a lawyer who understands motorcycle crash cases is so important.
We’ve helped riders recover compensation even when the other driver was never found, or when there wasn’t enough insurance to cover the damage. Let’s talk about your options.
How We Investigate Drunk Driving Motorcycle Accidents
We treat every case like it might go to trial. Because if it has to, we want to be ready.
When you work with McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we:
Investigate the crash scene and get the full police report
Secure toxicology reports and breathalyzer test results (when available)
Interview witnesses and first responders
Subpoena bar receipts or surveillance footage showing the driver’s behavior
Work with accident reconstruction experts who can prove fault
Document your injuries and work with medical experts to calculate lifetime impact
Drunk driving is one of the most morally outrageous causes of motorcycle injuries. We don’t back down—and we don’t let the other side minimize what happened.
What If You Were a Passenger on a Motorcycle Hit by a Drunk Driver?
You still have rights.
Passengers injured in drunk driving crashes—whether riding on a motorcycle, in a car, or on the back of a friend’s bike—can still bring a personal injury claim. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, even if the driver you were with was partially at fault.
We handle these cases with care, especially when the rider and the passenger are friends or family. Our goal is never to pit people against each other, but to make sure everyone gets the care and support they need to recover.
If You Lost a Loved One to a Drunk Driver, We’re So Sorry. We’re With You.
Wrongful death cases are the hardest cases we take—but they’re also the most important.
There’s nothing we can do to bring your loved one back. But we can make sure their story gets told. We can give your family answers. And we can force the drunk driver to face the full weight of what they did.
We’ll fight for everything your family is entitled to under California’s wrongful death and survival laws—and we’ll handle the process with respect, compassion, and care.
This firm was built to help people who’ve been knocked down by someone else’s choices. We won’t let your loss go unanswered.
Why Riders and Families Choose McCarthy Motorcycle Law
We’re not just another personal injury firm looking to rack up settlement numbers. We’re trial lawyers. We’re advocates for underdogs. And we’re here because we’ve seen what happens when riders get ignored, blamed, or brushed aside after a crash.
Here’s what makes us different:
We fight for riders—period. That’s our mission.
We’re considered California’s Motorcycle Law Firm. We don’t just “handle” motorcycle cases. We’ve dedicated our lives to them.
You won’t get pawned off to a junior lawyer. You work directly with award-winning, trial attorney John McCarthy.
We use tech to stay lean and hit hard—no bloated overhead, just fast, aggressive work.
We offer free case evaluations that go straight to John’s inbox.
If we can help, we will. If we can’t, we’ll help you find someone who can.
We’re not scared of trial. We’re not scared of big insurance. And we sure as hell aren’t scared of holding a drunk driver accountable.
What To Do After a Drunk Driving Motorcycle Crash
Here’s what to do as soon as you can—either yourself or with help:
Call 911 – Always report the crash. Ask for police and medical help.
Request field sobriety and toxicology testing of the driver if police haven’t done it already.
Get medical treatment, even if you think you’re okay. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries.
Document everything – Pictures. Videos. Diagrams. Your bike, your injuries, your helmet, the scene.
Get witness info – Names, numbers, anything that helps corroborate what happened.
Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance company – Let a lawyer handle that.
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer – Especially in DUI crashes, early action is key.
Ready to Take the First Step Toward Justice?
If you or someone you love was hurt—or killed—by a drunk driver, you deserve answers. You deserve accountability. And you deserve a team that will fight for everything the law allows.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we don’t just care about cases. We care about people.
👉 Submit Your Free Case Evaluation
It’s fast, confidential, and goes straight to a real motorcycle injury lawyer. We usually respond the same business day.
Let’s get justice. Let’s get closure. Let’s take back your power.