$5.0M
Hanford motorcycle accident settlement: a pickup turned left in front of a motorcyclist, causing a traumatic brain injury and serious back, neck and hip injuries.
Personal Injury
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Were you or a loved one hurt in a Los Angeles motorcycle crash? From our office at 660 S. Figueroa St. downtown, Wilshire Law Firm’s award-winning, nationally recognized team represents injured riders, pursuing compensation for medical care, lost income, the bike and gear, and pain and suffering. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
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Key Takeaways
- Lane splitting: Riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane is legal in California, according to the CHP. Veh. Code §21658.1 defines it and allows the CHP to develop educational safety guidelines. Riding on the shoulder is not lane splitting.
- Helmets: Every rider and passenger must wear a helmet that meets the state’s safety standard (Veh. Code §27803). Riding without one can reduce damages for a head injury it made worse, but it does not bar a claim (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).
- Turning drivers: A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be a hazard (Veh. Code §21801), the rule at the center of many motorcycle crashes.
- Deadlines: Two years for an injury lawsuit (Code Civ. Proc. §335.1). Six months for a claim against the City of Los Angeles, LA County or Caltrans over a dangerous road or a government vehicle (Gov. Code §911.2).
- Insurance: California’s minimum policy is $30,000 per person (Veh. Code §16056), which a serious motorcycle injury can quickly exceed. A rider’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage often fills the gap (Ins. Code §11580.2).
Understanding Your Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team with extensive experience handling motorcycle accident cases across Los Angeles. Our attorneys investigate your crash, handle every conversation with the insurance companies, and build your case for maximum recovery — all with clear communication and compassionate support. We secure the crash report, scene video and the vehicles' damage early, before an insurer settles on its own version of what happened.
Many Los Angeles motorcycle crashes trace back to preventable driver negligence. The leading causes we see include distracted or impaired drivers, unsafe lane changes, speeding or reckless driving, and poor road conditions. Because riders have far less protection than drivers, even a minor collision can cause serious injuries such as fractures, head trauma, and spinal damage. Left turns across a rider's path (Veh. Code §21801) and lane changes into a rider are among the most common. Establishing which party was negligent is central to your claim, and our attorneys handle that investigation for you.
Crashes on city streets are handled by LAPD's traffic divisions, and crashes on the freeways, from the 405 and the 101 to the carpool lanes of the 105, by the California Highway Patrol. Ask for the report number at the scene; the report's account of who changed lanes or turned is often the first thing an insurer reads.
When a pothole, missing signage or a badly designed curve contributed, the claim goes first to the agency that owns the road: the City of Los Angeles through the Office of the City Clerk, LA County through the Executive Officer–Clerk of the Board, and state highways through Caltrans (claims of $12,500 or less) or the state's Government Claims Program (larger claims). Each claim is due within six months (Gov. Code §911.2). The lawsuit is filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court district where the crash happened.
Injured riders in California can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. These commonly include medical expenses and rehabilitation, lost wages and future earning capacity, damage to the motorcycle and protective gear such as the helmet, jacket and boots, and pain and suffering. Catastrophic injuries may support a larger recovery for long-term care. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your losses during a free case review.
Riders generally have two years from the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code Civ. Proc. §335.1) and three years for damage to the motorcycle and riding gear (§338(c)(1)). When a pothole, loose gravel or a broken road surface on a city, county or state road contributed, the first deadline comes much sooner: a written claim to the agency that owns the road within six months (Gov. Code §911.2). Our guide to California motorcycle accident deadlines covers the exceptions, and the California motorcycle accident overview explains how fault and insurance work.
California requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet under California Vehicle Code §27803. Not wearing one does not automatically bar your claim, but an insurer may argue it contributed to head injuries. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so your recovery may be reduced by your share of fault rather than eliminated. A legal professional can review how this may apply to your case.
A selection of our motorcycle accident settlements from Los Angeles County:
- $3 million (2020, Los Angeles): a car and a motorcycle collided, leaving the rider with a serious hip injury and other serious injuries.
