This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
If a driver's mistake put you on the pavement in or around Pleasant Hill, you can claim your treatment costs, missed paychecks, repairs to your motorcycle, and the pain the crash caused from that driver's insurer, even if the adjuster suggests riders are to blame. A Pleasant Hill motorcycle accident lawyer at Cefali & Cefali collects the proof of what the driver did, answers the bias insurers bring to rider claims, and handles the claim while you heal.
Our Pleasant Hill office is at 2800 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 100, and we represent riders hurt anywhere in Contra Costa County. Call (925) 289-7997 for a free case review. We work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover money for you.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Pleasant Hill?
The first days after a crash shape the claim. In order of importance:
Get checked the same day. Adrenaline can hide a head injury, internal bleeding, or a fracture. Seriously injured riders in this part of the county usually go by ambulance to John Muir's Walnut Creek trauma center.
Make sure the crash is reported. Pleasant Hill Police handle crashes on city streets such as Contra Costa Boulevard and Gregory Lane. The California Highway Patrol handles I-680 and the state highways nearby. Ask the officer for the report number.
Photograph everything you can. The vehicles, where the bike came to rest, skid marks, the intersection, traffic signals, and any pothole or debris.
Keep your gear as it is. A scuffed helmet, jacket, or boots shows the force of the impact. Do not repair or throw them away.
Collect witness names and look for cameras. Businesses along the major corridors, dashcams, and helmet cameras often capture what happened.
File an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage passed $1,000. Our SR-1 form guide explains how.
Report the crash to your own insurer, but hold off on a recorded statement to the driver's insurer until you have talked to a lawyer.
Where and How Motorcycle Crashes Happen Around Pleasant Hill
Most crashes we see involve a driver who did not see the rider or misjudged the bike's speed. Pleasant Hill sits between I-680 and the busy surface streets that connect Concord, Martinez, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek, and the same patterns repeat:
Left turns across the rider's path. The most common serious crash. Vehicle Code section 21801 requires a left-turning driver to yield to any approaching vehicle near enough to pose a hazard, motorcycles included.
Unsafe lane changes and merges on I-680, Taylor Boulevard, and Pleasant Hill Road, where a driver moves over without checking a mirror or blind spot (Vehicle Code section 22107).
Rear-end impacts at signals along Contra Costa Boulevard and Monument Boulevard, where a following driver is distracted or too close.
Car doors opened into traffic beside parked cars, which Vehicle Code section 22517 prohibits unless it is safe.
Impaired, tired, or phone-distracted drivers, especially at night and on weekends.
Road hazards such as potholes, uneven pavement at work zones, loose gravel, and slick sealant strips, which can throw a rider even when no other vehicle is involved.
Under Vehicle Code section 400 a motorcycle is a motor vehicle, so riders follow the same rules of the road and are owed the same care by every other driver.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in California?
Yes, lane splitting is not illegal in California, and riding between lanes does not by itself make you at fault. Vehicle Code section 21658.1 defines lane splitting and allows the CHP to publish safety guidance. Insurers still argue that a rider splitting lanes on I-680 was going too fast for traffic, so the speed of the bike and the surrounding cars at the time of the crash becomes key evidence. Our California lane splitting law guide covers the details.
Who Pays After a Pleasant Hill Motorcycle Accident?
Usually the at-fault driver's liability insurer. To recover, you show the driver owed you reasonable care, failed to use it, and caused your injuries and losses. Other parties can share responsibility: an employer whose employee was driving for work, a company that left debris on the road, or a public agency responsible for a dangerous road condition.
Rider Bias and Shared Fault
Insurers know juries and adjusters sometimes assume riders are reckless, and they use that to push blame onto you. The California Supreme Court set the rule in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975): pure comparative fault, which reduces a partly at-fault rider's recovery by that share instead of barring it. That is why the facts matter: the police report, scene photos, video, witness accounts, and, when the facts are contested, an accident reconstruction. Our page on pure comparative fault in California explains how the reduction is calculated.
