Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Our Accident Lawyers Will Fight for Your Compensation

Riding a motorcycle is fun and freeing, particularly in the beautiful state of California. But riding a motorcycle comes with a dramatically increased risk of sustaining significant injury compared to riding in other automobiles. Our motorcycle accident lawyers know that motorcyclists are 9 times more likely to be injured in a crash compared to passengers in a car. As motorcycle accident attorneys, we have seen it all and are prepared to help you receive compensation for any injuries or damages you or a loved one may have sustained from a motorcycle accident.

California Motorcycle Accident Prevention and Liability

If you are involved in a traffic collision while riding a motorcycle, you are 26-28 times more likely to die, and nine times more likely to be injured than if you were the occupant of a passenger vehicle. In many collisions involving a motorcyclist and a passenger vehicle, the driver of the vehicle simply does not see the motorcycle before the impact. This could be because the driver was distracted, impaired, or just looking for other passenger cars and not motorcycles.

Following a motorcycle accident, the Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Dordulian Law Group are here for you and ready to help. Our team is available to speak with you about your California motorcycle accident 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before you speak with insurance companies or accept a compensation offer, call Dordulian Law Group to discuss your case. All consultations are free and we will protect your rights under the law, ensuring you receive the maximum allowable financial damages award.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents: Top 10 Scenarios that Lead to Injury or Fatality

Below are some of the most common situations that can lead to serious injury or death to a motorcyclist. In any of these sequences of events, if the driver of the car or the motorcyclist is distracted, impaired by alcohol or drugs, or operating at speeds above posted speed limits, the likelihood of being involved in a collision is increased.

1. Car Turning Left Into the Path of Motorcycle: This type of accident is commonly called a “Left-Turn Accident,” and can occur at an intersection with or without a traffic signal. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 36% of two-vehicle crashes and 21% of non-fatal injury crashes involve a passenger vehicle making a left turn in front of an approaching motorcycle, essentially failing to yield. This scenario occurs when the driver of a car preparing to make a left turn fails to see a motorcycle or misjudges the rate at which they are approaching. This is the most frequent type of “Looked-But-Failed-To-See” (LBFTS) crash, where the driver of the vehicle perceives that there are no other cars present, but fails to see a motorcyclist.
2. Car Changing Lane into the Path of a Motorcycle: Another frequent type of LBFTS collision – the lane-change motorcycle crash – may also occur when a driver doesn’t look at all. In this scenario, a car changes lanes into the path of a motorcycle. A motorcyclist may be in a blind spot, and because the driver of the car does not immediately see the motorcycle, he or she may move into the motorcyclist’s path. Motorcycle safety advocates urge bikers to always be aware of where blind spots exist, and avoid spending any length of time in those areas.
3. Debris in the Road: Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable to losing control of their bike due to any type of debris including: dirt, sand, fallen branches, chunks of rubber from blown tires, or trash littered from cars. It may be extremely difficult to prove an accumulation of sand in the road came from a certain vehicle. If debris fell off of a truck in front of you causing you to crash your motorcycle, the operator of the truck may be liable. Liability can be easier to prove if you have:
   • An eyewitness;
   • An “always-on” video camera on your helmet; or
   • The driver of the truck in front of you sees the crash and stops

   Claims involving debris can be challenging, but not impossible to prove. Insurance companies may be quick to initially deny a claim, placing the burden of proof on the injured victim. An experienced DLG personal injury attorney can help you gather sufficient evidence to successfully recover damages following this type of motorcycle accident.

