Santa Cruz Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Fighting for Injured Riders and Families from the Mountains to the Coast

Santa Cruz is made for motorcycles. From Highway 1 hugging the ocean, to the redwood-lined curves of 9 and 17, to the backroads of Soquel and Bonny Doon, it’s one of the most breathtaking places in California to ride.

But it’s also one of the most dangerous.

When a distracted driver drifts into your lane, makes a careless left turn, or slams the brakes too late, the consequences for riders are devastating. And too often, the system treats motorcyclists like we’re to blame—just for being on two wheels.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash—or if you lost someone you love in a wreck that never should have happened—I’m here to help. My name is John McCarthy. I grew up on the Central Coast. I live here now. And I started McCarthy Motorcycle Law to protect riders like you when everything’s on the line.

We Know the Roads in Santa Cruz—Because We Ride Them

Santa Cruz isn’t just a dot on our service map. It’s a real part of the Central Coast riding culture, and we know it well.

We’ve ridden:

  • Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Davenport—fast-moving, beautiful, and dangerous

  • Mission Street and Ocean Street, where cross-traffic and pedestrians create chaos

  • Highway 9 and 236, winding through Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, and Felton

  • Highway 17, with its blind curves and aggressive commuters

  • Soquel Drive and Capitola Road, where riders get squeezed between traffic and turning cars

  • Summit Road, San Jose-Soquel, and Bonny Doon, where a good ride can go bad in an instant

These aren’t just place names—we know the terrain, the patterns, and how crashes happen here. And when they do, we know how to fight for riders who get hurt or left behind.

Injured in a Motorcycle Crash in Santa Cruz County? We’ve Got Your Back.

Motorcycle crashes are never just “accidents.” They’re often the result of someone else’s carelessness—and the impact can change your life in an instant.

If you’re dealing with pain, surgeries, lost work, or just the shock of how fast it all happened, you don’t have to carry this alone. We’ve helped riders from Santa Cruz and across the Central Coast recover after serious injuries like:

We’ve seen what these crashes do to people. And we know how to help you rebuild your life while we take the fight to the insurance company.

Insurance Companies Don’t Respect Riders—We Make Them Pay Attention

The minute a crash report says “motorcycle,” insurance adjusters start looking for ways to blame the rider. They’ll say you were speeding. Lane splitting. Not wearing gear. Taking risks.

But here’s the truth: most riders are more careful than other drivers—because we don’t have the luxury of making mistakes.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we don’t let them get away with it. We:

  • Investigate the crash thoroughly

  • Preserve your gear and bike as evidence

  • Work with reconstruction and medical experts

  • Document your injuries and long-term needs

  • Push back against bias every step of the way

This isn’t just legal work for us—it’s personal. We know what it’s like to ride. We’ve lost people we love to crashes. And we fight like hell for those left behind.

Why Riders in Santa Cruz Choose McCarthy Motorcycle Law

There’s no shortage of lawyers out there—but very few who actually know motorcycles, and even fewer who understand the Central Coast.

Here’s why riders come to us:

  • We represent motorcyclists. Period. This isn’t a side hustle. It’s the heart of our practice.

  • I’m from here. I learned to ride here. I live here. We don’t fake local. We are local.

  • You work directly with me. Not a junior lawyer in the Bay Area. Not a call center in Iowa. Me.

  • We offer free case evaluations, no pressure. If we can help, we’ll talk. If not, we’ll point you in the right direction.

  • You don’t pay unless we win. Simple as that.

When you’re hurting, grieving, or just trying to figure out your next move—we’re the firm that picks up the phone, gives you real answers, and gets to work.

If You Lost a Loved One in a Motorcycle Crash in Santa Cruz

There’s no way to sugarcoat it—losing someone in a motorcycle crash is devastating. It turns your world upside down in an instant. And when the crash was preventable, that grief gets wrapped in anger, confusion, and the weight of unanswered questions.

We’ve walked this path with other families. And we’ll walk it with you.

Wrongful death claims can never replace what was lost. But they can:

  • Hold the driver accountable

  • Help cover funeral and burial expenses

  • Provide financial support when income is lost

  • Compensate for emotional pain and suffering

  • Recognize the depth of your loss

We handle these cases with care, compassion, and relentless advocacy. When you’re ready—we’re here.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

After a serious motorcycle crash in Santa Cruz, you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Emergency medical care

  • Ongoing treatment and rehab

  • Future medical needs

  • Lost wages and future earning capacity

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional distress

  • Property damage (bike, helmet, gear)

  • Wrongful death compensation (for families)

We take the time to understand your story—and make sure every part of your loss is heard, documented, and valued.

We Handle Serious Motorcycle Injury and Wrongful Death Cases

We don’t only take the “easy” cases. But that doesn’t mean we won’t take yours. Whether the facts are clear or the liability is disputed—if the crash was serious and you need help, we’re ready.

We’ve handled crashes involving:

Whether you were hit downtown or went down on a rural mountain pass, we’re here to help.

How to Get Help

You don’t have to know exactly what to do. Just reach out. We’ll take it from there.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Fill out our free case evaluation form.

  2. I’ll review it personally—usually same day.

  3. If I can’t help, I’ll point you in the right direction.

  4. If we can help, we’ll schedule a free consultation.

  5. You pay nothing unless we win.

No pressure. No gimmicks. Just real help, from someone who cares.

Serving Riders Throughout Santa Cruz County

We help riders from all over the county, including:

  • Santa Cruz

  • Capitola

  • Soquel

  • Aptos

  • Scotts Valley

  • Felton

  • Ben Lomond

  • Boulder Creek

  • Live Oak

  • Watsonville

  • Highway 1, Highway 9, Highway 17, and beyond

Wherever your crash happened, we know the roads—and we know how to fight for riders.

You Ride. We Fight.

If you’ve been seriously hurt—or if you lost someone who should still be here—you’re not alone.

We see you. We hear you. And we’re ready to stand beside you and fight for what’s right. Get started today.

You ride. We fight.