West Covina riders commute the I-10 and SR-60 daily, split lanes through the congestion that builds on both freeways twice a day, and run Azusa Avenue, Amar Road and the canyon routes north toward the San Gabriel Mountains on weekends.
A rider has no crumple zone, no airbag and no cage. When a driver turns left across a motorcycle’s path on Vincent Avenue, or drifts into a lane on I-10 without a head check, the rider absorbs the entire event. Djougourian Law Corp represents injured riders throughout Los Angeles County.
Understanding Motorcycle Accident Risk
Motorcycles make up a small fraction of registered vehicles and account for a wildly disproportionate share of traffic deaths. NHTSA reports that motorcyclists are substantially more likely to be killed in a crash per mile traveled than passenger vehicle occupants. That is physics, not rider recklessness.
West Covina adds specific hazards:
Heavy stop-and-go freeway congestion. This is exactly where lane splitting happens, and exactly where inattentive drivers change lanes without looking.
Closely spaced I-10 interchanges. Constant merging creates unpredictable lane movement at freeway speed.
Wide arterials with permissive left turns. Azusa Avenue, Vincent Avenue, Sunset Avenue, Amar Road and Glendora Avenue all have intersections where a driver turning left misjudges an approaching motorcycle’s speed.
Retail center driveways. Vehicles pulling out of Plaza West Covina, Eastland Center and the Azusa Avenue retail strip across moving traffic.
Surface hazards. Utility cuts, steel plates, expansion joints and construction debris, including along the ongoing freeway and street work in the corridor. Minor in a car, potentially fatal on two wheels.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Left-turn violations. A driver turns across the path of an oncoming rider, either not seeing them or misjudging closing speed. This is the classic and most common multi-vehicle motorcycle collision.
Lane-change and blind-spot collisions. A motorcycle fits entirely inside a driver’s blind spot.
Rear-end impacts. Motorcycles stop faster than following drivers expect.
Distracted and impaired driving.
Unsafe entry from driveways and parking lots.
Unsafe passing on two-lane arterials and canyon routes.
Road defects. Where a public entity failed to maintain the roadway, a dangerous condition claim may apply, subject to the six-month claim deadline in Government Code Section 911.2.
Common Motorcycle Injuries
Traumatic brain injury, even with a helmet, from rotational forces and secondary impacts. Spinal cord injury including paralysis. Road rash requiring debridement and skin grafting, which is not a minor injury and leaves permanent scarring. Fractures of the legs, pelvis, wrists and collarbone. Internal injuries. Amputation from crush trauma. Burns from hot components or fuel ignition. Facial and dental trauma.
High-Risk Locations for Riders in West Covina
- Interstate 10 through the city, particularly the congested weave sections
- State Route 60 along the southern edge
- Azusa Avenue at Amar Road and along the retail corridor
- Vincent Avenue at Workman Avenue and Garvey Avenue
- Sunset Avenue at Merced Avenue
- Glendora Avenue and Citrus Street
- Barranca Street and Cameron Avenue
- Retail center driveways along the Azusa Avenue corridor
Countering Bias Against Riders
Adjusters and jurors carry assumptions about motorcyclists: that the rider was speeding, splitting recklessly, or asking for it. Most riders are commuters and professionals, and in most multi-vehicle motorcycle collisions the other driver violated the rider’s right of way.
Our approach replaces assumption with evidence: scene documentation, reconstruction analysis, sight-line and perception-reaction work, and clear presentation of the traffic violation that caused the collision. We also make sure the full extent of the injury is documented, because the visible road rash is rarely the worst of it.
Motorcycle Accident Results Reported by the Firm
- $750,000 settlement: motorcycle accident matter.
- $250,000 settlement: motorcycle accident matter.
Past results do not guarantee, warrant or predict the outcome of your case. Outcomes depend on the facts, evidence, applicable law and circumstances of each matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in California?
Yes. Vehicle Code Section 21658.1 defines lane splitting and authorizes the CHP to develop safety guidelines. Riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic is lawful, which matters on the I-10 every weekday.
If I was lane splitting, am I automatically at fault?
No. Lane splitting is legal. Fault turns on whether each party acted reasonably, and a driver who changes lanes without signaling or checking mirrors remains responsible.
Do I have to wear a helmet?
Yes. Vehicle Code Section 27803 requires a DOT-compliant helmet for all riders and passengers.
What if I was not wearing one?
It may reduce recovery for head injuries under comparative fault. It does not bar the claim and has no bearing on injuries a helmet would not have prevented.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California applies pure comparative fault.
What compensation is available?
Medical care past and future, lost income, diminished earning capacity, permanent impairment, disfigurement, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Contact a West Covina Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Call 818-530-0000 or start with a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
