California riders have two years from the crash date to file an injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Lane splitting is legal under Vehicle Code §21658.1, so a driver who hits a rider while changing lanes can still be at fault. Damages can cover medical care, lost income, bike repairs, and pain. Burg & Brock has represented motorcycle riders across California for nearly thirty years. Call (818) 873-9216 for a free case review.
At best, the motorcyclist is protected by a safe helmet, leather apparel to protect his body, arms & legs, while driving a motorcycle with good brakes and mechanically sound. The motorcyclist even in optimum situations is no contest for the errant driver of an automobile or truck as well as road hazards that may be found on streets and highways. Motorcycle accidents, therefore, most often result in serious injuries or the death of the motorcycle driver. The law offices of Burg and Brock with award-winning California Motorcycle Accident Lawyers have been helping injured victims get the justice and compensation they deserve after being injured in a motorcycle accident.
What Types of Hazardous Road Design & Defects Cause Motorcycle Accidents?
Many motorcycle accidents occur as a result of a product defect:
Riders, scooter users, and bicyclists share many of the same liability questions. The pages below cover the variants and city-specific work for greater Los Angeles.
Talk to one of our attorneys: Cameron Yadidi Brock · Artin Fiterz, Esq. · Greg Diarian · Craig D. Rackohn · Lena G. Karaminassian · Isaac Radnia
Motorcycle settlements run higher than auto because injuries are more severe. Soft-tissue cases settle around $25,000 to $50,000. Cases with broken bones or surgery range $100,000 to $400,000. Catastrophic cases involving TBI or paralysis often exceed $1 million. Burg & Brock has recovered a $3.2 million policy limit on a rideshare-motorcycle case.
Yes. Assembly Bill 51, codified at Vehicle Code section 21658.1, made California the first state to expressly legalize lane splitting in 2016. The CHP issues guidelines on safe speed differentials. Lane splitting itself does not establish fault.
California requires helmets under Vehicle Code section 27803, and not wearing one can reduce a head-injury claim under comparative negligence. It does not bar recovery, and it has no effect on injuries to the body below the neck. Burg & Brock has recovered substantial damages in cases involving helmet violations.
Two years from the accident date for personal injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Property damage only is three years. If the at-fault driver was a government employee, a tort claim notice is due within six months.
This is the most common motorcycle crash and one of the easiest to prove liability. Vehicle Code section 21800 governs the duty to yield. The defense usually argues you were speeding or lane splitting unsafely, so we document your speed via accident reconstruction immediately.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage applies. California Insurance Code section 11580.2 requires UM coverage on every policy unless waived in writing. UM also covers hit-and-run motorcycle accidents.
Pre-litigation cases resolve in 6 to 14 months once treatment finishes. Litigation cases run 18 to 30 months. Severe injury cases take longer because we wait for maximum medical improvement before demanding settlement.
No. Motorcycle injuries often appear minor for weeks then escalate. TBI symptoms can take 30 to 90 days to fully present. Settling before you know the full medical picture means you pay out of pocket for future treatment.
Yes. Disfigurement is a separate damages category under California pain-and-suffering rules. Visible scarring on the arms, legs, or face commands higher settlements. Document with photos at multiple stages of healing.
California has no statutory gear requirement beyond the helmet. Lack of jacket, gloves, or boots may be raised as comparative fault for road-rash damages but does not reduce damages for impact injuries. Your overall damages are still recoverable.
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