- $2.5 million (2022, Los Angeles County): a driver leaving the carpool lane on the 105 hit a rider.
- $1.3 million (2026, West Hollywood): a driver made a U-turn directly into a motorcyclist's path.
- $750,000 (2026, Torrance): a car swerved across several lanes to turn right, cutting off a rider.
See more on our settlements and verdicts page.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Meet Our Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
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Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Mike Wellen, Esq.Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.PartnerRecent wins
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$4.1M
Riverside motorcycle accident settlement: a parcel delivery truck suddenly pulled out into the path of a motorcyclist, causing serious head, arm and other injuries.
$3.7M
Salinas motorcycle accident settlement: a big rig making a wide turn struck a motorcyclist stopped at a stop sign, leaving the rider with serious back injuries.
$3.0M
San Diego County motorcycle accident settlement: a city street sweeper turning around struck a rider commuting to work, leaving the rider with serious arm injuries.
$3.0M
Los Angeles motorcycle accident settlement: a car and a motorcycle collided, leaving the rider with a serious hip injury and multiple other serious injuries.
$2.5M
Los Angeles County motorcycle accident settlement: a driver leaving the carpool lane on the 105 hit a rider, causing neck and back injuries.
$2.2M
California motorcycle accident settlement: a big rig pulled out of a driveway in front of a motorcyclist, who was thrown off and suffered serious leg and arm injuries.
$2.0M
Fresno motorcycle accident settlement: a van turned left in front of a motorcyclist, causing a head injury and serious hip and leg injuries. A business was among the defendants.
$1.3M
West Hollywood motorcycle accident settlement: a driver made a U-turn directly into a motorcyclist's path and hit the motorcycle, leaving the rider with serious injuries.
$750K
Torrance motorcycle accident settlement: a car swerved across several lanes to turn right, cutting off a rider and causing a leg injury and back and neck pain.
$102K
Riverside motorcycle accident settlement: a truck turning into a shopping center cut off a motorcyclist, who crashed and suffered a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Los Angeles?
You likely have a claim if a driver's negligence, such as a left turn across your path or an unsafe lane change, caused the crash. Lane splitting and riding without a helmet do not by themselves bar a claim; at most they reduce a recovery if they contributed. If a dangerous road or a government vehicle was involved, a written claim is due within six months. A free case review, available 24/7, tells you which deadlines and insurers apply.
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Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
A motorcycle injury lawsuit arising in Los Angeles is generally filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, often at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Riders on LA's dense freeway network, including the I-405 and US-101, frequently contend with lane-changing and turning drivers who fail to see them. An attorney familiar with the local courts can guide your claim.
Yes. Lane splitting, riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, is legal in California according to the CHP, and Veh. Code § 21658.1 defines it and allows the CHP to develop educational safety guidelines. A rider who was splitting lanes can still recover. If the driver argues the rider split lanes unsafely, that goes to comparative fault, which can reduce a recovery but does not bar it. Riding on the shoulder is not lane splitting.
California requires all riders and passengers to wear a DOT-compliant helmet (Veh. Code §27803), and a violation may be raised to reduce damages related to head injuries. Under California's pure comparative negligence rule from Li v. Yellow Cab Co., though, not wearing a helmet does not automatically bar recovery.
Most motorcycle injury lawsuits in Los Angeles must be filed within two years of the crash under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. If a government entity, such as one responsible for a dangerous road, contributed, a six-month claim deadline applies first (Gov. Code § 911.2). Deadlines have exceptions, so confirm yours promptly with an attorney.
That is one of the most common motorcycle crash patterns in Los Angeles. A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be a hazard (Veh. Code § 21801), and saying they never saw the motorcycle does not change that duty. Insurers often argue the rider was going too fast, so we secure the scene evidence, video and witness accounts early.
Nothing up front. Wilshire Law Firm works on contingency, so there are no fees unless you get paid. Case reviews are free and available 24/7.