Westwood Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a motorcycle accident in Westwood?

Consult a Westwood motorcycle accident lawyer with decades of plaintiff-side personal injury experience.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Westwood, an attorney can help you pursue compensation from the driver or other party whose negligence caused the crash. Our Westwood, CA motorcycle accident lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group handles motorcycle injury claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Founding attorney Wayne R. Cohen has represented motorcycle accident victims since 1991. Contact our office for a free consultation.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Westwood, CA

A motorcycle accident case is a personal injury claim brought by a rider who was injured in a collision caused by another driver’s negligence. Motorcyclists have the same legal right to use the road as any other vehicle operator in California, but they face risks that drivers of enclosed vehicles do not. There is no frame, no airbag, no seatbelt. When a car or truck collides with a motorcycle, the rider absorbs the full force of the impact.

According to NHTSA motorcycle safety data, motorcyclists are nearly 24 times more likely to die in a traffic crash per vehicle mile traveled than passenger car occupants. Westwood’s congested intersections along Wilshire Boulevard, the traffic flow surrounding UCLA’s campus, and the on-ramps to the I-405 all present conditions where motorcycle collisions occur regularly. A motorcycle accident attorney in Westwood, CA can investigate what happened, establish fault, and pursue full compensation from the at-fault party and their insurer.

Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in Westwood

Motorcycle crashes follow patterns that are distinct from car-on-car collisions, and the type of accident determines how liability is established. We handle motorcycle accident cases throughout Westwood, including:

• Left-turn accidents. A driver turning left across the path of an oncoming motorcycle is the single most common type of fatal motorcycle crash. The driver either does not see the rider or misjudges the motorcycle’s speed. These collisions frequently occur at intersections along Westwood Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard.
• Lane-splitting accidents. California is the only state that permits lane splitting, which means motorcyclists are legally allowed to ride between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic. When a driver changes lanes without checking for a motorcycle filtering through traffic, the results can be severe. Liability often falls on the driver who failed to signal or look.
• Rear-end collisions. A motorcycle struck from behind by a car or truck has no crumple zone to absorb the impact. The rider is thrown forward, often over the handlebars or into the vehicle ahead. Even at low speeds, neck injuries, spinal cord damage, and fractures are common.
• Intersection accidents. Drivers running red lights, rolling through stop signs, and failing to yield the right of way at intersections account for a significant share of motorcycle injuries and fatalities. The motorcycle’s smaller profile makes it harder for drivers to notice, especially in heavy traffic.
• Head-on collisions. When a vehicle crosses the center line and strikes a motorcycle head-on, the crash is often fatal. The force of a frontal collision between a car and an exposed rider leaves almost no margin for survivable injury at highway speeds.
• Hit-and-run motorcycle accidents. A driver who strikes a motorcyclist and leaves the scene makes the recovery process more difficult in every respect. California law still allows injured riders to pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage and, if the driver is identified, through a civil claim.
• Road hazard crashes. Potholes, gravel, oil slicks, uneven pavement, and debris that a car might drive over without incident can cause a motorcycle to lose traction and crash. Depending on the hazard, a municipal entity, a construction company, or a property owner may bear liability for failing to maintain the road.
• DUI-related motorcycle accidents. An impaired driver who strikes a motorcyclist faces both criminal charges and civil liability. These cases often involve catastrophic injuries because the impaired driver’s delayed reaction time and poor judgment compound the severity of the collision.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Westwood, CA?

Advocating for Motorcycle Riders Since 1991

With more than 35 years of plaintiff-side experience, attorney Wayne R. Cohen has represented motorcycle accident victims since 1991. He founded Cohen Injury Law Group, graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan, and earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. Wayne currently serves as a Professorial Lecturer at GWU Law School. His legal commentary has been cited by CNBC, the LA Times, USA Today, and the ABA Journal, and he has recovered millions of dollars for clients with serious injuries over the course of his career.

Nicholas E. Cohen is Managing Partner of the firm. He graduated from USC and earned his law degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles, and he manages litigation strategy and client relations across the firm’s caseload.

