Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
There are plenty of motorcycle lawyers in Los Angeles.
The problem isn’t finding a motorcycle attorney but making sure you find the right one.
In this article, we provide a list of the best attorneys in the area as well as advice on the laws governing motorcycles in California.
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Best Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
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Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in California
After you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, recovering from your injuries takes priority. After that, repairing or replacing your motorcycle is essential. Those two jobs are hard enough, so the last thing anyone needs is an insurance company denying a claim or offering a settlement that doesn’t begin to cover your expenses.
If you find yourself in that situation, familiarizing yourself with California’s motorcycle laws is important. However, finding a motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles who can help you get the compensation you deserve may be more important.
California Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in California is two years. This applies to all car and motorcycle accidents unless the accident involves a government entity. This type of case can involve a vehicle being driven by a government employee or involve the conditions of a road or other publicly-maintained area.
If the government is a potential defendant in a motorcycle accident lawsuit, you’ll have much less time to file your claim. To comply with the California Tort Claims Act, you must provide notice of your intention to file a suit within one year—possibly as little as six months—of the accident.
It’s important to bear in mind that the California statute of limitations determines how long you have to file a lawsuit—not get an attorney or begin negotiating. If the suit isn’t initiated in court before the statute of limitations runs out, you may be barred from recovering anything at all.
California Laws for Motorcycle Drivers
As in all states, motorcycle riders in California are required to follow all state laws for motor vehicles. California also has many laws that apply only to motorcycles.
- Age Restrictions. In California, riders under 18 years old must have written parental permission to ride a motorcycle. In addition, all riders under 21 must successfully complete the California Highway Patrol Motorcyclist Training Course.
- Safety Features. California laws require all handlebars to be no more than six inches above the rider’s shoulders. Other laws require that all motorcycles made after 1973 have working turn signals and that all motorcycles made after 1978 use headlights at all times.
- Helmets. All drivers and passengers on motorcycles must wear approved helmets. Passengers wearing helmets can receive tickets if the driver isn’t wearing a helmet.
- Lane Splitting. California doesn’t ban lane splitting—riding motorcycles between lanes of traffic. In many states, lane splitting is illegal, but California allows it as long as the rider is not driving recklessly.
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
California is a fault-based or “tort” state for auto insurance. This means that all drivers must carry liability insurance, which covers damages caused by that driver if an accident is their fault. This is true for motorcycles as well as any other vehicle.
To collect compensation for losses from an accident—Which means costs from treating injuries or repairing or replacing damaged property like cars and motorcycles—victims must file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
California is one of a minority of states that follows pure comparative negligence to determine how parties can recover after an accident. Most states follow a modified version of comparative negligence that bars anyone from recovering if they are 51% or more responsible for the accident. California doesn’t have this rule, meaning that anyone can recover no matter how responsible they were for the accident, but the recovery will reflect their responsibility.
For example, a rider with $100,000 in damages who is found to be 10% at fault would recover $90,000 under either type of comparative negligence. If that same rider was found to be 65% at fault, they couldn’t recover in a modified comparative negligence jurisdiction, but in California, they could recover $45,000.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
After an accident, you likely have two main concerns; you want to get the most compensation you can as quickly as possible. A good motorcycle accident attorney can help with both of these issues. An experienced attorney can assess the facts of your case and determine how much you can get. They can tell you if a settlement offer is fair or if you would be better off negotiating further or considering going to court.
In many cases, going to court isn’t necessary, but having an attorney motivates insurance companies to settle more quickly than they otherwise might. They will, of course, deny this, but hiring a lawyer implies a willingness to go to court. Going to court is expensive and time-consuming, so a lawyer helping with your claim can mean a larger settlement offer more quickly.
If the offer still doesn’t seem fair, you’ll already have an attorney familiar with the facts and ready to go through with that implied threat.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles, California
Are you beginning your search for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles? It’s important to know what qualities to look for. Let’s explore some key considerations when hiring a lawyer to represent you in your motorcycle accident case.
- Experience Matters: Motorcycle accidents are distinct from auto or personal injury cases. To effectively represent someone injured in a motorcycle accident, a lawyer must be well-versed in the unique laws surrounding motorcycle riders. Look for a lawyer who is familiar with these laws and has a comprehensive understanding of motorcycle riding.
- Reputation Speaks Volumes: Word-of-mouth referrals play a significant role in the legal profession, especially for personal injury lawyers. A lawyer’s ability to provide references from satisfied current and former clients is a strong indicator of their competence and the quality of their representation. Pay attention to attorneys who receive referrals from their peers, as this recognition from fellow lawyers is a testament to their exceptional advocacy skills.
- Capability and Comfort: Your motorcycle accident lawyer should make you feel secure and assist you throughout your legal journey. Their primary role is to handle all legal and related matters on your behalf. When meeting with a potential attorney, assess whether they instill confidence in representing you to others. A lawyer who makes you feel at ease and inspires trust is crucial for a successful attorney-client relationship.
By considering these factors, you can confidently navigate your search for an attorney with the necessary experience, reputation, and capabilities to provide you with the reliable and effective representation you need for your case.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles in 2023, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & Honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are most motorcycle lawyer fees for an accident?
Most motorcycle accident attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that you pay nothing upfront, and will have no out-of-pocket costs for their representation. The attorney keeps a percentage as their fee when the case is settled or reaches a verdict. Most contingent fees are between 25% and 35%.
Some attorneys offer sliding contingent fees based on how far the case progresses. For example, your lawyer might take 25% of the settlement if the settlement is reached without having to file a lawsuit. If your case goes all the way to trial, your lawyer might take 30% or more.
It is vitally important that you make sure you understand the fee structure you are consenting to when you agree to be represented by a lawyer.
How likely is a motorcycle accident to lead to an injury?
In the United States, motorcycles make up 3% of vehicles, yet they make up 14% of all traffic fatalities. According to the NTSB, motorcycle accidents are 28 times more likely to result in fatalities based on mileage of use.
Are most motorcycle accidents the rider’s fault?
While many non-riders assume that motorcycle riders are reckless and often put themselves in danger, the truth is that most motorcycle accidents are the other driver’s fault. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes happen when other drivers don’t see the motorcyclist.
