Your Battle, Our Compass:
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Injured in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles? With 3.9 million residents and 55,000+ annual collisions, our attorneys handle every type of motorcycle accident case. Call (213) 516-9809. See all our California office locations.
TL;DR — Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Compass Law Group represents motorcycle accident victims across Los Angeles. Our firm has recovered $250,000,000+ for injury victims. No win, no fee. Free 24/7 consultation in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Korean at (213) 516-9809. See all Los Angeles practice areas. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Practice Areas We Handle in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyers: Fighting for Maximum Compensation
In 2022, 549 motorcyclists were killed in crashes across California, making it the deadliest state in the nation for riders. Los Angeles County alone accounted for more than 120 of those fatalities. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle crash in L.A., the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP are here to fight for every dollar you deserve.
California is the only state in the nation that has formally legalized lane splitting under AB 51, codified as CVC §21658.1. That distinction means L.A. riders face a legal landscape unlike anywhere else—and insurers exploit the confusion constantly. From the sweeping curves of Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu to the switchbacks on Mulholland Drive and the elevation changes along Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2), some of Southern California’s most iconic riding routes are also its most dangerous accident hotspots.
Our firm has recovered a $9,870,000 motorcycle accident settlement for a seriously injured rider—one of the largest motorcycle-specific results in Los Angeles County. We understand the engineering of a crash, the medicine behind catastrophic injuries, and the courtroom tactics needed to overcome anti-rider bias. Explore our full range of motorcycle accident legal services or keep reading to learn how we build winning cases for L.A. motorcyclists.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.
Why Los Angeles Riders Choose Compass Law Group
- $9.87M Motorcycle Settlement—Proven Results: We have secured one of the largest motorcycle accident recoveries in L.A. County because we invest in accident reconstruction, biomechanical experts, and life-care planners from day one.
- Lane-Splitting Defense Specialists: California’s lane-splitting law (AB 51 / CVC §21658.1) requires nuanced legal strategy. Our attorneys know how to dismantle the “reckless rider” narrative that insurance adjusters rely on to reduce payouts.
- 24/7 Availability & Multilingual Support: Motorcycle crashes happen at any hour on the 405, Sunset Boulevard, or the PCH. We answer calls around the clock in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Korean—and we come to you if you cannot come to us.
- No Win, No Fee—$0 Upfront: You pay nothing unless we recover compensation. Our Los Angeles office at 633 W 5th Street, 26th Floor, is minutes from LAPD Central Traffic Division and the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, so we move fast on your claim.
Who Is Liable in a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident?
Determining fault in an L.A. motorcycle crash requires more than a police report. California’s pure comparative negligence system (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975) means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault—but insurers will fight aggressively to shift blame onto the rider.
Lane-Splitting Liability
Under CVC §21658.1, a motorcyclist may lane-split so long as it is done in a “safe and prudent” manner. The California Highway Patrol’s safety guidelines recommend splitting only when traffic moves at 30 mph or less and the speed differential stays under 10 mph. When a driver changes lanes without checking mirrors on the 405 or the 101, the driver—not the rider—typically bears primary liability. Our attorneys preserve GPS data, dashcam footage, and traffic-camera records to prove safe lane-splitting speed.
Left-Turn Accidents
Left-turn collisions are the single deadliest crash type for motorcyclists nationwide, and Los Angeles intersections—including Sunset & Vine, Santa Monica & La Brea, and Venice & Lincoln—see a disproportionate number. The turning driver almost always violates CVC §21801 (failure to yield). Injuries from left-turn impacts regularly include traumatic brain injuries requiring treatment at Cedars-Sinai or UCLA Medical Center. If you suffered a brain injury in a Los Angeles motorcycle crash, our team coordinates with neurosurgeons to document the full scope of harm.