4. Road Condition Defects: Cracks, potholes, seams in pavement, and sinking portions of a street are all examples of conditions in a road that can cause a motorcyclist to lose control or crash. A pothole may be difficult to see if it is filled with water or located on an incline.
5. Road Design Flaws: Road design flaws are different from road condition defects. With a design flaw, the road was engineered on paper to be constructed a certain way. A pothole or pavement crack is not intentionally designed to be part of the road. Design flaws include issues like insufficient roadway dimensions, missing shoulders, no guardrails, and line of sight issues that can contribute to a crash.
6. Speeding: A motorcyclist operating a bike in excess of authorized speed limits is more likely to lose control and crash. Any hazard in the road or encounter with stopped traffic can leave a motorcyclist without enough time to safely slow down or stop.
7. Sudden Stops: Just like drivers of passenger vehicles, motorcycle operators have a responsibility to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. Distance provides a motorcyclist time to react, and space to maneuver. Abrupt stops can be dangerous, as more than two-thirds of the braking power is in the front brake on a motorcycle, and a sudden stop can cause the driver to be thrown over the front-end. If a car is following a motorcycle too closely, it may be unable to stop and may rear-end the motorcycle, causing severe injury or even fatality.
8. Bad Weather Conditions: Motorcycle operators are at greater risk of injury in all types of precipitation. Key factors in accidents that occur during inclement weather are excessive speed, road surface conditions, and insufficient following distance. Motorcyclists should understand hazards that may be present when riding in the rain such as slick surfaces, railroad tracks, pools, puddles of water, and oil-slicked roads.
9. Law Enforcement Pursuits: Most law enforcement agencies have policies that prohibit or gravely discourage high-speed pursuits by motorcycle officers. If you are injured in a crash involving a police chase, the law enforcement agency may be liable (although this typically only applies when the involved officer(s) engaged in clearly reckless behavior).

Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert car accident attorneys.

Do You Have a Case For Motorcycle Accident Injuries or Wrongful Death?

You may have a personal injury case if another driver failed to follow the rules of the road and you sustained injuries resulting from an accident. You may have a wrongful death case if a fatal accident killed your spouse or family member and negligence was involved. You may also have a case if a roadway defect caused your motorcycle accident, and the agency responsible for maintaining the road knew about the defect (or reasonably should have known), and failed to remedy the issue.

California motorcycle accident claims are either settled out of court or through a civil trial. If the case goes to trial, the court or a jury will determine if you, as the motorcycle driver, operated your bike with reasonable care. Damages available in a California personal injury claim can include: medical bills related to the accident, loss of salary, loss of future earning capacity, physical pain, and emotional suffering. Wrongful death damages may include: final medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial earnings (including future wages the victim would have accrued over their lifetime), and loss of love & companionship.

Motorcycle Passenger Injuries

Passengers of motorcycles are vulnerable to the same serious, potentially fatal injuries as motorcycle operators in a collision. These include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Road rash injuries
• Lower extremity injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Lacerations, scrapes, and bruises

A study published in Reuters in December 2017 found that, even among helmeted riders, motorcycle passengers were still at a higher risk of head injury than helmeted motorcycle operators. Motorcycle operators should be aware of how the bike handles differently with a passenger. Bikes handle and respond differently with added weight. Passengers should not have to risk their safety through a learning experience for a motorcycle operator. Passengers should also have a current, properly fitting helmet and protective gear. An old spare helmet that is too big or too small is not suitable.

Motorcycle Helmet Defects Can Result In Severe Brain And Facial Injuries

Helmets do nothing to prevent a crash, but they do save lives. California has a universal helmet law, which means if you are riding a motorcycle in California, you are required to wear a helmet. Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirm that helmets reduce deaths and head injuries from collisions. Helmets worn in California should meet the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218.

It’s important to note that the NHTSA does not test helmets. Helmet manufacturers must do their own testing and self-certify their helmets to meet the standards, including staying on the rider’s head during an accident, protecting the head from impact or shock, and protecting against skull fracture and brain injury. A helmet manufacturer will then place a DOT sticker on the back of the helmet with the letters, “DOT,” which certifies the helmet meets or exceeds FMVSS 218.

The NHTSA will acquire random samples of helmets and send them to labs for independent testing. Helmet manufacturers that sell or market non-compliant helmets can pay fines up to $5,000 per helmet. Additionally, the manufacturer of a defective helmet could be liable for brain and facial injuries in a product liability claim if the helmet was not up to standards.

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, the helmet is important evidence. Preserve it in a safe place until your personal injury claim is resolved, as it could be needed in a trial.

Contact our top-rated team of expert auto accident attorneys online or by phone today to pursue justice and secure a financial award for damages.

“No Contact” Motorcycle Accidents

Many accidents reported as “solo vehicle” motorcycle crashes create the assumption that the motorcyclist was at fault, as the question is raised, who else could have caused the crash? This is not always the case. Motorcycles can be quickly maneuvered to avoid a collision with another vehicle, but avoiding one collision (left turn accident, car changing lanes into the motorcycle’s path, etc.) may cause the motorcyclist to lose control of their bike, lay the bike down, or crash into something else. In these situations, even without a direct contact, liability for a collision can exist.

What Should I Do After A Motorcycle Accident?

After an accident, take the following five steps:

• Get to safety and out of danger: People have been further injured or killed in the immediate aftermath of a crash. At an accident scene, you are extremely vulnerable, especially when near fast-moving traffic.
• Call 911 and report the accident: Law enforcement and ambulances can come to the scene to provide aid and record the details for a report.
• Take photos of the accident scene as quickly as possible and move your bike off the road: Leaving a bike in the road is a hazard to oncoming traffic and could trigger a chain-reaction accident.
• Gather details: Get the names of all parties involved, including other drivers, passengers, law enforcement officers, and witnesses. Write down the time of the accident, location, make and model information of vehicles involved, and license plate numbers.
• Get medical attention: If you are even slightly injured, go to the emergency room and get medical care. Failure to get medical care after an accident is a huge mistake, and can significantly affect the value of your claim. If your doctor recommends a follow-up visit with a specialist, diagnostic imaging procedure, or another type of therapy, do not disregard their advice. A failure to follow medical advice or delay in receiving necessary medical care could be used as evidence against you by an opposing party, attempting to demonstrate that your injuries were in fact exacerbated by your own negligence. When negotiating damages for an injury claim, such evidence could ultimately affect your settlement or verdict – potentially costing you millions of dollars.
• Report the accident to your insurance company and call a motorcycle accident attorney at Dordulian Law Group: Do not wait for an insurance company to make an offer, and never accept such an offer, before calling an experienced and proven motorcycle accident lawyer. Contact a member of DLG’s Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney team as soon as possible.

Things not to do after a motorcycle accident:

• You should NOT provide a recorded statement: An immediate recorded statement is not required or necessary. You should report the accident to your insurance company under the terms of your policy, but once you provide the basic details, your DLG attorney can handle any further communications.
• You should NOT post on social media about your accident: Insurance investigators will use anything you post on social media against you in an effort to lower a payout. A seemingly harmless comment made on social media like, “I crashed my car today” could be taken as an admission of guilt and used to cast doubt about your liability in a crash. Even something as seemingly innocent as a photo of you smiling among a group of friends following an accident could be pointedly used to suggest you are not experiencing pain and suffering. Regardless of whether accounts are private or not, our experienced personal injury attorneys recommend motorcycle accident victims use extreme caution when engaging in any social media activity while a claim is ongoing.

If you believe you have a personal injury case and wish to pursue a claim, don’t hesitate to contact our award-winning expert attorneys online or by phone today.


Truck Accidents

Car Accidents

Bus Accidents

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian Accidents

Bicycle Accidents

Rideshare Accidents

Drunk Driving Accidents

Multi-Car Crashes

Failure to Yield Car Accidents

Parking Lot Car Accident

Distracted Driving Accident

Rear-End Collision

Reckless Driving

Scooter Accident

Impaired Driving

Low-Impact Collision

Car Accident Whiplash Injury

Important 2021 Motorcycle Accident Statistics



Client Review

“Thanks for everything that you did with my no insurance car accident. Anthony right away got me the medical treatment I needed , Anthony and Rafi made this whole process a pleasure to work with believe it or not! I appreciate the promptness, professionalism and stellar customer service thank you for your commitment. If someone needs an accident lawyer I would definitely recommend Dordulian Law Group is the best!!!”
Mariana P.