Attorney Referrals & Co-Counsel Opportunities
Teaming Up With California’s Motorcycle Law Firm
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably an attorney who’s either:
Sitting on a motorcycle injury or wrongful death case you don’t typically handle,
Looking for co-counsel on a serious case involving complex injuries or liability issues,
Or you’re one of the many attorneys who knows that motorcycle cases require a very different approach than standard auto cases.
Whichever category you’re in: welcome.
I’m glad you’re here, and I’m glad you’re thinking about your client enough to find the right fit for them.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, motorcycle cases aren’t a small slice of what we do — they are what we do. We’re California’s Motorcycle Law Firm, built specifically around serving riders and their families. And we partner with lawyers throughout California and across the country who want their injured rider clients to receive specialized, top-tier representation.
Why Refer or Co-Counsel With McCarthy Motorcycle Law?
Because motorcycle cases are not just car cases with fewer wheels
If you’ve ever handled a motorcycle injury or wrongful death case, you already know how different they are.
Motorcycle cases involve:
Rider dynamics
Motorcycle mechanics
Lane splitting rules unique to California
Biker bias (from police, adjusters, juries, and occasionally judges)
High-energy impacts
Far more severe injuries
More complex reconstruction
More intense insurance opposition
A lawyer who doesn’t live and breathe this work can unintentionally leave value on the table — not because they’re not talented, but because motorcycle cases require a completely different playbook.
This is exactly why so many attorneys choose to refer or co-counsel their rider cases with us.
We don’t just handle the case.
We handle it in a way that reflects the realities of riding and the realities of being a rider in a world built for cars.
A Practice Built by Riders, for Riders
I created McCarthy Motorcycle Law because I wanted a firm that riders could genuinely trust — a firm that understands the culture, the roads, the community, and the stereotypes riders face every single day.
I’ve lost loved ones in motorcycle crashes.
I’ve represented families whose lives were shattered by preventable collisions.
And I’ve spent my career fighting large corporations, insurance carriers, and defense firms who underestimate riders and underestimate us.
When an attorney refers a case or joins as co-counsel, they’re not handing their client over to a stranger. They’re partnering with a firm that handles these cases with respect, precision, and a deep appreciation for the riding community.
We Take Excellent Care of Your Clients
This is the part that matters most to every referring lawyer.
You want to know:
Will my client be contacted promptly?
Will they feel supported?
Will the case move forward?
Will the communication be clear?
Will they be treated compassionately?
Will they be impressed enough to thank you for the referral?
The answer is yes.
Our evaluations are:
Fast
Free
Direct to my inbox (not a call center)
Handled with care, empathy, and no pressure
Your client will talk to an attorney — me — not a junior associate or a gatekeeper. They’ll receive clear guidance, realistic expectations, and the dignity they deserve during one of the hardest experiences of their life.
And you’ll never be left wondering where the case stands. We communicate with referring and co-counsel attorneys regularly and transparently.
We Follow California’s Referral Fee Rules — Fully and Fairly
I’m a big believer in ethical, transparent, properly structured referral fees under California Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5.1.
Here’s what that means for you:
We put all agreements in writing
Your fee is protected
You receive updates
You are treated as a true partner in the matter
You never have to chase us for information
You never have to question the value of the relationship
If you prefer to stay involved as co-counsel, we’ll work together closely and clearly define roles from the outset.
If you prefer to refer the case out entirely, we’ll take it from there — and keep you in the loop.
Either way, your reputation and your client’s well-being remain protected.
The Types of Motorcycle Cases We Handle
We accept referrals and co-counsel partnerships on:
These cases require sensitivity, precision, and an ability to walk families through unimaginable grief.
Life-changing injuries
Including but not limited to:
California’s unique laws make these cases particularly complicated — and frequently misinterpreted by police and insurers.
One of the most common causes of fatal motorcycle crashes.
Highway crashes and catastrophic impacts
These cases often involve multiple vehicles, high speeds, complex reconstruction, and intense damages workups.
Hit-and-run motorcycle crashes
We help families and riders navigate UM/UIM, bad faith issues, and investigative recovery.
Phone records, telematics, vehicle data, and surveillance footage can make or break these cases.
Defective motorcycle parts or product failures
We partner with experts and investigators when mechanical error or component failure is involved.
Unmarked gravel, potholes, construction zones, dangerous design — these cases require strong investigative work.
If you have a motorcycle case and you’re not sure whether it's viable, call me. I’m happy to look at it and discuss the strengths and challenges with you.
What You Can Expect as a Referral or Co-Counsel Partner
1. Respect for your client relationship
Your client came to you because they trust you. Our job is to honor that trust, not replace it.
2. Honest case evaluation
I will tell you — privately — if the case has problems, if the damages may be limited, or if there are issues you may not have seen yet.
I’d rather be candid upfront than surprise you later.
3. Strong litigation and trial preparation
I work with some of the best trial lawyers in the country, including Clay Griessmeyer and other litigators who ride. We take on serious cases — and win serious results.
My practice uses:
A streamlined, paperless trial system
Tech-heavy case management
Evidence frameworks
Clean, efficient litigation strategies
Tight communication channels with co-counsel
We run lean, smart, and efficiently — which means your client’s case moves.
4. Protection against biker bias
Motorcycle cases get minimized.
Riders get blamed.
Families get dismissed.
We don’t allow it.
We tell the rider’s story.
We humanize them.
We understand the dynamics of the crash.
We educate adjusters, judges, and juries about what riders really face.
Most lawyers think they know motorcycle cases.
The truth is: unless they live in this space, they don’t.
5. Clear communication, no ego
Lawyer-to-lawyer collaboration works best when everyone respects each other’s time and expertise. I’ve been on the “defense side,” the “plaintiff side,” and the “referral side.” I know what attorneys need:
Clarity
Consistency
Low-maintenance collaboration
Straight answers
Clean file management
Predictability
I make the process easy.
This Is More Than Litigation. It’s Community Work.
California’s rider community is tight-knit and generous. Riders look out for each other. They show up when someone goes down. They raise money for families. They donate time and resources. They remember their people.
I’ve represented enough riders to understand that when someone is killed or seriously injured, the entire community feels it.
That’s why our work is about:
Accountability
Justice
Public safety
Stewardship
Keeping families from being steamrolled by insurance companies
Protecting the dignity of riders who can no longer speak for themselves
When attorneys refer motorcycle cases to us, they’re not just sending a file. They’re allowing us to do meaningful work for people who need it most.
Whether You Want to Refer the Case Out Entirely or Stay Involved, Let’s Talk
Some lawyers want to hand the case off and let us run it.
Some want to stay involved, contribute strategically, or learn the motorcycle niche from the inside.
Some want training on handling rider-specific cases.
Some want recurring partnership.
I’m comfortable with all of it.
We can structure:
Full case transfers
Referral-only arrangements
Shared litigation roles
Co-trial partnerships
Behind-the-scenes consulting
Strategic case evaluations
Whatever serves your client best — and fits your practice — is what we’ll do.
Ready to talk through a potential referral?
Here’s what happens next:
You call, email, or submit a short intro form.
I respond quickly — usually same day.
We talk through the facts, injuries, and potential issues.
We determine the best path forward for the client.
You’ll get honesty, clarity, and a plan — not a sales pitch.
Direct email:
john@lawyermc.com
Direct phone / text:
831-333-9005
Case Evaluation Form:
https://www.californiasmotorcyclelawfirm.com/case-evaluation
You take care of your practice.
We’ll take care of your rider clients.
Your cases.
Your clients.
Our fight.