Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorney Advice

As a motorcycle accident attorney in Los Angeles with almost 20 years experience, I have seen that Southern California is a great place to ride almost year round but, it can be dangerous and riders need to protect themselves. What are the most common biker crash scenarios I see?

• Car Turns Left In Front of Motorcycle At Intersection: This is one of the most frequent accident scenarios. You are riding your bike down one of the many busy thoroughfares in the "City of Angels" and you have a green light or maybe it is just turning yellow so you begin to traverse the intersection. All of the sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, a car turns left in front of you causing you to either t-bone the vehicle or attempt to make an abrubt stop or turn that causes you to lay your bike down or be ejected onto the pavement. Really, the only way to try to avoid this scenario is to slow down and be extra cautious as you approach any intersection. If you find yourself being involved in this type of collision, know that California law is on your side! Specifically, California Vehicle Code 21801(a) requires all drivers attempting to turn left across opposing traffic to yield the right of way and to not initiate or continue the turning movement until all oncoming traffic is far enough away so as to not constitute a "hazard."
• Unsafe Lane Changes on the Freeway: This is probably the second most common cause of motor vehicles striking motorcyclists and sending them out of control. You are riding down the freeway in the HOV lane or any other designated path of travel and, suddently and without warning, a car simply comes into your lane without signaling or seeing you, strikes your motorcycle, and sends you either into another vehicle or into a stationary object like a guard rail or median. Being conspicuous is the key to avoiding this crash. Wear brightly colored clothes, use your headlights and/or reflective gear, and never travel in a driver's potential "blind spot." If you are involved in this type of mishap, there are laws protecting you. For example, C.V.C. section 22107 states that no vehicle should turn to the right of left upon any roadway unless and until it is safe to do so and only after a proper signal.
• Rear End Collisions: Rear enders are extremely common between passenger vehicles and in motorcycle v. automobile wrecks. Unfortunately, when a biker is hit from behind, the chance for serious bodily harm or even death is much greater as there is little if anything to absorb the shock and, oftentimes, it sends the biker flying off the motorcycle and onto the hard ashphalt. Again, trying to be seen is key in preventing this type of crash but, sometimes sheer negligence in not paying attention or being distracted by a cell phone or other type of distraction can cause a driver to hit a motorcyclists from behind. Most often, the legal cause of such incidents is deemed to be either following too closely (CVC 21703) or traveling at an unsafe speed (Cal. Veh. Code 22350). Either way, the party or parties in the back are deemed either partially or wholly at fault.

While there are many more accident types causing motorcycle riders to be injured or killed, these are some of the more common. It is important to note that any accident scenario involving a motorcycle which causes personal injury or the death of a rider should be analyzed by an experienced personal injury lawyer familiar with motor vehicle collision claims specific to bikers. Garnering evidence and proving the claim with the help of a personal injury lawyer can make all the difference in either being able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering or being stuck "holding the bill"!