Riverside has scenic roads that make it a popular place for motorcyclists to ride. Unfortunately, that also means motorcycle accidents happen left and right in the city, sometimes ending with fatalities. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash, know that you have options. The medical bills may be piling up, but don’t forget that you have a right to seek just compensation for your losses, especially if another party’s negligence caused your injuries.
Thompson Law’s team of dedicated Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand your legal options, investigate the accident, and bring those responsible to justice in court. We’ll stop at nothing to obtain full and fair compensation for your injuries so that you can heal comfortably. Learn what we can do to help when you book a FREE CONSULTATION today.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, our attorneys are ready to fight for your rights and get you compensation that reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses. We’ve won our clients over $1.9 billion in settlements throughout the years, and we can do the same for you.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, we can help you seek compensatory damages such as:
Like all motorists, motorcycle riders are legally obligated to follow road rules and traffic laws to keep themselves and everyone else on the road safe. Understanding these laws also allows all motorcycle riders to protect themselves legally should an accident occur. Here are some of those laws and regulations motorcycle riders must strictly abide by.
According to California Vehicle Code § 27803, it is unlawful for anyone to ride a motorcycle without a safety helmet. This applies to both drivers and passengers. This law exists not only in Riverside but throughout the state of California to keep people on motorcycles safe from severe head injuries, especially if they are thrown off their motorcycles in a car crash.
Riverside also has local rules about where motorcycles can be operated outside public roads. According to the Riverside Code of Ordinances § 9.32.030, no one is allowed to ride a motorcycle in public parks, recreational areas, and other property owned by the City of Riverside besides roads and highways. Motorcycles are also not allowed on unimproved private property or land in the city.
This ordinance protects motorcycle riders and people in the community from accidents in places where traffic isn’t regulated. Parks and recreational areas are frequented by children and families, so motorcycles aren’t allowed there to keep these residents safe. It also protects private land from noise pollution and property damage due to motorcycles.
To be able to ride a motorcycle in Riverside, you must have a valid motorcycle license from the California DMV. These include the Class M1 license for any type of motorcycle and the Class M2 license for motorized scooters and mopeds. To get either of these licenses, people must pass a driving test to ensure they know how to safely operate a motorcycle.
Motorcycle accidents are arguably the most dangerous type of road collision out there. Unlike regular cars, motorcycle riders aren’t shielded by their vehicle upon impact. And unlike bicycles, which typically go at a relatively low speed, motorcycles can go even faster than cars. This speed and lack of protection combined often lead to severe injuries when riders get involved in road crashes, and in the worst cases, these motorists can even lose their lives on the road.
Motorcycles are also relatively small compared to the massive vehicles they share the road with, such as trucks and buses. Drivers of these huge vehicles may have reduced visibility of motorcycles, especially if they’re in those drivers’ blind spots. This can cause collisions if drivers change lanes or make a turn without realizing a motorcycle is nearby.
Riders who get injured in motorcycle accidents often sustain serious injuries because of the high likelihood of being ejected from their motorcycle. When they get thrown into the air and onto the road, the results can be tragic and extremely traumatic. This makes motorcyclists more susceptible to fatal crashes than other motorists.
Motorcycle accidents happen in Riverside for a myriad of reasons, but they’re often traced back to the negligent actions of another party. Here are some of the leading causes of road crashes involving motorcycles within the city:
Victims of motorcycle accidents often face severe injuries since riding on such a small vehicle doesn’t give them as much protection as cars and other larger vehicles do. Here are just some of the devastating impacts and injuries our Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers see in victims:
Many of these injuries can lead to permanent disability. And in the most devastating accidents, victims can even face a wrongful death. Motorcycle accidents don’t just hurt their vulnerable victims. It also has the potential to negatively impact their quality of life forever, or even take it away completely.
If you’ve been seriously injured after a motorcycle crash, don’t delay seeking justice and getting financial recovery today. Contact us for a FREE CASE REVIEW!
Motorcycle accidents often appear in Riverside’s local newspapers, reminding riders how dangerous it can be to traverse the city’s streets. Just in April 2025, news broke about a 67-year-old motorcyclist killed in a road crash with a construction tractor doing work in the streets of Winchester in Riverside County. At impact, the rider was thrown off his motorcycle and died.
In January 2025, another motorcycle rider was killed on the road, this time a Riverside County deputy. It happened along the 91 Freeway at La Sierra Avenue when the deputy slammed into the rear of a sedan. He, too, was ejected from his motorcycle and died.
A month after that, in February 2025, a woman passed away in another tragic accident involving a motorcycle. The victim was a motorcycle rider who collided with the trailer of a semi-truck along the 215 Freeway in Riverside. Her motorcycle got caught in the large wheels of the truck, which spun the small vehicle over and threw the victim into the lanes, where she ultimately died.
