Riding in the Central Valley means dealing with tule fog on SR-99, aggressive merges on Highway 41, and drivers who simply don’t see you until it’s too late. When a crash happens and the injuries are serious, the insurance company’s response is usually to find a way to blame the motorcycle rider.
BANA LAW has been representing Central Valley riders since 2003. In that time, our team has recovered over $500 million for injury victims across California. Our Fresno motorcycle accident lawyers frequently take on cases that other local firms turn down.
You don’t pay us unless we win. Call 559-777-7723 today to schedule your free consultation.
Danger Zones for Fresno Motorcycle Riders: High Risk Roads
Fresno’s road network can put motorcyclists in dangerous situations. These are the locations we see come up most often:
- Highway 41 through the downtown interchange is one of the more hazardous stretches for riders in Fresno. High-speed traffic merging from local roads and on-ramps can create blind-spot collisions, as drivers fail to check for motorcycles.
- SR-99 during the tule fog season can be particularly treacherous for motorcycle riders. Visibility can drop to near zero in minutes, and commercial trucks traveling at highway speed can’t see a motorcycle until it’s too late.
- Shaw Avenue and Blackstone Avenue run through some of Fresno’s busiest commercial zones, where heavy traffic and frequent turning movements put riders at constant risk.
- Highway 168 heading toward the foothills brings its own risks. The winding sections can catch riders and drivers off guard, especially at higher speeds.
Why Do Motorcyclists Face Increased Danger?
Motorcyclists are at an inherently higher risk of serious injury or death compared to other motorists. According to NHTSA, over 6,228 motorcyclists lost their lives in 2024 in U.S. traffic accidents. Also, the likelihood of fatal injuries in a motorcycle crash is 22 times greater than that of passengers in cars. These statistics highlight the extreme dangers motorcyclists face on California roads.
Insurance companies know how serious motorcycle crashes and injuries are, which is part of why they work so hard to shift blame onto the rider. If they can argue you were merging aggressively on Highway 41 or lane splitting on Blackstone Avenue, they’ll reduce what they owe you.
Given the unique risks that come with riding a motorcycle, those involved in any incidents in Fresno need to consider having legal representation to handle the ins and outs of such cases effectively. A Fresno motorcycle accident attorney at BANA LAW, PC is ready to listen to your story and guide you through the appropriate steps to secure compensation.
"Even now, after our case is over, Ryan is still there for us whenever we need him. They're good people."
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
Can You Still Claim Compensation If You Were Partly at Fault?
Yes, you could still claim compensation. California follows pure comparative negligence, which means there is no all-or-nothing approach to fault. You can be partly responsible for a crash and still recover damages. That said, the amount you can claim will be reduced according to your percentage of fault. So if you were 20% at fault, you recover only 80% of your total damages.
Insurance adjusters know this, and they use it strategically to minimize your payout. The more fault they can assign to you, the less they pay. After a motorcycle crash, an insurance adjuster may try to blame you by alleging you were distracted or driving too fast.
We go through the evidence and challenge every percentage of fault that isn’t supported by the facts. A few percentages on a claims adjuster’s worksheet can cost you thousands. And we don’t want you to settle for less than you deserve.
"I felt very protected, especially the way Ryan answered any question I had. I was very happy with the results of my case."
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
How BANA LAW Handles Your Fresno Motorcycle Accident Case
Evidence can disappear fast on Fresno’s busiest roads. Traffic camera footage gets overwritten, witnesses leave the scene, and road conditions change constantly. Our team acts fast by securing footage from the roads where your accident happened, such as SR-99 or Highway 41. We’ll get witness statements and document everything that could have contributed to your crash.
BANA LAW works with accident reconstructionists who understand motorcycle physics specifically. When a motorcycle crashes, the physical evidence it leaves behind tells a different story than a car accident. An expert who only works car cases may misread that evidence.
We identify every liable party and avenue for compensation from the start. In Fresno, that includes city vehicles and FAX buses. If a government vehicle was involved in your crash, you have only six months to act, not two years. We’ll make sure you don’t miss any filing deadlines, as that can bar your personal injury claim.
Motorcycle injuries don’t always show up right away. Nerve damage and chronic joint pain can take weeks or months to fully emerge. We work with orthopedic surgeons and neurologists who understand this, and we build your case around what your injuries will cost you long term, not just your current medical bills.
