Motorcycle crashes change lives in an instant. Compared with occupants of enclosed vehicles, motorcyclists suffer higher rates of serious injury and catastrophic loss — and that makes motorcycle claims legally and emotionally complicated. If you ride in California (or represent riders), it helps to understand how California law treats liability,…
Motorcycle crashes are uniquely dangerous. A rider who is injured in California faces medical bills, lost income, potential long-term disability, and the complicated process of proving fault and recovering compensation. This guide walks you—plainly and practically—through the legal steps after a motorcycle accident in California: preserving evidence, what laws matter,…
Motorcycle lane splitting, the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes of slow or stopped traffic, has been a topic of much debate among motorists, motorcyclists, and legislators. In California, it’s not only a common sight but also a legal maneuver under specific conditions. This article delves into the legalities,…
Riding motorcycles can be exhilarating because of the sense of freedom that riders have while they ride. Many people who ride motorcycles also choose to do so because of their excellent fuel economy and more affordable cost compared to cars. While motorcycles offer some advantages compared to larger motor vehicles,…
Manufacturers and others involved in the chain of distribution can be liable when consumers are harmed by product defects when they use the products in the manner in which they were intended to be used. When an agent of a manufacturer introduces a defect in a product that later injures…
Under California law, when people are working within the course and scope of their jobs, their employers may be vicariously liable when they negligently injure others. Employers might also be directly liable when their employees injure others when the employers negligently hired, supervised, or retained incompetent or unqualified workers. Recently,…
In California, property owners have a duty to warn patrons of unsafe conditions that exist on their properties. If there is a hazardous condition that exists that the property owners are aware of, they also must repair the condition so that visitors remain safe. In a recent case that was…
Steven M. Sweat, APC has been helping injured bikers in Los Angeles and California for over 20 years. In a recent case in Los Angeles County (L.A. Superior Court Case No. BC553756), a jury returned a verdict of $3.7 million in a case involving a motorist and a motorcyclist who…
A recent case in Santa Clara County in which a plaintiff motorcyclist sued a motor vehicle driver for negligence in a motorcycle and car accident case resulted in a verdict of nearly $1.2 million for the plaintiff. The defendant driver had claimed the motorcyclist was negligent and thus at least…
“Lane-splitting” occurs when a motorcyclist between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic. This practice is against the law in 49 states and the District of Columbia, and California is the only state in the country that does not have a law specifically outlawing lane-splitting. California also does not have a…