Driver Bias Against Motorcyclists
Studies from the UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center show that motorists consistently underestimate motorcycle speeds and overestimate rider fault. Insurance adjusters weaponize this bias, arguing that riders “assumed the risk.” We counter that narrative with accident-reconstruction testimony, black-box data from the at-fault vehicle, and biomechanical analysis. Riders who suffer severe burn injuries in Los Angeles motorcycle accidents—from exhaust pipe contact, fuel fires, or road-surface friction—face especially harsh bias, and we refuse to let an adjuster minimize those catastrophic losses.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Los Angeles
Los Angeles’s sprawling freeway network and dense surface streets create unique hazards for riders. Below are the 10 most common causes our attorneys see in L.A. motorcycle cases:
- Distracted Driving on the 405 Freeway: The I-405 through the Sepulveda Pass is one of the most congested corridors in America. Drivers texting or scrolling through stop-and-go traffic strike lane-splitting motorcyclists at alarming rates.
- Left-Turn Failures at Major Intersections: Drivers turning left across oncoming traffic at intersections like Wilshire & Westwood and Hollywood & Highland fail to see approaching motorcycles.
- Unsafe Lane Changes on the 101: Sudden, unsignaled lane changes on the Hollywood Freeway (US-101) are a leading cause of sideswipe collisions with riders.
- Dooring in Downtown L.A. and Silver Lake: Parked drivers opening doors into bike lanes and traffic lanes along streets like Spring Street and Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake strike passing motorcyclists without warning.
- Speed and Curves on Mulholland Drive: Mulholland’s blind curves and elevation drops attract sport riders and reckless drivers alike. Crossing the center line on a blind turn is a leading cause of head-on motorcycle crashes along this corridor.
- Road Hazards on Pacific Coast Highway: PCH through Malibu is infamous for rockslides, sand accumulation, uneven pavement, and missing guardrails—all of which are exponentially more dangerous for two-wheeled vehicles.
- Rear-End Collisions at Red Lights: A motorcycle stopped at a red light on surface streets like Sepulveda Boulevard or Venice Boulevard has virtually no protection when a distracted driver fails to brake.
- Debris and Potholes on Angeles Crest Highway: SR-2 through the San Gabriel Mountains features gravel runoff, potholes, and wildlife crossings that can cause a rider to lose control in an instant.
- DUI Crashes on Weekend Nights: LAPD data shows a spike in DUI-related motorcycle fatalities on Friday and Saturday nights, particularly along Sunset Strip and the entertainment corridors of Hollywood.
- Ride-Share and Delivery Vehicle Conflicts: Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers making sudden stops or U-turns on streets like La Cienega and Santa Monica Boulevard create unpredictable hazards for motorcyclists.
What Is Your Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Every motorcycle crash is different, but the severity of injuries sustained at highway speeds in Los Angeles often drives case values well into seven figures. Compass Law Group, LLP secured a $9,870,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who suffered multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury after a driver made an illegal left turn on a major L.A. boulevard. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.
Factors that increase motorcycle case value in Los Angeles include:
- Severity of injuries: Trauma centers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center regularly treat motorcycle victims with multi-system injuries requiring ICU stays, surgeries, and months of rehabilitation.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement: Road rash scarring, amputations, and spinal cord damage substantially increase the life-care cost projections that drive settlement value.
- Lost earning capacity: A 35-year-old professional earning $120,000 per year who can never return to full duty may have $3–5 million in future wage losses alone.
- Multiple liable parties: If a trucking company, a government entity responsible for road maintenance, or an auto manufacturer contributed to the crash, multiple insurance policies may apply.
- Punitive damages eligibility: DUI drivers and hit-and-run offenders may trigger punitive damages under California Civil Code §3294, significantly increasing total recovery.
Compensation Available to Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Victims
California law allows motorcycle accident victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Our attorneys calculate every category to ensure nothing is left on the table:
- Medical expenses: Emergency transport, ER treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medications, prosthetics, and future medical care.
- Lost wages and earning capacity: Income lost during recovery plus the present value of diminished future earnings if a permanent disability prevents return to your prior occupation.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property damage: Repair or replacement value of your motorcycle, gear, and personal belongings.
- Loss of consortium: Compensation for the impact on your spouse or domestic partner’s relationship.