If you need a personal injury lawyer in Westwood, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group represents injured motorcycle riders exclusively. We do not represent drivers, insurance carriers, or defendants. Every motorcycle accident case is handled on a contingency basis.

What Is Important to Understand About a Motorcycle Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Cases

Motorcycle accidents produce disproportionately severe injuries compared to car crashes. The rider has no structural protection. Broken bones, road rash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and amputations are all common, and many motorcycle accident survivors face permanent disability.

Economic damages in these cases include emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, prosthetics or assistive devices, prescription medication, and wages lost during recovery. When the injuries end a rider’s ability to work or limit their earning potential going forward, diminished future earning capacity is also part of the claim. Noneconomic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact the injuries have had on the rider’s relationships and daily activities. When a motorcycle accident is fatal, the rider’s family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.

What Are Important Aspects of a Motorcycle Accident Case?

Motorcycle accident claims involve specific challenges that riders and their attorneys must address early in the process.

• Bias against motorcyclists is a real factor. Insurance adjusters and jurors sometimes assume the rider was reckless or speeding, even when the evidence shows otherwise. Countering that assumption with physical evidence, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction is a central part of building the claim.
• California’s comparative fault rule applies in motorcycle cases. If the rider was partially at fault, the damages award is reduced by the rider’s percentage of responsibility. It is not eliminated. But the at-fault driver’s insurer will aggressively argue that the rider contributed to the crash in order to reduce the payout.
• Helmet use affects certain aspects of the claim. California requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets, and a rider who was not wearing one at the time of the crash may face arguments that their head injuries were partially their own responsibility.
• Preserving evidence from the crash scene is important. Skid marks, road conditions, debris patterns, and the final positions of the vehicles all help establish what happened. Photographs taken at the scene and the police report are foundational to the motorcycle accident claim.

What Is the Motorcycle Accident Case Timeline?

The timeline for a motorcycle accident case depends on the severity of the injuries and the complexity of the liability questions. Cases involving catastrophic injuries tend to take longer because the medical treatment itself extends over months or years. A general outline follows.

• Medical treatment and stabilization come first. Many motorcycle injuries require emergency surgery and extended hospitalization before the rider is stable enough to begin rehabilitation.
• Your attorney gathers the police report, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any available video footage. Accident reconstruction may be necessary for disputed liability cases.
• Once you reach maximum medical improvement, your attorney calculates the full value of the claim and sends a formal demand to the at-fault driver’s insurer.
• If the insurer offers fair compensation, the case settles. If not, your attorney files a lawsuit, and the case proceeds through discovery, depositions, and trial.
• California provides a two-year statute of limitations under CCP 335.1 for personal injury claims, including motorcycle accident cases.

What Should You Bring to Your Motorcycle Accident Consultation?

Gathering relevant materials before the first meeting allows your attorney to evaluate the strength of your claim and begin the process.

• The police report or CHP report from the crash
• Photographs of the accident scene, your motorcycle, the other vehicle, and your injuries
• Medical records and bills from emergency treatment and ongoing care
• Documentation of lost wages or changes in employment status
• Any correspondence from the at-fault driver’s insurance company

Your attorney will review the documentation, explain how California motorcycle accident law applies to the facts of your case, and outline the path forward.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Motorcycle Accident Cases?

California law affords motorcyclists the same rights as other vehicle operators and establishes the legal framework for pursuing compensation after a crash. The following resources provide a starting point for locating the applicable statutes and safety data.

• CCP 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California, including motorcycle accident cases.
• California Civil Code 1714 defines the general duty of care that all drivers owe to motorcyclists and other road users.
• The California Courts Self-Help Center provides information on filing a personal injury lawsuit and what to expect during the civil litigation process.
• NHTSA’s motorcycle safety page publishes national data on motorcyclist fatalities, injuries, and risk factors, along with helmet safety resources.
• NHTSA’s motorcycle safety research documents crash trends, rider demographics, and evidence-based strategies for reducing motorcycle fatalities.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Westwood, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group can help you pursue compensation from the at-fault driver. We handle motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Your first consultation is free. Contact us to schedule a case review.