Motorcycles have been part of the Sunset Strip’s identity for as long as the Strip has had one. Riders still run Sunset Boulevard on weekend evenings, commute Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue daily, and use Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Kings Road as routes over the hill.
West Hollywood is also close to the worst possible environment for a motorcycle: dense traffic, constant lane changes, cars pulling out of angled and curbside parking, valet stands, and drivers whose attention is on finding an address rather than on the road. A rider has no cage and no crumple zone. Everything the vehicle does not absorb, the rider does.
Djougourian Law Corp represents injured riders across Los Angeles County.
Understanding Motorcycle Risk
Motorcycles account for a small share of registered vehicles and 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 behavior.
Local conditions that matter:
Left turns across the rider’s path at Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Boulevard and Melrose Avenue intersections. This is the single most common multi-vehicle motorcycle collision.
Drivers entering from curbside parking on Fountain Avenue, Sweetzer Avenue and the residential grid, frequently without checking.
Opening doors. A motorcycle passing a line of parked cars on Melrose or Robertson has no room to avoid a door.
Valet and rideshare stops. Vehicles stopping abruptly in a travel lane on Sunset or Santa Monica.
Impaired drivers at night, in a district where that risk is concentrated.
Surface hazards. Utility cuts, steel plates, expansion joints and construction debris. These are minor in a car and can be catastrophic on two wheels.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Left-turn violations. A driver turns across an oncoming rider, either not seeing them or misjudging closing speed.
Lane-change and blind-spot collisions. A motorcycle fits entirely inside a driver’s blind spot, and a lane change without a head check sideswipes the rider.
Dooring. Prohibited by Vehicle Code Section 22517, which makes it unlawful to open a door into moving traffic.
Unsafe entry from driveways and parking structures. Sight lines from subterranean garage exits along Sunset and Santa Monica are poor.
Rear-end impacts. Motorcycles stop faster than following drivers expect.
Distracted and impaired driving.
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 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
- Sunset Boulevard through the Strip, particularly Doheny Drive to Crescent Heights Boulevard
- Santa Monica Boulevard at San Vicente, La Cienega and Robertson
- Fountain Avenue, narrow and lined with parked vehicles
- La Cienega Boulevard between Beverly and Sunset
- Melrose Avenue and Robertson Boulevard retail blocks
- Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Kings Road as hillside routes
- Fairfax Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard
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 injuries are fully documented, because the visible road rash is rarely the worst of it.
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.
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 Hollywood Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Call 818-530-0000 or start with a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Related: Brain and Head Injury Attorney in West Hollywood | Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in West Hollywood | Car Accident Attorney in West Hollywood
