Motorcycle Accident — No Win No Fee
Motorcycle accident claims are handled on a contingency fee basis in the United States. Due to the lack of structural protection, motorcycle crashes frequently result in catastrophic injuries, making experienced legal representation critical.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Direct Answer: The most common causes are left-turn accidents, lane-splitting collisions, rear-end crashes, and road hazards. Motorcycle accidents result in higher fatality and injury rates than car crashes. Attorneys work on contingency, typically 33⅓%–40% of the settlement.
- Left-turn accidents — vehicles turning left at intersections and failing to see oncoming motorcycles
- Lane splitting/filtering — legal in some states (e.g., California), illegal in most
- Distracted drivers — texting, phone use, or other distractions
- Road hazards — potholes, gravel, oil slicks, uneven pavement
- Vehicle blind spots — motorcycles are harder to see than cars
Helmet Laws and Comparative Negligence
Helmet laws vary by state. Some states (e.g., California, New York) require all riders to wear helmets. Others require helmets only for riders under 18 or 21. A few states have no helmet requirement. In comparative negligence states, failure to wear a helmet may reduce damages attributable to head injuries but generally does not bar the overall claim.
Catastrophic Injuries
Motorcycle accidents disproportionately result in severe injuries due to the rider's exposure. Common catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injuries and paralysis, severe road rash requiring skin grafts, compound fractures, and limb amputation. These injuries often require lifetime medical care and result in substantial damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where this applies: Contingency fee rules are set state by state. Check your own state's rules before acting.
Sources for this page
Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 2 August 2026.
- ABA Model Rule 1.5 (Fees)
Model, not law. Each state adopts its own version. Rule 1.5(d) bars contingency fees in most domestic relations matters and in criminal defence.
- Cornell LII — contingency fee
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d) (costs to the prevailing party)
A losing plaintiff may be ordered to pay the defendant's taxable costs. There is no US equivalent of QOCS.
Who wrote and checked this page
- Written and published by
- Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
- Legal review
- This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
- Review dates
- Last reviewed 2 August 2026. Next review due 2 February 2027.
Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.