Motorcycle Accidents

Published on: October 15, 2025

Motorcycle Accident Claims in California

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, damages, insurance, evidence, and common insurance-company defenses. Below I’ll walk through the essentials: what to do after a crash, how liability is decided in California, important deadlines, common pitfalls, and practical tips for maximizing recovery.

1) Quick overview: the legal landscape that matters

A few foundational legal facts frame every motorcycle claim in California:

Published on: October 10, 2025

Motorcycle Accident Injury Claims in California — What Riders Need to Know

by Steven M. Sweat

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, how fault is allocated, time limits for filing a claim, dealing with insurance (including uninsured/underinsured coverage), helmet-law issues, and strategies for maximizing recovery. When you’re hurt, knowledge helps you protect your rights and focus on recovery.

1. First steps after a motorcycle crash (safety + evidence)

Immediately after a crash, safety and evidence preservation are the top priorities.

Published on: July 19, 2024

Understanding Motorcycle Lane Splitting in California

by Steven M. Sweat

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, safety aspects, and the relevant California Vehicle Codes (CVC) governing lane splitting.

The Legal Landscape

California is the first and only state in the United States to explicitly legalize lane splitting. The practice was formally recognized by the state legislature in 2016 with the passage of Assembly Bill 51, which added Section 21658.1 to the California Vehicle Code. This section empowers the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner that would ensure the safety of both motorcyclists and other motorists.

Published on: March 20, 2023

California Motorcycle Accident Statistics

by Steven M. Sweat

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, they also carry inherent risks. Unlike people riding in cars or trucks, motorcyclists do not have the protection of a metal cab surrounding them. When they are involved in motorcycle accidents, motorcycle riders are much likelier to suffer catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases national motorcycle crash data each year, but the reports are delayed by a few years. The most NHTSA recent data is from 2020. The most recent data from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) is from 2021. We have compiled motorcycle crash statistics to help you understand the risks, types of collisions, and steps you can take to reduce your chances of being involved in a motorcycle accident.

Fatalities: Motorcycles vs. Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

Published on: November 3, 2022

US Distributor Liable for Motorcycle Defect in California

by Steven M. Sweat

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 a consumer, the manufacturer might still be liable. In Defries v. Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Cal. Ct. App. Case No. E073017, the California Court of Appeal considered a case in which a man was injured while riding a motorbike that had been improperly assembled by an authorized dealer of Yamaha and whether Yamaha could properly be held liable for the dealer’s negligence.

Factual and Procedural Background

In December 2016, Chad Defries’ wife bought a Yamaha dirt bike for her husband as a Christmas present. Mr. Defries first rode the bike one month later. He took it out a second time on Feb. 2017 with two friends, including Johnny Kitchin and Johnny Butcher. The trio decided to ride their bikes at a dirt bike course in Perris. While riding through a portion of the course that consisted of a series of small hills, the throttle on Defries’ motorcycle fell off the handlebar, causing the handlebar to turn to the left and Defries to fall off the bike in a motorcycle accident. Defries broke his right femur, suffered a separated shoulder, and suffered a hernia. Butcher and Kitchin both testified that they saw the throttle hanging off of the bike detached from the handlebar when they loaded the bike in their truck.

Published on: June 3, 2021

California Republican Party Held Responsible in Motorcycle Crash

by Steven M. Sweat

California-Motorcycle-Accident-Attorneys-Lawyers

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, the California Republican Party paid a settlement of $11 million after one of its precinct workers caused serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident.[1]

Background of the case

Richard Ruehle was riding his motorcycle on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim on Aug. 5, 2016. A precinct worker who had been hired by Eric Linder’s reelection campaign had knocked on doors all morning and was driving back to work after his lunch break. The worker did not have a driver’s license. He did not check his mirrors or blind spots when he changed lanes, crashing into Ruehle and his motorcycle. The collision left Ruehle with quadriplegia, and he only had limited use of his arms. He will never be able to walk again. Ruehle was also married and had six children and was an avid hiker before his accident. Ruehle filed a lawsuit against both the California Republican Party and Eric Linder’s campaign.

Published on: January 15, 2018

Motorcycle Fatality Caused by Dangerous Condition at Restaurant Exit According to Jury

by Steven M. Sweat

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 decided in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. SC112366, these duties that are owed were illustrated. People who have suffered serious injuries because of the negligence of property owners might want to talk to an experienced premises liability lawyer in Los Angeles.

Factual background of the case

On March 6, 2011, a tourist from Oklahoma named Terry Turner ate at Geoffrey’s restaurant, which is located in Malibu. After he finished eating, he tried to turn left onto PCH. PCH is a one-way road in front of Geoffrey’s that has a median to divide traffic that is headed in the opposite direction. When Turner turned left, he was headed directly into oncoming traffic. A 41-year-old man named Joseph Annocki Jr. was riding his motorcycle on PCH. He tried to avoid Turner’s vehicle, lost control of his motorcycle and fell off of it. He was killed as a result. Turner’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Turner, Caltrans and Petersen Enterprises LLC, the parent company of Geoffrey’s Malibu under theories of negligence and premises liability.

Published on: October 17, 2016

Los Angeles Motorcycle Lane Split Accident Jury Verdict

by Steven M. Sweat

Biker Crash, Injury, Lawyer, Los Angeles

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 was lane-splitting at the time of the accident. The case demonstrates the legal concept of comparative negligence in California. With the passage of the new lane-splitting bill, the new rules could potentially impact how comparative negligence is determined by juries in the state.

Factual background of the case

Published on: February 2, 2016

California Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict

by Steven M. Sweat

California, Motorcycle Accident, Attorney 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 partly liable for the accident.

Case background

The plaintiff in the case was traveling along Highway 101 in the first lane of traffic on his motorcycle directly behind the defendant driver at 9:00 a.m. on a Monday morning. The defendant reportedly was distracted by another vehicle’s custom license plate and failed to notice that traffic had slowed in front of him. When he did notice, he slammed on his brakes in order to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him, causing his car to fishtail and enter the second lane of traffic.

Published on: September 23, 2015

Does Lane-Splitting Cause California Accidents?

by Steven M. Sweat

Does CA "Lane Splitting" Cause Motorcycle Accidents? Los Angeles Injury Lawyer Explains “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 law specifically stating that lane-splitting is legal and, therefore, many motorists become angry when motorcyclists engage in this behavior. Though lane-splitting can be distracting to motorists and can lead to accidents and injuries, the practice can be safe when done in a prudent and safe manner. If a motorcyclist fails to be careful or reasonable when lane-splitting and a collision occurs, any injured victims should contact a California motorcycle injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss a potential case.

Motorists can take precautions to avoid accidents

Motorcyclists are not the only ones who can cause accidents and injuries when lane-splitting occurs, as motorists can also behave in a negligent manner and cause injury to motorcyclists. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) offers several guidelines¹ directed at motorists for safe lane-splitting practices. Some of these guidelines include as follows: