Road Hazard Motorcycle Accidents

Helping Riders Hurt or Killed by Dangerous Roads Across California

If you’re here, you’re probably trying to figure out why a simple ride went so wrong. Maybe your front tire caught a deep pothole at 40 mph. Maybe loose gravel in a blind turn sent you sliding. Maybe your loved one hit debris on the freeway and never made it home.

Whatever brought you here, we’re sorry. And we’re here to help.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we don’t just handle motorcycle cases—we built this firm for riders. We’ve seen how fast a bike can go down when the road isn’t right. And we’ve seen how quick cities, counties, and insurance companies are to point fingers or deny responsibility.

You deserve better. We’re here to fight for it.

Road Hazards Are One of the Biggest Dangers Riders Face—And They’re Almost Always Preventable

Motorcyclists are vulnerable in ways that drivers will never fully understand. A small dip in the pavement or a patch of gravel that wouldn’t faze a car can wreck a motorcycle in seconds.

We’ve helped riders who crashed because of:

  • Potholes

  • Loose gravel or sand in turns

  • Uneven or broken pavement

  • Oil slicks or pooled water

  • Raised manhole covers

  • Construction debris

  • Tree limbs or cargo in the road

  • Missing signage or barriers

  • Poor lighting or visibility near curves or exits

These aren’t just unfortunate accidents—they’re public safety failures. If a dangerous condition contributed to your crash, we’ll find out who was responsible and help you hold them accountable.

Who’s Liable for a Road Hazard Motorcycle Crash in California?

Road hazard cases can be more complicated than crashes involving another vehicle—but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a case. The key is identifying who knew (or should have known) about the hazard and who failed to fix it.

Potentially Liable Parties Include:

  • City or county governments – for failing to maintain roads or warn of hazards

  • Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) – for state highway hazards

  • Construction companies – for leaving debris, trenches, or unmarked hazards

  • Utility companies – for poor repairs, raised manholes, or open trenches

  • Private property owners – if the hazard came from their land and entered the roadway

  • Trucking companies or motorists – if they dropped cargo or debris into traffic

These cases often require immediate investigation. Evidence like loose gravel, downed limbs, or construction materials can be swept away or cleaned up within hours of the crash. That’s why it’s critical to talk to a motorcycle injury lawyer as soon as possible.

We’ll send investigators, gather evidence, and make sure your crash doesn’t just get “explained away.”

What If You Hit a Hazard and There Was No Collision?

Many riders assume that if they weren’t hit by a car or truck, they don’t have a case. That’s not true.

If a dangerous road condition caused you to lose control—whether you laid the bike down, ran off the road, or crashed trying to avoid something in your path—you still may be entitled to compensation.

We’ve helped riders in solo crashes where:

  • A rider slid on gravel in a blind curve

  • A tire burst after hitting a deep pothole

  • A rider swerved to avoid debris and was thrown into a guardrail

  • A construction site left materials in the shoulder or travel lane

  • A missing sign or downed light made an exit or curve invisible

If someone’s negligence made the road unsafe—and that caused your crash—we’ll work to prove it.

We Know These Roads, and We Know How to Win These Cases

California’s roads are beautiful, but they’re far from perfect. And some areas are more dangerous than others.

We’ve helped riders hurt on:

  • Highway 1 through Big Sur and the Central Coast, where erosion, falling rocks, and fog combine for deadly conditions

  • Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where tight curves and poor drainage lead to crashes every week

  • Rural two-lane roads in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties, where gravel, livestock, and broken pavement often go unaddressed

  • Urban streets in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area, where utility cuts and metal plates are everywhere

  • Remote desert highways with limited maintenance and long response times

We don’t just know how to investigate road hazard crashes. We know where they happen—and how to explain them to a judge or jury.

Injuries in Road Hazard Motorcycle Accidents

When your bike goes down unexpectedly, your body takes the hit. And when the cause is something you couldn’t see, avoid, or react to in time, the results are often serious.

We’ve helped clients recover from:

Some riders get up. Others don’t. We’re here for both.

What If You Lost a Loved One Because of a Road Hazard?

We know how hard it is to process a loss that didn’t have to happen.

Maybe your loved one crashed into a ravine on a poorly marked curve. Maybe they hit a construction zone with no warning signs. Maybe a fallen tree, a pool of oil, or an uneven road caused a crash they didn’t survive.

If you’re grieving someone who was killed in a motorcycle accident caused by dangerous road conditions, we’re so sorry.

You may be able to file a wrongful death claim or a survival action to hold the at-fault party responsible and recover damages for:

  • Funeral and burial expenses

  • Medical bills incurred before death

  • Loss of companionship, care, and emotional support

  • Lost future income and benefits

  • Pain and suffering (through a survival claim)

We handle these cases with care and respect—because your story matters, and so does your loss.

What You Can Recover After a Road Hazard Crash

Every case is different. But if you were injured because of an unsafe road, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Economic Damages

  • Medical expenses (ER, surgery, rehab, physical therapy)

  • Future medical needs or adaptive equipment

  • Lost wages or loss of earning capacity

  • Motorcycle repair or replacement

  • Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries

Non-Economic Damages

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional distress, anxiety, or trauma

  • Scarring or disfigurement

  • Loss of enjoyment of life

  • Loss of independence

In fatal crash cases, families may also recover wrongful death damages as described above.

We’ll work with your doctors, financial experts, and family to build a full picture of what you’ve lost—and what you deserve.

What If the Government Was Responsible?

If a city, county, or state agency failed to maintain a safe road—or failed to fix or warn about a known hazard—they may be held liable.

But claims against public entities have strict rules and tight deadlines. In most cases, you must:

  • File a Government Tort Claim within 6 months of the crash

  • Follow specific notice requirements

  • Give the agency a chance to accept, reject, or ignore your claim before filing suit

If you wait too long or don’t follow the process, your case may be thrown out—even if it’s strong.

We handle public entity claims regularly. We know the deadlines. We know the paperwork. And we don’t let bureaucratic red tape stop our clients from getting justice.

Why Riders Choose McCarthy Motorcycle Law

We’re not just a personal injury firm that happens to take motorcycle cases. This firm was built for riders, by a rider. Our lead attorney knows what it’s like to lose people to crashes. He’s been in courtrooms fighting for motorcyclists against cities, contractors, and corporations that put profits over safety.

Here’s What Sets Us Apart:

  • We only represent injured riders and their families

  • You work directly with your lawyer—not a call center

  • We understand motorcycle dynamics and how crashes actually happen

  • We use experts to investigate road conditions and safety standards

  • We’ve recovered millions for injured clients

  • We offer free, confidential case evaluations

  • You don’t pay anything unless we win

Ready to Talk?

You didn’t ask for this crash. But you don’t have to face the aftermath alone.

Whether you were injured by a pothole on your daily commute or lost someone you love to a hidden hazard on a mountain road, we’re here to help.

👉 Submit Your Free Case Evaluation
We’ll review it personally, get back to you quickly, and if we can help—we’ll get to work right away.

No fees. No pressure. Just real answers from a firm that rides with you.