Motorcycle accidents in California
Riders are more likely to be seriously hurt in a crash and more likely to be blamed for it. Two rules come up in almost every motorcycle claim: the helmet law and the lane-splitting law.
California’s helmet law
Every motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a helmet.
Not wearing a required helmet can be raised to argue that part of a head injury was the rider’s own fault. It does not excuse the driver who caused the crash.
Source: Cal. Veh. Code § 27803
Lane splitting
Lane splitting is legal in California, which means a rider being between lanes does not by itself make them at fault.
Source: Cal. Veh. Code § 21658.1
Bias against riders
The most common motorcycle crash is a car turning left across the rider’s path, with the driver saying they “never saw” the bike. Not seeing a vehicle that was there to be seen is a failure to keep a lookout, not a defense — but adjusters routinely open with the assumption that the rider was speeding.
Fault and deadlines
Under California’s pure comparative fault rule, a driver found 30% at fault recovers 70% of their damages, and a driver found 80% at fault still recovers 20%.
California’s injury deadline is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1).
Real California results
Documented California verdicts and settlements from public court records.
| Case | Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
Alejandra Gonzalez v. County of Los Angeles Los Angeles County, 2026 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,500,000 settlement |
Jennifer Orta v. Matthew Bogy San Bernardino County, 2026 · Intersection crash | Intersection crash | $659,626 verdict |
Tito Flores v. CDS Equipment Los Angeles County, 2025 · Truck accident | Truck accident | $1,500,000 settlement |
Unger v. Greenberg Los Angeles County, 2023 · Car accident | Car accident | $600,000 settlement |
Cruz Luis v. Estate of Molloy Los Angeles County, 2025 · Rear-end collision | Rear-end collision | $1,425,000 settlement |
Real cases, shown as recorded in public court records. Verdicts are jury awards; settlements are agreed payments. They are other people’s cases and not predictions of what your case is worth. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is lane splitting legal in California?
Lane splitting is legal in California, which means a rider being between lanes does not by itself make them at fault.
Do I have to wear a helmet in California?
Every motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a helmet.
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This page is general information about California law, reviewed September 2026. It is not legal advice, laws change, and the right answer for your claim depends on its facts. CaseChecker.ai is not a law firm; it connects people with independent attorneys licensed in their state.