Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Fighting for Victims in Fresno and the Central Valley

Motorcycle crashes are different from other vehicle accidents. The injuries tend to be more severe, the recovery takes longer, and insurers regularly look for ways to reduce or deny claims—even when the driver was clearly at fault.

Unlike minor collisions, motorcycle crashes usually require emergency care, lead to missed work, and cause lasting effects that change how the rider lives or earns a living.

If you or a family member was injured in a motorcycle crash, call (559) 297-1118 to speak with a Fresno motorcycle accident lawyer at Tim Mazzela, APC. The consultation is free, and you may have a right to compensation.

Adjusters Look for Openings Early

The insurance company may seem helpful at first. But within days, an adjuster may ask for a recorded statement or send paperwork that looks routine. What gets said or signed too early can limit the claim later.

You Don’t Have to Be Sure Before You Call

You don’t need a complete medical file or a plan. You just need to know that someone will look at what’s happened and give you a clear answer. There’s no fee to call, and no obligation to move forward unless it makes sense.

Serious Injuries Need a Case That Accounts for the Long Term

Surface-Level Recovery Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

Getting out of the hospital doesn’t mean you’re done healing. Riders dealing with broken bones, joint damage, or spinal issues may need surgery, follow-up care, and months of physical therapy. Pain can shift or worsen, even after treatment begins. For some, mobility or strength never fully returns.

When Medical Records Don’t Match the Impact

Insurers tend to focus on discharge summaries, not outcomes. If the paperwork looks clean but the rider still can’t return to work, or can’t function the same way at home, they start questioning whether the injury is real. Detailed records that track ongoing limitations help counter that.

Long-Term Effects Aren’t Just Physical

Some injuries affect how someone sleeps, drives, or handles day-to-day tasks. Others interfere with memory, concentration, or processing speed, especially in cases with head trauma. If these effects aren’t tracked clearly, they’re easy to ignore during negotiations.

What a Real Claim Should Cover

A complete motorcycle injury claim may include:

• Ongoing pain management or orthopedic care
• Missed work and reduced future earning ability
• Costs tied to home adjustments or mobility support
• Mental health care connected to long-term physical limitations
• Loss of ability to perform job-related tasks safely or consistently

Insurers rarely factor those in without pressure. That pressure comes as our motorcycle accident attorney presents clear records, setting the right expectations, and refusing to settle based on early paperwork alone.

Who Can Bring a Claim After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash

California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim when a motorcyclist is killed in a crash. That usually includes a spouse, child, or another legal heir. If no qualifying family member steps forward, the estate’s personal representative may be allowed to file on behalf of surviving relatives.

Compensation in a wrongful death case may cover:

• Burial and funeral expenses
• Loss of the rider’s income or financial contributions
• Household support, companionship, and care
• Medical costs tied to emergency treatment before death

Wrongful death claims have a filing deadline. In most cases, the claim needs to be submitted within two years. If the deadline passes, the case may not move forward—regardless of the facts.

After a fatal crash, there’s usually paperwork, deadlines, and claim-related decisions that need to be addressed while the family is still reeling. Taking action sooner can prevent delays and missed steps that might affect the outcome

How Fault Is Proven in a Motorcycle Crash

Personal Injury Claims Rely on Four Key Elements

To hold a driver responsible after a motorcycle accident, you need to prove negligence. That means showing four things:

1. Duty of care – The driver had a legal responsibility to operate their vehicle safely.
2. Breach of that duty – They failed to meet that responsibility.
3. Causation – That failure directly led to the crash.
4. Damages – The rider suffered injury or loss as a result.

Fault Isn’t Always Clear from the Start

Police reports don’t always include a clear finding of fault. Or it’s missing details that tell the full story. That doesn’t stop the case—it just means the evidence has to come from somewhere else.

Our Firm Builds the Case From the Ground Up

Video footage, vehicle damage, skid marks, medical records, and witness statements can all support the case. In some cases, expert analysis is used to show timing, speed, or visibility based on traffic conditions and driver behavior.

We don’t rely on assumptions or one-sided reports. We document the driver’s responsibility, connect it to the crash, and show how that failure caused real injury and loss.

Damages (Compensation) Riders Can Pursue After a Crash

A motorcycle crash can lead to significant medical costs, missed work, and lasting disruption to daily life. For riders facing a long recovery, compensation may be available through an injury claim—depending on the facts of the case and what’s documented clearly.

Categories of Damages That May Apply

Depending on the severity of the crash and how it affected the rider, a motorcycle injury claim may include compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, follow-up visits, and physical therapy
• Lost income during the recovery period
• Reduced earning ability if the rider can’t return to the same line of work
• Pain and physical limitations that affect mobility, sleep, or function
• Ongoing treatment, like as orthopedic care or pain management
• Costs related to home modifications or mobility support
• Property damage to the motorcycle and riding gear

Not every category listed above will apply to every case. What’s recoverable depends on the documentation, the long-term impact of the injury, and how the claim is developed—not just the costs from the first few weeks.

Where Claims Can Fall Short

Outcomes can fall short when claims are accepted too early. Riders may be told their injuries aren’t permanent or that they don’t qualify for further care—when in reality, the effects continue for months. Settlement offers may ignore future treatment or changes in earning ability.

Tim Mazzela, APC builds cases that show the full picture to maximize compensation.

The Deadline to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in California

Under California law, the deadline to file a motorcycle injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the crash. If that deadline passes, the case can be dismissed—regardless of how serious the injury became or how clear the fault is.

In fatal crashes, the clock usually starts on the date of death.

Waiting too long creates risk. Records go missing, paperwork gets rushed, and the chance to recover compensation can disappear entirely.

Let Tim Mazzela, APC Fight For You

What to Expect When You Call

The first step is a short conversation. You’ll be asked for basic details, such as where the crash happened, what injuries were sustained, and whether you’ve received medical care. No documents are required to begin.

How the Case Moves Forward

If the case qualifies for representation, the process is explained clearly. That includes how communication with the insurance company is handled, what records are needed, and what steps come next.

No Upfront Costs

We work on a contingency fee basis. That means there’s no fee unless compensation is recovered. You don’t pay out of pocket to get help or start a case.

A Professional, No-Pressure Process

Some clients call right away. Others wait until questions from the insurer become more difficult. Either way, the goal is the same: to give you a clear path forward and the support needed to protect your case.

A motorcycle crash can change everything—your health, your income, your ability to move forward. Call Tim Mazzela, APC at (559) 297-1118 for a free consultation with an experienced, Fresno motorcycle accident lawyer who knows how to hold drivers accountable and build strong, evidence-based claims.