- Wrongful death damages: If a loved one was killed, surviving family members may recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship under CCP §377.60.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Unlike occupants of enclosed vehicles, motorcyclists have no seatbelt, airbag, or steel frame absorbing impact energy. The injuries our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers see most frequently include:
- Road rash and degloving injuries: Friction between skin and asphalt at even 25 mph can cause third-degree burns, exposed muscle tissue, and permanent scarring requiring skin grafts.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Even with a DOT-compliant helmet, the rotational forces in a high-speed crash can cause diffuse axonal injury, subdural hematomas, and long-term cognitive deficits.
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: Compression fractures and disc herniations from motorcycle impacts can result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifetime care.
- Fractures and crush injuries: Lower-extremity fractures—femur, tibia, fibula, ankle—account for the majority of motorcycle crash injuries, often requiring surgical fixation with rods and plates.
- Internal organ damage: Blunt-force trauma to the chest and abdomen can rupture the spleen, lacerate the liver, or cause aortic tears that are immediately life-threatening.
- Amputations: Limb loss from motorcycle crashes most commonly involves the lower leg or foot, with profound impacts on mobility, employment, and quality of life.
- Burn injuries: Fuel tank ruptures and exhaust contact cause thermal burns, while prolonged friction with pavement produces abrasion burns across large surface areas.
Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Crash
Insurance companies deploy specific tactics against motorcycle accident victims that differ from standard auto claims:
- Blaming the rider: Adjusters will argue you were lane splitting unsafely, speeding, or “weaving”—even when the evidence shows otherwise. They rely on anti-motorcycle bias to reduce your payout.
- Requesting recorded statements early: An adjuster may call within 24 hours of your crash, while you are medicated and in the hospital, hoping to capture admissions they can use later. Never give a recorded statement without legal counsel.
- Lowball first offers: Motorcycle injuries are almost always more severe than car-crash injuries at comparable speeds. Despite this, insurers often open with offers based on generic soft-tissue formulas rather than your actual trauma-center bills.
- Disputing future medical costs: Long-term treatment for TBI, spinal injuries, and road rash scarring can run into the millions. Insurers hire their own “independent” medical examiners to argue you are less injured than your treating doctors report.
- Surveillance: It is common for insurers to hire private investigators to surveil motorcycle accident claimants, looking for social media posts or physical activity they can use to argue you have recovered.
Our attorneys handle all insurer communication from day one, preserve critical evidence, and retain independent medical experts to counter every tactic listed above.
California Lane Splitting Law and Your Rights
California legalized lane splitting in 2016 through Assembly Bill 51 (AB 51), codified at CVC §21658.1. The statute defines lane splitting as “driving a motorcycle…between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane.” Key legal points every L.A. rider should know:
- No specific speed limit: AB 51 does not set a maximum speed for lane splitting. However, the CHP’s safety guidelines—developed in consultation with UC Berkeley—recommend splitting only in traffic moving at 30 mph or less with a speed differential of no more than 10 mph.
- Reasonableness standard: Courts evaluate whether the rider’s speed and behavior were “safe and prudent” given traffic, road, and weather conditions. Our attorneys use GPS, speedometer forensics, and traffic-flow data to establish reasonableness.
- Comparative negligence applies: Even if you were lane splitting at the moment of the crash, the other driver may bear the majority of fault for an unsafe lane change (CVC §22107) or failure to signal (CVC §22108). Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, your damages are reduced only by your percentage of fault—not eliminated.
- Employer and commercial vehicle liability: When a commercial truck driver or delivery driver causes a lane-splitting crash, the employer may be vicariously liable under respondeat superior, adding a larger insurance policy to the claim.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles
The steps you take immediately after a crash can determine the strength of your case. Follow these five actions:
- Call 911 and request a police report. LAPD or CHP will respond and document the scene. A formal traffic collision report (CHP 555) creates an official record of the other driver’s violations, witness statements, and road conditions.
- Seek emergency medical attention. Even if you feel adrenaline masking pain, go to the nearest ER—Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Ronald Reagan, or L.A. County+USC. Delayed treatment gaps give insurers ammunition to argue your injuries are unrelated to the crash.
- Photograph everything. Use your phone to capture vehicle positions, skid marks, road defects, traffic signals, your injuries, and damage to your motorcycle, helmet, and gear. Take wide-angle shots showing the intersection or freeway ramp.
