California Motorcycle Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Fighting for Those Living with Spinal Injuries
A motorcycle crash can change your life in an instant. One moment you’re riding free, wind in your face, and the next, you can’t feel your legs. You can’t move your hands the way you used to. You can’t get out of bed without help.
If you or someone you love suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident, you’re not alone — and you’re not without options.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we know how devastating spinal injuries can be — physically, emotionally, and financially. We’ve represented riders whose lives were turned upside down by another driver’s carelessness, and we’ve fought to make sure they and their families get the care, compensation, and respect they deserve.
We’re California’s Motorcycle Law Firm — built by riders, for riders — and when life throws you off balance, we fight to get you back on solid ground.
Understanding Motorcycle Spinal Cord Injuries
Motorcycles offer freedom — but that freedom comes with vulnerability. When a crash happens, the force of impact can be enormous. A car that “didn’t see you” can easily launch a rider or crush them beneath thousands of pounds of steel.
Even at lower speeds, spinal injuries are tragically common in motorcycle accidents. The human body wasn’t built to handle the kind of torque, twisting, and compression forces that happen when a rider is struck or thrown.
Some spinal injuries are partial — causing weakness, numbness, or pain. Others are complete — resulting in total paralysis below the injury site.
And every single one changes how you live, work, and move through the world.
Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries from Motorcycle Crashes
Spinal injuries can occur anywhere along the spine — from the neck to the lower back — and the location determines how much of the body is affected.
Here are the most common types we see in motorcycle cases:
Cervical Spine Injuries (Neck): Often the most severe, these can cause partial or complete paralysis of all four limbs (known as quadriplegia or tetraplegia).
Thoracic Spine Injuries (Upper/Mid-Back): May cause paralysis or weakness in the legs and torso (paraplegia).
Lumbar and Sacral Injuries (Lower Back): Can cause loss of function in the hips, legs, bladder, or bowels.
Herniated Discs and Nerve Compression: These may not cause paralysis but can lead to chronic pain, numbness, or mobility problems.
Some riders also suffer secondary complications — such as pressure sores, muscle atrophy, or infections — that require lifelong medical management.
Even when the spine isn’t severed, the damage can be catastrophic. Bruising, swelling, and bleeding can cause long-term neurological impairment.
The Emotional and Financial Toll of a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries don’t just take away movement — they take away independence.
Many riders tell us that the hardest part isn’t the hospital stay or the rehab — it’s the loss of the small freedoms they once took for granted: climbing stairs, hugging their kids, getting dressed without help.
And then there’s the financial reality. Spinal cord injuries are among the most expensive injuries a person can suffer. Lifetime care costs can reach millions of dollars when you add up:
Emergency surgeries and hospital stays
Rehabilitation and physical therapy
Wheelchairs and mobility devices
Home and vehicle modifications
Ongoing medications and in-home care
Lost income and future earning potential
For families, the burden can feel impossible — especially when insurance companies drag their feet or try to minimize what happened.
That’s where we come in.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we take the weight off your shoulders so you can focus on recovery. We handle the insurance companies, medical records, and legal fight — and we don’t get paid unless we win.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes
Most spinal cord injuries aren’t “accidents.” They’re caused by negligence — the kind of carelessness that should never happen:
Rear-end collisions at stoplights and intersections
Unsafe lane changes and sideswipes on freeways
Dangerous road conditions — potholes, loose gravel, or construction hazards
We investigate every angle to find out exactly what caused the crash — and who’s responsible. Whether it’s a reckless driver, a negligent employer, a city that ignored road hazards, or a manufacturer that sold defective equipment, we hold them accountable.
Proving Liability in a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Spinal injury cases often involve high damages — which means insurance companies fight them hard. They’ll question every symptom, challenge every bill, and argue that your injuries aren’t as bad as they are.
That’s why having the right lawyer matters.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we know how to prove these cases the right way:
Accident Reconstruction: Using experts to show how and why the crash occurred.
Medical Evidence: Collaborating with neurosurgeons, neurologists, and rehab specialists to explain the full extent of the injury.
Economic Experts: Calculating lost wages, future care costs, and quality-of-life damages.
Witness and Family Testimony: Showing how the injury has affected daily life, relationships, and independence.
We build every case as if it’s going to trial — because the truth is, insurance companies only offer fair settlements when they know we’re ready to take them to court.
What You Can Recover in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Financial recovery in spinal cord injury cases can be substantial, because the needs are lifelong.
We pursue every form of compensation available under California law, including:
Medical expenses (past and future)
Rehabilitation and therapy
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Home and vehicle modifications
Caregiver support and assistive devices
In cases involving gross negligence — like drunk driving or intentional harm — we also seek punitive damages to hold wrongdoers fully accountable.
Our goal is simple: to make sure you and your family have the resources you need to rebuild your life with dignity and security.
Why Riders Choose McCarthy Motorcycle Law
We’re not a billboard firm. We don’t handle thousands of cases at once.
We’re a rider-focused law firm that takes on a select number of serious cases — because spinal injury cases deserve personal attention.
When you hire McCarthy Motorcycle Law, you get John McCarthy directly. Not a junior associate. Not a case manager. You can call, text, or email him anytime.
John has a national reputation for taking on powerful insurance companies and winning life-changing verdicts and settlements. He’s recovered millions of dollars for riders and families and built a firm rooted in compassion, connection, and commitment.
We know what it means to fight for the underdog — and we never back down from a challenge.
We Know California’s Roads — and the Risks Riders Face
From the tight switchbacks of Highway 49 and Lake Tahoe to the coastal stretches of Monterey and the farm roads of Salinas Valley — we know California’s roads and how dangerous they can be when drivers aren’t paying attention.
We’ve represented riders injured in the Santa Cruz Mountains, on the Central Coast, and across the state — and we understand the unique challenges that come with proving these cases in California courts.
When you’ve spent your life riding here, you don’t just know the law — you know the ride. That understanding helps us explain your case in a way juries can feel.
Take the First Step Toward Justice and Recovery
If a motorcycle crash left you or someone you love with a spinal cord injury, you don’t have to face this fight alone.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we offer free, confidential case evaluations — and every one goes directly to John McCarthy. He reviews each submission personally and responds quickly, typically the same day.
There’s no fee unless we win, and if we can’t help, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Let’s talk about what happened. Let’s get you answers. And let’s start building your case for justice today.
McCarthy Motorcycle Law — California’s Motorcycle Law Firm. Built by Riders. Fighting for Justice.