Beverly Law — Accident AttorneysBEVERLY LAW ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
PALM SPRINGS — MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

Palm Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Beverly Law
Published by Beverly Law
Free consultation · English y Español · No fee unless we win

If a driver turned in front of you, changed lanes into you or rear-ended you on your motorcycle in Palm Springs, get treated first and let us deal with the adjuster who is already assuming the rider was at fault. Beverly Law collects the physical evidence that proves what happened — skid marks, damage patterns, witness statements and any camera footage — and presents the claim so the bias against riders does not decide your case.

Our office is in Los Angeles (4929 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960, Los Angeles, CA 90010). We represent Palm Springs clients by phone, video and in-person meetings by appointment, and a Palm Springs lawsuit is filed in the Riverside County Superior Court, which serves the Coachella Valley from the Palm Springs Courthouse (3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262) and the Larson Justice Center in Indio (46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201). Free consultation, 24/7, in English and Spanish. No attorney fee unless we win. Whether case costs are deducted from a recovery is explained in your written fee agreement.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Palm Springs

The roads, the riders and the numbers

Palm Springs is a motorcycle town. Riders commute on SR-111, Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Canyon Drive, Vista Chino, Ramon Road and Gene Autry Trail, and on weekends they ride SR-74 — the Pines to Palms Highway — up to Idyllwild and SR-62 toward Joshua Tree. The local crashes follow two patterns: in town, a driver turning left across a rider at an unprotected intersection or pulling out of a resort driveway on Palm Canyon Drive; on SR-74 and SR-62, a car crossing the center line on a blind curve, gravel on the roadway or a rider forced off the pavement by an oncoming vehicle.

In August 2026 a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with an SUV on North Indian Canyon Drive in North Palm Springs, one of the firm’s recent local stories. In the 2023 OTS rankings Palm Springs recorded 19 motorcycle crash victims, ranked 5th of 93 comparable cities for alcohol-involved crash victims, 4th for speed-related crashes and 3rd for nighttime crashes — and the wind on the I-10 near Whitewater is a real danger for a rider crossing the pass. Desert Regional Medical Center, the valley’s only trauma center, is where almost every serious rider injury ends up.

Where you are treated and where the case is filed both matter. Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs is the Coachella Valley’s only trauma center (verified Level I in 2023), so almost every serious crash on the I-10, SR-111 or SR-74 ends there; Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage and JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio handle emergency cases as well. If the claim does not settle, the lawsuit is filed in the Riverside County Superior Court, which serves the Coachella Valley from the Palm Springs Courthouse (3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262) and the Larson Justice Center in Indio (46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201); the court assigns the courtroom.

What the numbers say

Office of Traffic Safety, 2023 rankings (Palm Springs, Group D, 93 comparable cities; 1 = worst): 455 people killed or injured in crashes (rank 5); 59 alcohol-involved victims (rank 5); 19 motorcycle victims (rank 33); 38 pedestrian victims (rank 3); 61 speed-related crashes (rank 4); 67 nighttime crashes (rank 3); 30 hit-and-run crashes (rank 12); 210 DUI arrests (rank 87). Source: OTS →

What California Law Says About Motorcycle Accidents

LANE SPLITTING IS LEGAL — VEH. CODE § 21658.1

California is the only state where riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic is expressly legal (Veh. Code § 21658.1), with CHP safety guidelines on when it is prudent. A driver who changes lanes into a lane-splitting rider on the I-15 or SR-111 is not excused by the fact that the rider was between lanes. Adjusters still try it; the statute answers them.

HELMETS — VEH. CODE § 27803

Every rider and passenger must wear a DOT-compliant helmet (Veh. Code § 27803). Not wearing one does not bar a claim, but the insurer will argue comparative fault for head injuries. It has no bearing on fractures, road rash, spinal injuries or who caused the crash.

FAULT — CIVIL CODE § 1714 AND LI v. YELLOW CAB CO.

Everyone is responsible for harm caused by their lack of ordinary care (Civil Code § 1714). California uses pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804): a jury assigns each person a percentage of fault and reduces the award by that percentage, with no cutoff. If you were 20% at fault for a $200,000 loss, you still recover $160,000. Insurers use this rule to shave claims, which is why the evidence of what the other party did matters so much.

DEADLINES — CCP § 335.1, CCP § 338, GOV. CODE § 911.2

You have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in California (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1) and three years for property damage (CCP § 338). If a public entity is involved — a city, Riverside County, Caltrans or a transit agency — you must first present a government claim within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2). Miss the deadline and the claim is gone, no matter how strong it is.

INSURANCE — SB 1107 MINIMUMS AND INS. CODE § 11580.2

Since January 1, 2025 the minimum California auto policy pays only $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage (Veh. Code § 16056, as amended by SB 1107). A serious injury exceeds that in days. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (Ins. Code § 11580.2) steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little, or leaves the scene. We read every policy in the household before we tell you what the claim is worth.

DUI AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES — VEH. CODE § 23152, TAYLOR v. SUPERIOR COURT

Driving under the influence is a crime (Veh. Code § 23152) and, in a civil case, grounds for punitive damages on top of compensation (Taylor v. Superior Court (1979) 24 Cal.3d 890). Palm Springs ranks high for DUI arrests in the OTS data, and we check every crash for alcohol, drugs and phone use (Veh. Code § 23123.5).

