Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys: Fighting for Injured Riders
A motorcycle accident on the busy streets of Los Angeles can change your life in seconds. Riders face a much higher risk of serious injury than people in cars, and the road to recovery is rarely simple, especially when California traffic safety data shows just how often these crashes turn deadly.
At Cohen & Marzban, our experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys understand the unique challenges injured bikers face and the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts. Backed by advanced knowledge of California motorcycle laws, more than 40 years of combined experience, and over $2 billion recovered, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Los Angeles fight tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation you deserve, so you can focus on healing.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Los Angeles
Understanding the common causes of motorcycle accidents can help raise awareness and promote safer riding practices. As your trusted motorcycle accident attorney in Los Angeles, our team investigates every contributing factor to identify all liable parties.
- Distracted driving: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting their GPS are less likely to notice motorcyclists, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Left-turn accidents: Drivers making left turns often fail to yield the right-of-way to oncoming motorcyclists, leading to devastating T-bone collisions.
- Lane splitting: While legal in California, it requires caution and awareness from both drivers and motorcyclists.
- Speeding: Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the severity of motorcycle accidents.
- Reckless driving: Behaviors such as tailgating, weaving through traffic, and disregarding traffic signals increase the risk of collisions.
- Unsafe lane changes: Drivers who fail to check their blind spots or signal properly before changing lanes can cut off motorcyclists, leading to dangerous accidents.
- Driving under the influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time, significantly increasing the risk of collision.
- Road hazards: Potholes, debris, uneven pavement, oil spills, and other road hazards can cause motorcyclists to lose control, leading to crashes and serious injuries.
- Inexperienced riders: Inexperienced riders may be more susceptible to accidents due to a lack of familiarity with motorcycle handling, traffic laws, and road conditions.
- Motorcycle defects: In some cases, motorcycle accidents are caused by defective parts or faulty manufacturing, leading to mechanical failures and loss of control.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles
The steps you take in the hours and days after a motorcycle crash can make or break your personal injury claim. Here's what every injured rider should do to protect their health and their right to compensation.
- Seek medical attention right away. Adrenaline can mask the symptoms of internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage. A full medical evaluation also creates the documentation your claim depends on.
- Report the accident to law enforcement. Under California law, you must stop, exchange information, and report any crash involving injury or significant property damage. Always request a copy of the police report.
- Document the accident scene. If you are physically able, photograph the vehicles, your injuries, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and weather. Collect contact information from any witnesses.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are trained to use your own words against you. Speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles before saying anything on the record.
- Contact Cohen & Marzban as soon as possible. Evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses become harder to locate, and skid marks fade. The sooner we begin our investigation, the stronger your case will be.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcyclists don't have much protection. Even if they wear a helmet, they are particularly susceptible to severe injuries in an accident, including:
No matter how serious your injury is, our experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to fight for compensation on your behalf.
Key California Motorcycle Laws That Affect Your Case
Understanding the laws that govern motorcycle accident claims in California is critical to protecting your right to compensation. Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Los Angeles regularly counter insurance company arguments that misapply these rules.
Insurance Company Tactics Used Against Injured Motorcyclists
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and their primary goal is to pay as little as possible. Knowing the most common tactics adjusters use against motorcycle accident victims helps you avoid traps that could destroy your claim.
- Rushing a lowball settlement. Insurers often present an offer within days of the crash, before you know the full extent of your injuries. Accepting it usually waives your right to additional compensation later.
- Exploiting the "reckless biker" stereotype. Adjusters and defense attorneys routinely portray motorcyclists as inherently reckless to shift blame onto the rider and reduce the payout.
- Using your recorded statement against you. Anything you say to an adjuster can be twisted into an admission of fault. Always speak with our skilled motorcycle accident lawyers in Los Angeles, CA, before giving any recorded statement.
- Blaming the rider for not wearing a helmet or for lane splitting. Even when these factors had nothing to do with the cause of the crash, insurers use them to argue comparative fault. Our skilled motorcycle accident lawyers will use our advanced knowledge to counter these arguments with hard evidence.
How Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
The experienced legal team at Cohen & Marzban is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and aggressive representation for injured motorcyclists. Here's how our exceptional motorcycle accident lawyers in Los Angeles can help you navigate the complexities of a motorcycle accident claim:
Compensation You Can Recover After a Motorcycle Crash
Our Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys pursue every category of damages available under California law, so injured riders are not left covering costs caused by someone else's negligence.
Punitive damages may also be available in cases involving drunk driving or extreme reckless conduct, designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.
