Local office in San Jose, CA45 E Julian StDirections

Motorcycle accident in San Jose?Talk to a lawyer for free.

On San Jose streets, the most common serious motorcycle crash is a car crossing or turning into the rider's path. If a driver hit you, on I‑280, US‑101 or a city street, talk to us before you talk to their insurer.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
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Call our San Jose office(408) 516-428324/7 line: (800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

San Jose from the air at sunset, with downtown and the hills behind it
VLG helped me with my accident… I recommended them to my sister after her motorcycle accident.
Boom T.Valero Law Group clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for injured clients.

We've won over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including the motorcycle accident case below.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $850KMotorcycle accidentFor a motorcyclist injured by a negligent driver.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

Here to protect your interests, not the insurance company's

Insurance companies have a team.You should have one too.

Insurers bring adjusters, investigators and lawyers to every serious claim, and a rider's injuries are often serious. After a crash on I‑280, US‑101 or White Road, an adjuster may call within days, and what you say can shape the rest of your claim.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Did a driver turn, merge or open a door into your path?
  2. Were you injured, or were your motorcycle and gear badly damaged?
  3. Will the settlement cover your treatment and lost income months from now, not just today?

From one of our car accident cases

The insurer's best offer$410,000

What we won for our client$4.4M

A car accident that left our client with a neck injury. Most people would have taken the offer. We won more than ten times as much.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

Get my free case review
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Our office in San Jose

Local motorcycle accident lawyers,right here in San Jose.

Not every firm that advertises in San Jose has an office here. We do.

Our office is on Julian Street downtown, a short walk from the courthouses on North First Street. Come in, or we'll come to you anywhere in the Santa Clara Valley, at home or in the hospital.

Nearby officesSalinasStocktonModesto

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromour clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
Thank you, Valero, for helping me in my motorcycle accident. Very fast, very efficient!
Erick G.Google review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
Shout out to Valero for helping me with my accident. They're quick and friendly. Will recommend to my friends and family.
Kevin R.Google review
Letty R.! Always helpful. She was on top of everything during my case. Always available for any questions I had.
Brandy J.Google review

What you can recover aftera motorcycle accident in California.

If a driver caused the crash, they and their insurer can be held responsible for what it cost you, including your motorcycle and your gear.

Economic damages

The costs you can add up

  • Emergency care, surgery and hospital bills
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Repairing or replacing your motorcycle and gear

Non-economic damages

The harm that has no receipt

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost enjoyment of life
  • 27×A rider's risk of dying in a crash, per mile, compared with people in carsPer mile traveled in 2024, motorcyclists were almost 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash, and almost 5 times more likely to be injured (NHTSA).
  • 46%of fatal crashes between a motorcycle and another vehicle involved a left turnNationwide in 2023, in 46% of those crashes the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle went straight, passed or overtook it (NHTSA).
  • 1 in 5California drivers had no insurance in 2023About 20%, according to the Insurance Research Council. Every motorcycle liability policy sold in California includes uninsured motorist coverage unless the rider turned it down in writing.

After a motorcycle crash in San Jose,what comes next.

The report, lane splitting, turning drivers, the helmet question, your bike and deadlines, explained.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Getting the crash report
    On I‑280, US‑101, I‑880, I‑680 and Highways 17, 85, 87 and 237, the CHP's San Jose office takes the report, and you can request it online. On city streets it's usually San Jose Police, whose online form is only for crashes where no one was injured: if you were, call 911 or SJPD at (408) 277-8900, then allow at least 45 days before you request the report online, or for $16 by mail or at the counter.
  • Turning drivers cause many serious crashes
    On San Jose streets, the most common crash that kills or badly injures a rider is a broadside: a car crossing or turning into the rider's path. Federal safety officials say most crashes between a motorcycle and another vehicle happen when the other driver simply didn't see the rider. Write down what the driver did, and where, while you remember it.
  • Lane splitting is legal here
    The CHP says plainly that lane splitting is legal in California, and state law defines it (Vehicle Code §21658.1). The CHP also tells drivers that intentionally blocking or impeding a rider in a way that could cause harm is illegal, and so is opening a door to impede one. Riding on the shoulder isn't lane splitting.
  • The helmet question
    California requires a DOT-compliant helmet for every rider and passenger, fastened and fitting securely. If you weren't wearing one, you may still be compensated: the other side would have to prove it made your injuries worse.
  • Keep your bike and gear as they are
    A helmet, jacket, gloves or boots ruined in the crash count as damaged property. Photograph the bike before repairs, and keep receipts for upgrades and aftermarket parts. If San Jose Police had it towed, call the Auto Desk at (408) 277-4263 to ask whether you need a police release first.
  • Public agencies have shorter deadlines
    Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a public vehicle or a road defect, such as a pothole, played a part, a written claim is usually due within six months, to the agency that runs the vehicle or the road: VTA for its buses and trains, the City for its streets and vehicles, the County for Capitol and most other expressways, the State (Caltrans) for the freeways.
A man and a boy in traditional Colombian hats and jerseys holding Valero Law Group signs at a community event

Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a San Jose motorcycle crash.

How long do I have after a motorcycle accident in San Jose?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a City, County, VTA or Caltrans vehicle or road was involved, a written claim is usually due within six months. Call us early so no deadline slips by.
Is lane splitting legal on San Jose freeways?
Yes. The CHP says lane splitting is legal in California, and state law defines it as riding a two-wheeled motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, on streets and highways alike (Vehicle Code §21658.1). The CHP's tips advise against splitting next to big rigs, buses and motorhomes. If a driver hit you while you were splitting, that doesn't by itself make the crash your fault: fault depends on how everyone was riding and driving, and a share of it reduces your award instead of erasing it.
I wasn't wearing a helmet. Can I still get compensation?
You may. Not wearing a helmet doesn't take away your right to compensation. The other side would have to prove it made your injuries worse, and even then California's comparative fault rule reduces your award instead of erasing it.
I was on a motor scooter or a moped. Do the same rules apply?
Usually. California's helmet law covers riders and passengers on a motorcycle, a motor-driven cycle or a motorized bicycle such as a moped (Vehicle Code §27803), and a claim against the driver who caused the crash works the same way. Whether your scooter counts as a motorcycle for insurance depends on what it legally is, so tell us the make and model and we'll check.
The driver had no insurance, or not enough. What now?
About 1 in 5 California drivers was uninsured in 2023. Your own motorcycle policy includes uninsured motorist coverage unless you turned it down in writing, so it may pay when the driver can't.
A family member was killed in a motorcycle crash. What can we do?
California law lets a spouse or registered domestic partner, children and certain other family members bring a wrongful death claim, generally within two years of the death. When someone is killed on a San Jose street, SJPD's Traffic Investigations Unit investigates, and its report can't be ordered online: it's requested by mail or in person. Call us, and we'll come to you.
Do you have an office in San Jose?
Yes. Our office is at 45 E Julian St, San Jose, CA 95112, in downtown San Jose. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you, at home or in the hospital. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.
What does a motorcycle accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

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  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
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Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a San Jose motorcycle accident lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(408) 516-4283

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

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