Crashes Caused by Road Defects
If a pothole or broken pavement on a public road caused the crash, the claim is against the agency responsible for that road: the City of Pleasant Hill for most local streets, Contra Costa County for unincorporated roads, or Caltrans for I-680 and the state highways. The defect has to meet the legal test for a dangerous road condition in Government Code section 835, and the agency usually must receive a written claim within six months, as Government Code section 911.2 requires.
Common Motorcycle Injuries
A rider absorbs the impact with far less protection than a driver inside a car, so a crash at modest speed can still cause lasting harm. The injuries we see most often are traumatic brain injuries and concussions, spinal cord and back injuries, fractures of the wrists, collarbone, legs, and pelvis, road rash that can need skin grafts and leave scarring, and knee and shoulder damage. Some of these, especially brain injuries, show their full effects only in the weeks after the crash, which is why consistent medical follow-up matters for both your health and the claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
California allows you to recover both your financial losses and the personal toll of the injury:
Type of Damages
What It Covers
Medical costs
ER care, surgery, hospital stays, therapy, and future treatment
Lost income
Missed work now and any reduced ability to earn in the future
Property damage
Repairing or replacing the bike, helmet, jacket, and other gear
Pain and suffering
Ongoing pain, anxiety and distress, scars, and losing the ability to ride or enjoy daily activities
Our guide to economic and non-economic damages explains how each category is valued. If the driver had no insurance or too little, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can fill the gap, so we review your motorcycle policy as well as the driver's.
Does Not Wearing a Helmet Hurt My Claim?
It can reduce it, but it does not end it. Under Vehicle Code section 27803, riders and passengers must wear a helmet. If you rode without one, the insurer may argue that a head injury would have been less severe, and any reduction is tied to the injuries the helmet would have prevented. It does not affect your claim for a broken leg, road rash, or damage to the bike.
What Are the Deadlines for a Pleasant Hill Motorcycle Claim?
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally gives you two years from the crash to sue a driver for your injuries. A claim for damage to the motorcycle alone has three years under Code of Civil Procedure section 338(c). If a public vehicle or a public road was involved, the six-month government claim rule applies first. Evidence such as video disappears long before any of these deadlines, so the sooner the case is investigated, the better.
How Our Pleasant Hill Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Help
Investigation. We request the police or CHP report, preserve video, photograph the bike before it is repaired, and hire a crash reconstruction expert if the driver denies fault.
Dealing with the insurers. We handle every call and letter, push back on rider bias, and keep you from statements that can be used against you.
Documenting the full loss. We work with your doctors so the demand covers future treatment and lost earning capacity, not only the bills to date.
Trial when needed. Most claims settle. Those that do not go to the county's Superior Court, which hears civil cases in Martinez, and we prepare each case as if it will reach a jury.
What if I was lane-splitting when the accident occurred?
Lane splitting is not illegal in California, and Vehicle Code section 21658.1 recognizes it. You can still recover if a driver caused the crash, though the insurer may argue your speed contributed, which can reduce but not bar the claim.
How long does a motorcycle accident claim typically take?
A claim with a clear-fault driver and injuries that heal can settle within several months once treatment is complete. A case with severe injuries, a fault dispute, or a lawsuit typically takes one to two years, sometimes longer.
What if the driver who hit me was uninsured or underinsured?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy can pay for your injuries up to its limits. We review your motorcycle policy and any other policies that may apply.
Will I have to go to court for my motorcycle accident case?
Probably not. Most motorcycle claims settle without a trial. If the insurer will not pay a fair amount, we file suit in the Superior Court in Martinez, and many cases still settle before trial.
What if a road defect caused my motorcycle crash?
You may have a claim against the agency responsible for the road, whether that is Caltrans, the County, or the City, depending on who maintains the road. The agency must usually receive a written claim within six months of the crash.
Can I still sue if the accident was partially my fault?
Yes. California's pure comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault but does not bar it, so a rider found 30% at fault still recovers 70% of the damages.
Talk to a Pleasant Hill Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free
A crash can leave you with medical bills, time off work, and an insurer that assumes the rider was to blame. We can secure the evidence, deal with the insurers, and press for the full value of what you lost. Call (925) 289-7997 or use our contact form for a free, confidential review. We also handle car accidents, bicycle accidents, and truck accidents across Contra Costa County.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