"Our goal is to remove the stress of the case from you, so you can focus on treating your injuries and begin your road to recovery."
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
Why Motorcycle Injuries Require Specialist Care in Fresno
A car accident and a motorcycle accident don’t cause the same injuries. Motorcycle riders don’t have the protection of a steel cage, and when they go down, injuries typically include:
Road rash causes friction burn across large areas of skin
Orthopedic trauma from direct impact with the road or another vehicle
Traumatic brain injuries that can occur even with a helmet on.
Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC) at 2823 Fresno Street is the only facility in the Central Valley with a dedicated burn center alongside Level 1 trauma capabilities. Not every emergency room is equipped to handle deep friction burns alongside fractures and a potential TBI in the same patient.
We work with Fresno-based orthopedic surgeons and neurologists who understand the long-term picture of motorcycle trauma, including the secondary injuries that don’t show up in the first 48 hours. Getting you connected to the right specialists from the start protects both your health and your legal case.
How to Get Your Fresno Motorcycle Accident Report
After a motorcycle crash, the paperwork is the last thing on your mind. But an accident report is essential for your claim, and knowing which agency filed it determines where you get it:
- If your accident happened within Fresno city limits, request your report from the Fresno Police Department Records Division at 2323 Mariposa Street. Reports are free at the counter or $12 through the online portal.
- If you went down on SR-99, Highway 41, or Highway 168, the report was filed by the California Highway Patrol, and that’s where you’ll have to obtain it.
If you’re not sure which agency responded, we can find out and handle the request for you. Collision reports, witness statements, and officer diagrams are all documents we pull as part of building your case.
Fighting the “Biker Bias” in Fresno Motorcycle Claims
Insurance adjusters often don’t evaluate motorcycle claims the same way they evaluate car accident claims. This “biker bias” starts with assumptions like the rider was probably speeding, the lane splitting was reckless, or the bike was somewhere it shouldn’t have been. These tactics cost injured bikers money, as insurers use them to pay you less.
Lane splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code Section 21658.1. A legal maneuver cannot be used to shift fault onto a rider, and we don’t let that happen. When the facts are disputed, we look at the evidence. Helmet cam data, traffic camera footage, and the bike’s own onboard data, if available, can give an objective account of the accident.
At left-turn hotspots like Blackstone Avenue, where drivers routinely fail to yield to oncoming motorcycles, accident reconstructionists can establish that the driver’s error was the cause of the crash.
When Fresno insurers see BANA LAW on a claim, they know the case is prepared for trial. We make sure that biker bias doesn’t hold up in a Fresno courtroom.
Call a Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorney from BANA LAW, PC, Now for a Free Case Evaluation
Recovering from a truck accident is expensive in ways that aren’t always obvious at first. Medical care, lost income, long-term rehabilitation, and the impact on your daily life all have dollar values, and getting those numbers right is what this fight is about. And you don’t have to go it alone.
P. Ryan Banafshe has spent 23 years building a firm that takes on the cases other attorneys won’t touch. Our motorcycle accident results include a $23.7 million and a $6.25 million recovery, both in motorcycle versus truck cases.
We know what Fresno riders are up against, both on the road and in a claims process that’s often stacked against them. We’re available 24/7. Call our Fresno office at 559-777-7723 or start your free confidential consultation online. You pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I was hit by a FAX bus or a City of Fresno vehicle?
While most injury claims have a two-year deadline, claims involving government entities like FAX (Fresno Area Express) have a much stricter deadline. You typically have to file a notice of claim within six months before being able to sue the government. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to recover any compensation at all.
What if the driver says they didn’t see me?
Failing to see a motorcycle doesn’t eliminate a driver’s fault, especially if they failed to check their blind spot. Drivers have a legal duty to look out for all road users. We use witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction to show what the driver should have seen and when.
Can I still file a claim if I was lane splitting when the accident happened?
Yes. Lane splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code Section 21658.1. The insurer may try to use it against you, but the law is on your side. The critical issue for your claim is whether the other driver’s negligence caused the crash, not whether you were lane splitting at the time.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
You may still have options through your own uninsured motorist coverage. California law requires insurers to offer this protection, though not every rider carries it. You could also sue the other driver personally. Our attorneys can identify every available source of compensation, including your own policy and any third parties who may share liability.
"We use over 100 years of combined legal experience to help our clients get the maximum compensation available under the circumstances."
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