Who is liable for your motorcycle accident isn’t always straightforward. To uncover who really is at fault for your injuries, our lawyers will review every piece of evidence, like witness statements, police reports, surveillance footage, photos and videos of the crash, and more. Using all that information, we’ll identify who is truly responsible for your pain. These potential at-fault parties include:
Motorcycle accidents are often complex, and establishing liability can be arduous and complicated. Our Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers know how to study every piece of evidence to prove who caused your injuries. We’ll advocate for your rights and bring them to justice, making sure to get you the compensation you need to recover from your losses. Discover how we can strengthen your claim by booking a FREE CASE REVIEW with the team.
The first thing you should do after getting in a motorcycle accident is call 911. This allows you to ask for medical attention if you or anyone else at the scene of the crash is hurt. It also gives you the opportunity to ask for the police to come and assist at the accident’s location. While they’re there, request a police report. This can be useful evidence later for your legal team.
Take photos and videos of the accident, even just with your phone. Document how the vehicles involved look, your injuries, and the road conditions when the accident occurred.
Then, start talking to the people around you. Exchange information with the other driver involved, including their license plates and insurance details. Talk to witnesses who saw the accident unfold, too. Ask for their contact details in case you might need their statements to strengthen your case should you go to court.
Most importantly, call trusted Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers to run you through all your legal options and be your guide as you navigate insurance claims and legal paperwork. Having a solid team of lawyers in your corner is a great way to ensure that someone is protecting your rights and fighting for your cause while you recover from injuries.
Motorcycle accidents can be life-changing, not only because of the severity of the physical injuries victims endure, but also the financial stress that comes with paying medical bills and recovering from lost wages. These victims don’t deserve that kind of life because of the negligence of another party. We believe that every motorcycle rider should be treated fairly on the road. If someone’s carelessness harmed you in this way, we’ll stop at nothing to seek justice on your behalf and get you the full and fair compensation you deserve to recover financially.
Riverside is abundant in healthcare facilities that can offer medical care either right after or in the days following a motorcycle accident. Here are some of the local hospitals to go to if you need to seek medical attention for your injuries:
Insurance adjusters have one thing on their mind: giving you the smallest payout possible to protect their own interests. They’ll use tactics like downplaying your injuries or shifting blame onto you, even if you clearly aren’t at fault for the crash.
To protect your rights, try not to talk to them for long. Don’t admit guilt for anything or talk in-depth about the details of the accident. Instead, tell them that you have legal representation and that your lawyers will talk to them on your behalf.
Our team of Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers knows how to handle insurance companies, even those aggressive with low offers. We’ll negotiate to get you the maximum compensation possible for your case, and we won’t accept any lowball offers, even if we have to take the other party to court.
We know how stressful and gut-wrenching it feels to be hurt in a motorcycle accident. Aside from nursing your painful injuries back to health, you also have to deal with paying off mounting medical bills and talking to insurance companies that offer only minimal payouts.
But with a team of experienced lawyers in your corner, you won’t have to deal with any of that alone. Our Riverside motorcycle accident lawyers will talk to insurance companies on your behalf and guide you through your legal options from day one. We’ll fight for your rights until you get the full compensation you deserve for what you’ve had to go through.
We’re here to strengthen your case and help you every step of the way. Contact our office to book a FREE CONSULTATION with our team to get started on your journey to financial justice.
As with the rest of California, the deadline to file a claim after an injury from a motorcycle accident in Riverside is two years after the date of the crash. If you plan on filing a lawsuit against government entities like the City of Riverside, the deadline is even shorter at just six months after the crash. If you aren’t able to pursue legal action within those timeframes, you risk losing your right to seek financial compensation for your losses.
Most motorcycle accident settlements are worth between $10,000 and $100,000. But these are typically for straightforward claims for minor injuries. Complex cases involving more serious injuries and wrongful deaths can reach settlement amounts of over $500,000, sometimes even reaching the millions for particularly devastating accidents.
Our lawyers collect and scrutinize every piece of evidence surrounding your case, from police reports to witness statements to dash cam footage if it’s available. From there, we piece together the story of what really happened at the motorcycle accident and uncover the truth of who was at fault for your injuries. In court, we establish in front of a judge and jury that this party breached their duty of care to you as a fellow motorist and hold them accountable for their actions in the form of compensatory damages.
California law mandates that every person riding a motorcycle must wear a helmet. But if you weren’t wearing one when the accident occurred, it’s still possible for you to get compensated for your injuries or losses. However, the other party might argue that you not wearing a helmet contributed to your injuries. If the court rules that you were partially at fault for your injuries, the damages awarded to you may be reduced by the percentage of that fault according to California’s comparative negligence laws.
Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.