Pasadena Motorcycle accident attorney in Los Angeles, California Attorney

Motorcycle riders in Los Angeles face dangers that drivers of cars and trucks never think about. A pothole that barely registers for someone in an SUV can throw a motorcyclist into oncoming traffic. A driver who checks their phone for two seconds at a Wilshire intersection may never see the bike in their blind spot. And when a crash happens, there is no steel frame, no airbag, and no crumple zone between the rider and the road.

At McNally Law Offices, our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers have spent over 30 years representing riders hurt by negligent drivers across LA County. We understand what it takes to build a motorcycle injury claim that insurance companies cannot brush aside, and we fight to recover the full value of every case we handle.

Why Motorcycle Accident Claims in Los Angeles Are Different

Insurance adjusters treat motorcycle cases differently than car accident cases. Many start with a built-in bias — they assume the rider was reckless, speeding, or weaving through traffic. Our job is to destroy that assumption with evidence.

California is one of the only states that allows lane splitting under Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, which means a rider filtering through slow traffic on the 405 or the 101 is acting legally. But adjusters still try to use lane splitting against injured riders. We know how to counter that tactic because we have been doing it for three decades.

Motorcycle claims also tend to involve more severe injuries. The California Office of Traffic Safety reported that Los Angeles County leads the state in motorcycle-related fatalities year after year. Higher medical bills, longer recovery periods, and a greater chance of permanent disability mean these cases require aggressive representation from the start.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Los Angeles

Our attorneys investigate every detail of a collision to determine exactly who was at fault. The most frequent causes we see include:

• Left-turn collisions — A driver making a left at an intersection fails to see an oncoming motorcycle. This is the single most common motorcycle crash scenario nationwide, and Los Angeles intersections like those along Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard see it constantly.
• Distracted driving — Phones, navigation screens, food, and passengers pull a driver’s attention from the road. A motorcycle only occupies a fraction of a lane, which makes it easy to miss when a driver is not paying full attention.
• Unsafe lane changes — Drivers on congested freeways — the I-10, the I-110, the 101 — change lanes without shoulder-checking. A motorcycle in the adjacent lane has almost no time to react.
• Speeding — Higher speeds reduce reaction time and dramatically increase the force of impact. What might be a fender bender between two cars can be fatal for a motorcyclist.
• Door strikes — A parked driver opens their car door into the path of a rider. This is especially common on narrow streets in Hollywood, Silver Lake, and downtown LA.
• Road hazards — Potholes, gravel, oil slicks, uneven pavement, and construction debris are minor annoyances for cars but can cause a motorcycle to lose traction instantly.

Injuries Our Clients Face After Motorcycle Accidents

Even with a helmet and full protective gear, the human body is not built to absorb the energy of a collision at 35 or 45 miles per hour. The injuries our motorcycle accident clients suffer include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and diffuse axonal injuries
• Spinal cord damage resulting in partial or complete paralysis
• Multiple fractures — legs, arms, pelvis, ribs, and collarbone breaks are all common
• Road rash that ranges from surface abrasions to deep wounds requiring skin grafts
• Internal organ damage from blunt force impact
• Torn ligaments, tendons, and soft tissue injuries that limit mobility for months
• Amputation when limbs are crushed beyond surgical repair

Many of these injuries require multiple surgeries, months of physical therapy, and ongoing medical care. Some riders never return to the work they did before the crash. Our attorneys account for every past, present, and future cost when calculating the value of a claim.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles

The steps you take immediately after a crash can make or break your case. If you are physically able, try to do the following:

1. Call 911 and get medical help. Even if you feel okay at the scene, adrenaline can mask serious injuries. Get checked at a hospital. Head injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal damage are not always obvious right away.

2. Stay at the scene. California law requires everyone involved in an accident to remain at the scene until information has been exchanged and police have arrived.

3. Collect evidence. Use your phone to photograph vehicle positions, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and your injuries. Get the names and numbers of any witnesses. This evidence disappears quickly — within hours, the scene will look completely different.

4. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Anything you say can and will be used to reduce your payout. Let your attorney handle that conversation.

5. Contact McNally Law Offices. The sooner we get involved, the better we can preserve evidence, deal with insurers, and protect your rights.

Compensation Available for Motorcycle Accident Victims

California law allows injured motorcycle riders to recover compensation for the full scope of their losses, including:

• Medical expenses — Emergency room visits, surgery, hospital stays, medication, physical therapy, and any future treatment your doctors recommend
• Lost income — Wages you missed while recovering, plus reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
• Pain and suffering — Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage — Repair or replacement cost of your motorcycle and any gear destroyed in the crash
• Wrongful death damages — If a loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident, surviving family members may recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship

There is no cap on personal injury damages in California except in medical malpractice cases. We pursue every dollar our clients are owed.

How Our Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Build Your Case

We do not rely on the police report alone. Our investigation includes:

• Accident reconstruction to determine speed, angle of impact, and fault
• Review of traffic camera footage, dashcam video, and surveillance recordings from nearby businesses
• Analysis of the other driver’s cell phone records to prove distraction
• Consultation with medical experts who can explain the full extent of your injuries to a jury
• Calculation of lifetime costs for ongoing medical care, lost earning potential, and diminished quality of life

Insurance companies know when a case has been thoroughly prepared. That is why the vast majority of our cases settle for fair value before ever reaching a courtroom. But if an insurer refuses to offer what our client deserves, we are fully prepared to take the case to trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in California?

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to file a lawsuit. Claims against government entities — for example, if a road defect caused your crash — have a much shorter deadline of six months. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your claim.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. You can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If a jury finds you 20% at fault and awards $500,000, you would receive $400,000. We work to minimize any fault assigned to our clients.

Does lane splitting affect my claim?

Lane splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code 21658.1, so the simple act of filtering between lanes does not make you liable. However, if a rider was splitting lanes at an unsafe speed or in dangerous conditions, it could affect the fault determination. We present evidence showing our clients rode responsibly.

How much is my motorcycle accident case worth?

Every case is different. The value depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, how much work you missed, and the long-term impact on your life. Cases involving traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage often reach six or seven figures. We provide an honest evaluation during your free consultation.

Contact Our Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle accident anywhere in Los Angeles County, McNally Law Offices is ready to fight for you. With offices in Pasadena and Century City, we serve clients across the entire greater Los Angeles area.

Call (626) 584-5744 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case.