- Exchange information but say nothing about fault. Get the other driver’s name, license, insurance, and plate number. Collect contact information from witnesses. Do not apologize or speculate about what happened—anything you say can be used against you.
- Contact a Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney immediately. Call Compass Law Group, LLP at (213) 516-9809 before speaking with any insurance company. We dispatch investigators to the scene, issue evidence-preservation letters, and begin building your case within hours.
Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Claims in California
Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the crash resulted in a wrongful death, the surviving family has two years from the date of death to file under CCP §377.60.
Critical exceptions that can shorten or extend this window include:
- Government entity claims: If a defective road, missing guardrail, or poorly maintained highway contributed to your crash, you must file an administrative claim with the responsible city or county agency within six months under the California Government Claims Act (Gov. Code §910).
- Minors: The statute is tolled until the minor turns 18, then the standard two-year period begins.
- Discovery rule: In rare cases where an injury is not immediately apparent (e.g., a slow-developing TBI), the statute may begin running from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Do not wait. Evidence degrades, witnesses relocate, and surveillance footage is overwritten. Contact our firm as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Helmet Laws and Comparative Negligence in California
California Vehicle Code §27803 requires every motorcycle rider and passenger to wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet at all times. Unlike some states, California does not allow riders over a certain age to forgo helmets. Here is how this affects your claim:
- Failure to wear a helmet is evidence of comparative negligence if your injuries include head or face trauma. A defense attorney will argue that a helmet would have reduced the severity of your TBI or facial fractures.
- It does not bar your claim. Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, failure to wear a helmet reduces your recovery by a percentage—it does not eliminate it. If the jury finds you 15% at fault for not wearing a helmet and your damages total $2 million, you still recover $1.7 million.
- Helmet condition matters. Our attorneys preserve your helmet as evidence. Manufacturers’ defects, improper certification, or a helmet that failed on impact may shift liability to the helmet maker under a product-liability theory.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Case
Building a seven- or eight-figure motorcycle case requires more than medical records and a police report. Our legal team gathers and preserves:
- Event data recorders (EDR / “black box”): Modern vehicles store pre-crash speed, braking, throttle position, and steering angle data. We issue spoliation letters demanding the at-fault vehicle’s EDR data before it is overwritten or destroyed.
- Traffic camera and dashcam footage: LADOT operates over 4,700 traffic cameras across Los Angeles. We subpoena footage from the nearest cameras, as well as dashcam and doorbell camera recordings from nearby residences and businesses.
- Accident reconstruction: Our retained engineers use photogrammetry, drone surveys, and physics-based simulation to recreate the crash sequence and prove exactly how the collision occurred.
- Expert medical testimony: Board-certified neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and life-care planners testify to the nature, extent, and future cost of your injuries.
- Motorcycle and helmet forensics: Damage patterns on the motorcycle frame, tire marks, and helmet impact points help establish speed, point of impact, and the forces involved.
- Cell phone records: If we suspect the at-fault driver was texting or using an app at the time of the crash, we subpoena carrier records and app-usage logs to prove distraction.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Understanding the data behind L.A. motorcycle crashes underscores why experienced legal representation matters:
- 549 motorcyclist fatalities occurred statewide in California in 2022, with Los Angeles County accounting for roughly 22% of the total (NHTSA FARS data).
- Motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled than passenger car occupants (NHTSA, 2022).
- Lane-splitting crashes account for an estimated 17% of all motorcycle collisions in California, according to UC Berkeley research—but lane-splitting riders in those crashes suffered fewer head and torso injuries than non-splitting riders.
- Left-turn accidents cause approximately 42% of fatal motorcycle-versus-car collisions nationally (NHTSA).
- Helmet use in California exceeds 95%, far above the national average of 65.5%, yet head injuries remain the leading cause of motorcyclist fatalities.
- Hit-and-run incidents in Los Angeles have increased steadily, with LAPD reporting over 21,000 hit-and-run crashes in 2023—many involving motorcyclists on surface streets.
