Motorcycle accidents
Hurt in a motorcycle crash in Boise?
Callan Injury Law is a personal injury law firm in Boise, Idaho, that represents motorcycle riders and passengers hurt by careless drivers. Attorney Nora Callan pushes back when an insurer blames the rider for choosing to ride, and handles the claim for your injuries, your bike and your gear. The first consultation is free.
Rider bias
Will the insurance company blame me because I ride a motorcycle?
Sometimes they try. Some adjusters assume riders are reckless, even when a driver caused the crash. We answer those assumptions with evidence, one at a time.
What the insurer may say
“The rider must have been speeding.”
What we look at
Black box data from the car, nearby cameras, skid marks, damage to both vehicles and witness accounts. Speed can often be worked out from the evidence.
What the insurer may say
“The driver just did not see the motorcycle.”
What we look at
Drivers must watch for all traffic, motorcycles included. We check sight lines, lighting, the driver's phone use and what the driver should have seen.
What the insurer may say
“A helmet would have prevented the injuries.”
What we look at
A helmet relates to some injuries, mainly to the head. It has no bearing on a broken leg or road rash, and it does not change who caused the crash.
Crashes we handle
Why do drivers hit motorcycles?
A motorcycle is narrow and easy to miss with a quick glance. These are the motorcycle crashes Callan Injury Law sees most often in Boise and across the Treasure Valley.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Left-turn crashes
A driver turns left across oncoming traffic, into the path of a rider going straight. It is a common way riders are hurt.
Lane changes and blind spots
A motorcycle can sit hidden in a blind spot. A driver who changes lanes without a proper look can push a rider off the road.
Rear-end crashes in traffic
A driver who does not slow in time can hit a rider stopped at a light. On 2 wheels, even a low speed bump can mean a fall.
Glare, dusk and hill crests
Low sun, dusk and the top of a rise all make a motorcycle harder to see. Drivers must still watch for riders.
Driveways and parking lots
Drivers pulling out of driveways and parking lots often look for cars and miss the rider coming toward them.
Gravel and road hazards
Loose gravel, potholes and uneven pavement are more dangerous on 2 wheels. A claim against a government body has its own notice rules.
Helmets
Does it matter if I was not wearing a helmet in Idaho?
Idaho law requires riders and passengers under 18 to wear a helmet. Adults may choose to ride without one.
If you were not wearing a helmet, you may still have a claim. An insurer may argue that a helmet would have made some injuries less serious. Whether that matters depends on your injuries and the facts of the crash.
Please do not let the helmet question stop you from calling. We will talk it through with you honestly.
What the helmet question does not change
- Who caused the crash
- Injuries a helmet would not have prevented, like broken bones or road rash
- The damage to your motorcycle and gear
- Your right to ask questions before you decide anything
Your bike and gear
Who pays for my motorcycle and riding gear?
Damage to your motorcycle and gear can be part of your claim. The at-fault driver's insurer is usually responsible, and your own policy may help sooner.
Your motorcycle
- Repairs, or the fair value if it is a total loss
- Custom paint, parts and accessories, with receipts
- A rental or loss of use while it is off the road
- Towing and storage after the crash
Your riding gear
- Your helmet, which should be replaced after a crash
- Jacket, pants, boots and gloves
- Armor, airbag vests and helmet communication units
- Helmet and dash cameras
Keep damaged gear as it is. Do not throw it away, and let us see the bike before it is repaired. Your helmet, jacket and motorcycle can show how the crash happened.
After a crash
What should you do after a motorcycle crash?
Your health comes first. Then a few simple steps protect your claim. If you have already missed one, that is common and usually fixable.
Get checked, even if you walked away
Adrenaline hides pain. Head and internal injuries can show up hours later, and road rash needs proper care.
Save your camera footage
If you or the bike had a camera, save the file before it records over. Ask nearby businesses about their cameras quickly.
Leave the bike and gear as they are
Photograph everything. Keep your helmet and damaged gear, and let us see the bike before it is repaired.
Let us handle the insurers
Talk to a lawyer before you give a recorded statement. Riders are often asked leading questions about speed.
Questions
What do riders ask after a crash?
This website is for general information and is not legal advice. Every crash is different. For advice about your own situation, call (208) 555-0132.
How much does a motorcycle accident lawyer cost in Boise?
Nothing up front. Callan Injury Law works on a contingency fee, which is a percentage of any recovery, agreed in writing before work begins. The agreement also explains how case costs are handled. Read how our fees work.
Can I still recover if the insurer says I was partly at fault?
Often, yes. Idaho uses a modified comparative fault rule. You may recover if your share of the blame is less than the other side's, and any recovery is reduced by your share. We look at the evidence with you and explain where you stand.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Idaho?
Idaho sets deadlines for filing injury claims, often 2 years from the date of injury, and some claims have shorter notice deadlines. A claim about a road hazard on public property is one example. We can tell you which deadline applies to you.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
Check your own motorcycle policy for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage can pay for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. We can read your policy with you.
My passenger was hurt too. Can they bring a claim?
Yes, a passenger hurt in a crash may have a claim of their own, usually against the at-fault driver's insurer and sometimes under the motorcycle policy. We can explain how it works for both of you.
Related practice areas
What other injury cases does Callan Injury Law handle?
Riders share the road with cars and heavy trucks, and some crashes end in the loss of a life. See all practice areas
Car accidents
Crashes between cars, pickups and SUVs on Treasure Valley roads.
Car accident claimsTruck accidents
When a semi truck or commercial vehicle hit you.
Truck accident claimsWrongful death
When a family loses a rider or passenger in a crash.
Wrongful death claimsHow our fees work
No fee up front. Our fee is a percentage of any recovery, agreed in writing before work begins.
Read about feesMotorcycle accident consultation
Talk to Nora about your motorcycle crash
Call, text or send the form. You will hear back from our team within 1 business day, and usually much sooner. The first conversation is free and there is no pressure to hire us.
Tell us what happened
Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information until we have agreed to represent you.
Thanks, we'll be in touch shortly.
If it's urgent, call us at (208) 555-0132.