This summary is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Palm Springs

Seven steps that protect your case

  1. Get medical care the same day, even if you think you are fine. Adrenaline hides injuries, and a gap between the crash and the first visit is the first thing an adjuster uses against you.
  2. Call 911 and get the report number. Crashes on the I-10, SR-111, SR-62 and SR-74 are handled by the CHP Indio Area office; crashes on city streets by the Palm Springs Police Department (inside city limits) or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (North Palm Springs and other unincorporated areas).
  3. Photograph the bike, the other vehicle, the plates, the road surface (gravel, oil, potholes), your gear and your injuries. Get the driver’s license, registration and insurance, and the names and numbers of witnesses — riders are often blamed and witnesses are the answer.
  4. Do not give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer, and do not post about the crash on social media. You are not required to give a statement, and anything you say is used to reduce the claim.
  5. Keep the bike and the damaged gear. Do not let the insurer total the motorcycle and dispose of it until it has been photographed and inspected — the damage pattern often proves who hit whom.
  6. Keep every bill, pharmacy receipt, work note and invoice, and write down what you remember of the crash while it is fresh — the time, the weather, what the other driver said.
  7. Call Beverly Law before you accept any offer. The first offer arrives before anyone knows the full extent of the injury, and accepting it closes the claim permanently. A free consultation costs nothing; no attorney fee unless we win. Whether case costs are deducted from a recovery is explained in your written fee agreement.

How Beverly Law Handles Palm Springs Motorcycle Accidents

Our approach and the attorney

Motorcycle claims start with a bias: the adjuster assumes the rider was speeding or splitting lanes recklessly. We beat that with evidence — the damage patterns on both vehicles, skid and gouge marks, the other driver’s phone records, nearby camera footage and witness statements — and with a medical record that documents every injury, from road rash to a traumatic brain injury. Our team includes former insurance adjusters who know exactly how the other side will value the claim.

The attorney. Cases are handled under Michael Shemtoub, Esq., California State Bar #253948, admitted in 2007 (UC Hastings College of the Law, 2006). He worked for a federal judge and as a corporate attorney before founding Beverly Law in 2008, was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and holds a 10.0 “Superb” Avvo rating. The firm has 4.8 stars from 600+ Google reviews.

Process, timeline, fees and results

How a case moves. Free consultation by phone, video or in person. We sign a written contingency agreement, then open the claims, get the collision report and medical records, and tell you honestly what the case is worth once treatment is far enough along. Most claims settle with the insurer; if they do not, we file in the Riverside County Superior Court, which serves the Coachella Valley from the Palm Springs Courthouse (3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262) and the Larson Justice Center in Indio (46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201) and prepare for trial. A straightforward claim can resolve in months; a litigated case in Riverside County commonly takes one to two years. Pre-settlement funding is possible in some cases. We help with the vehicle repair and rental, talk to your doctors about treating on a lien, and return calls in English or Spanish.

Fees. No attorney fee unless we win. Whether case costs are deducted from a recovery is explained in your written fee agreement. The percentage is agreed in writing before we start.

Results. On its About page the firm reports a $2,500,000 settlement after an initial offer of $100,000, and Lyft and Uber accident settlements after initial offers of $60,000 and $30,000. Results vary. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Palm Springs Motorcycle Accident FAQ

How much is a motorcycle accident case worth in Palm Springs?

Rider injuries tend to be serious — fractures, road rash that needs grafts, head and spinal injuries — so the medical damages alone are often large. Value depends on the injury, the treatment record, lost income, the fault split the insurer can argue and the coverage available, including your own underinsured motorist policy. Any lawyer who quotes a number before reading the file is guessing.

I was lane splitting when I was hit. Do I still have a case?

Yes. Lane splitting is legal in California (Veh. Code § 21658.1). The insurer may argue your speed or position was unsafe, which is a comparative-fault argument, not a bar. We use the damage evidence and witness accounts to show what the driver did.

Do I have to go to court for a Palm Springs motorcycle accident claim?

Usually not. Most claims settle with the insurer before a lawsuit is filed, and most filed cases settle before trial. If the insurer will not pay what the case is worth, we file in the Riverside County Superior Court (Palm Springs Courthouse or the Larson Justice Center in Indio) and prepare for trial. You would attend a deposition and, if it goes that far, the trial — we prepare you for both.

Can I still claim if I was partly at fault?

Yes. California uses pure comparative negligence: your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is never cut off. The insurer will try to assign you a high percentage; the evidence we collect is what keeps that number honest.

How long does a motorcycle accident case take?

A claim with a clear liability picture and finished treatment can resolve in a few months. A litigated case in Riverside County commonly takes one to two years. The deadline to file is two years from the injury (six months to present a claim against a public entity), and we calendar it the day you hire us.

Do you handle cases in Spanish?

Yes. Beverly Law works in English and Spanish. You can call, text or WhatsApp us in Spanish, your meetings and documents are explained in Spanish if you prefer, and this page has a Spanish version: Abogado de accidentes en Palm Springs (español) →

Where is your office? Do you come to Palm Springs?

Our office is at 4929 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960, Los Angeles, CA 90010. We do not have an office in Palm Springs; we represent Palm Springs clients by phone, video and in-person meetings by appointment, and we appear at the Palm Springs and Indio courthouses when a case is filed. Call 1 (877) 427-2752 (24/7) or message us on WhatsApp.

Related pages: Palm Springs Personal Injury Attorneys · Riverside County Accident Lawyers · Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer · Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys · All practice areas · Palm Springs accident news · Law Blog

BEVERLY LAW · PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

Palm Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyer — Beverly Law

Free case review for crash victims in Palm Springs and throughout the Coachella Valley. We deal with the insurance companies, the police report and the medical records — you focus on getting better. No attorney fee unless we win. Whether case costs are deducted from a recovery is explained in your written fee agreement.

✓Free consultation✓No fee unless we win✓English y Español✓Available 24/7

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Reviewed by Michael Shemtoub, Esq. · California State Bar #253948 · Last reviewed October 2026
Beverly Law · 4929 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960, Los Angeles, CA 90010 · 1 (877) 427-2752 · Attorney advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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