Protect Your Rights—Talk to a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
A motorcycle accident in Los Angeles can change your life in a single second. Between the severity of injuries, the complexity of California’s lane-splitting laws, and the aggressive tactics insurers use against riders, you need a legal team that has done this before—and won.
Compass Law Group, LLP has recovered $250 million+ for injured clients, including a $9,870,000 motorcycle accident settlement right here in Los Angeles. Managing partners Joseph Shirazi and Simon Esfandi personally oversee every motorcycle case, and our entire team is available 24/7.
Call (213) 516-9809 or visit our Los Angeles office at 633 W 5th Street, 26th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We speak English, Spanish, Farsi, and Korean. You pay nothing unless we win.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Los Angeles motorcycle accident case worth?+
Is lane splitting legal in Los Angeles?+
Can I still recover compensation if I was lane splitting when the accident happened?+
What should I do immediately after a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles?+
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in California?+
What if the other driver’s insurance company says I was at fault because I ride a motorcycle?+
Do I need a helmet to have a valid motorcycle accident claim in California?+
What types of compensation can I recover after a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles?+
How does Compass Law Group investigate a motorcycle accident case?+
How much does it cost to hire a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer at Compass Law Group?+
Talk to a Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Call Compass Law Group at (213) 516-9809. Free consultation, no fees unless we win. 24/7. Visit our LA office.
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With Joseph Shirazi and Simon Esfandi at the helm, our firm is a trusted name in accident law in California.
Meet Our Managing Partners
National Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Avvo 10.0 Superb. Loyola Law School graduate. Recognized for his $14,500,000 truck accident verdict and a $13,000,000 trial verdict.
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Super Lawyers Rising Star. Southwestern Law School graduate. Led the firm’s $9,870,000 motorcycle accident settlement and a $2,250,000 rideshare recovery.
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Jerry
After 10 accidents and 9 attorneys, the client met Simon, who stood out for his honesty and clear communication. Years later, after another accident, the client called Simon and was impressed by his professionalism and follow-through. Simon explained everything, connected him with top doctors, and kept every promise. It was the first time the client felt truly supported—highly recommending Simon and Joseph for their integrity and dedication.
Jacob
Jacob was rear-ended by a big rig and left nearly paralyzed for a year. He found Cooper Law Group, and Joseph and Simon personally helped him through the legal process. Over two years, they ensured he got the medical care and surgeries he needed, helped repair his car, and secured the compensation he deserved. He highly recommends them for truly fighting for their clients.
Blandine
During the early days of COVID, Blandine was hit by a car while biking to work. Alone and unsure of what to do, they found Compass Law Group. Joseph was the first to respond with care and clarity. Throughout the case, the team—Joseph, Simon, and Julie—provided support, regular check-ins, and made the client feel safe and cared for. They now consider the firm like family and highly recommend them for their compassion and competence.
Understanding Your Rights:
Frequently Asked
Questions
#1 Do I have a case?
Understanding whether a claim exists is one of the challenges of personal injury law. This is why we offer free initial consultations to help you make this determination and allow you an avenue to vindicate your rights.
We’re committed to fighting for the rights of accident victims throughout Southern California, and, unlike other California personal injury attorneys, we will take on any case if we can help, no matter how big or small.
#2 What is personal injury?
Personal injury involves harm to an individual’s body or property caused by someone else’s negligence. It can range from minor to significant injuries, often requiring legal action to recover damages. We specialize in representing and securing fair settlements for such victims.
#3 Why hire Compass Law Group?
Our client-focused approach ensures personalized attention, detailed case building, and compelling evidence presentation. We’re skilled in negotiating settlements and prepared for trial with aggressive strategies. Our firm maintains transparent communication, involves clients in the process, and utilizes a wide network of expert witnesses and resources to strengthen cases. Choosing us means trusting a team dedicated to your success and justice.
#4What if I didn't go to the hospital?
No matter the injury size, you have rights that need defending. Many injuries seem minor at first but can worsen over time. Ignoring treatment or legal advice risks your health and compensation. Seek immediate medical and legal help after any accident to ensure proper diagnosis and strengthen your compensation claim.