Riders get blamed for crashes they did not cause, by the driver who turned left and by the adjuster who assumes the rider was speeding. Williams & Gasparian Law represents injured motorcyclists across Los Angeles County as well as the rest of California, and we start every case by finding out what actually happened.
The medical side of a motorcycle case matters as much as the fault side. We document both, deal with the insurers, and file suit when a fair settlement is not on the table.
How Motorcycle Crashes Happen
Most of the crashes we see were caused by the driver of a car, not by the rider.
- Left turns across the bike's path. The most common serious motorcycle crash. The driver turns at an intersection or into a driveway without seeing the rider.
- Unsafe lane changes. A driver drifts into the rider's lane without checking the mirror or the blind spot.
- Distracted drivers. Phones and dashboard screens take eyes off a lane where a motorcycle is easy to miss.
- Following too closely. A rider who has to brake hard for a hazard gets hit from behind.
- Road hazards. Potholes, gravel, oil, or uneven pavement that would not bother a car can put a bike down. A city or a contractor may be responsible.
- Dooring. A parked driver opens a door into the lane a rider is using.
- Impaired drivers. Alcohol or drugs, which may also support a claim for punitive damages.
What You May Be Able to Recover
California law lets an injured rider claim two kinds of losses.
Economic losses
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital bills
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and future treatment
- Wages you lost while you could not work
- Reduced ability to earn if the injury is lasting
- Repair or replacement of the motorcycle, helmet, and gear
Non-economic losses
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of the activities you used to enjoy
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent disability
Road rash, fractures, or head injuries often mean surgery, rehabilitation, and time away from work. We document the full course of treatment before we value the claim. We do not quote case values on this site.
California Rules That Affect Motorcycle Cases
- Deadline to file a lawsuit
- Two years from the crash for an injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a road defect or a government vehicle was involved, a written claim to the public agency is due within six months.
- Helmet law
- California requires every rider and passenger to wear a helmet that meets federal standards (Vehicle Code section 27803). Not wearing one does not bar your claim, but the insurer may argue it made a head injury worse, which can reduce the recovery for that injury.
- Lane splitting
- Lane splitting is legal in California (Vehicle Code section 21658.1), and the Highway Patrol publishes safety guidelines for it. A driver who hits a rider who was lane splitting cannot rely on that fact alone to avoid responsibility, though how it was done may be considered in assigning fault.
- Shared fault
- California follows pure comparative negligence. If you were partly to blame, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but not eliminated.
- Uninsured or hit-and-run drivers
- If the driver had no insurance or fled, uninsured motorist coverage on your motorcycle policy may apply. We review every policy that could respond.
- Bias against riders
- Insurers and juries sometimes assume riders are reckless. Evidence of how the crash happened, from witnesses, video, and physical marks on the road, is how that assumption gets overturned.
What Happens After You Call
Five stages, from the first phone call to the day the case closes.
A free consultation
You tell us what happened. We tell you whether you have a case and what we would do first. No charge, no obligation to hire us.
Investigation
We gather the police or incident report, photos, witness statements, medical records, and video. When a case calls for it we bring in accident reconstructionists or treating physicians.
Dealing with the insurance companies
Once you hire us, insurers deal with us instead of you. We handle the calls, the letters, and the requests for recorded statements. You focus on treatment.
Negotiation or a lawsuit
When your treatment has gone far enough to know what your losses are, we send a demand. If the insurer will not pay a fair amount, we file a lawsuit and prepare the case as if it will be tried.
Resolution
Most cases settle. Some go to trial. Either way, we explain every offer to you in plain terms, and the decision to accept or reject it is yours.
Questions People Ask Us
Yes. The lack of a helmet does not affect claims for injuries to your legs, arms, back, or anything else a helmet would not have protected. For a head injury, the insurer may argue that a helmet would have reduced it, which can lower that part of the recovery. It does not end the case.
No. Lane splitting is legal in California. The question is whether it was done reasonably under the conditions, which is a question of fact. We look at the speed difference, the traffic, and what the driver did, then build the case around that.
Two years from the crash in most cases. Six months if a public agency is responsible for a road hazard. The sooner we start, the more evidence there is to work with.
That is their opening position, not a verdict. We gather the police report, witness statements, any video, the damage to both vehicles, and the marks on the road. Fault gets decided by evidence, and if the insurer will not move, by a jury.
Keep everything. Do not repair the motorcycle or throw away the helmet, jacket, or clothing until we say so. The damage tells the story of the impact.
We work on a contingency fee. You pay no fee up front, and our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. If we recover nothing, you owe no attorney fee. You owe nothing for case costs either.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Glendale
If you were hurt riding anywhere in Los Angeles County or elsewhere in California, call us or send the form. We will review what happened at no charge.
