Motorcycle Accident on Reseda Blvd: What Riders Need to Know
If you were in a motorcycle crash on Reseda Blvd, you are dealing with one of the more dangerous stretches of road for riders in the central San Fernando Valley. This article covers why this road is hazardous for motorcyclists, what to do in the hours ahead, and what your legal options look like.
Why Reseda Blvd Is Dangerous for Motorcyclists
Reseda Blvd is a major north-south arterial running through the heart of Reseda with heavy traffic, multiple signalized intersections, and commercial properties on both sides. The road carries cars, trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles, and it intersects with busy east-west corridors like Sherman Way and Vanowen St. These intersections create constant conflict points for motorcyclists.
The most common motorcycle crashes on Reseda Blvd involve left-turning vehicles. A car making a left across oncoming traffic at the Sherman Way or Vanowen St intersection fails to see the approaching motorcycle and turns directly into its path. At 35 to 45 mph, the rider has almost no reaction time. The impact is direct and the injuries are severe.
Other common scenarios include right-hook collisions where a driver turns right across a motorcycle's path, rear-end crashes at red lights, and door-opening incidents along the commercial strip.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash on Reseda Blvd
Get medical attention immediately. Go to Northridge Hospital at 18300 Roscoe Blvd in Northridge. It is minutes from Reseda Blvd and equipped to handle the orthopedic, neurological, and soft tissue injuries that motorcycle crashes produce. A same-day medical record is essential evidence.
Call LAPD. Reseda Blvd is a city street, so LAPD handles the investigation. Request a police report and get the report number. If the officer issues a citation to the other driver, that supports your liability case.
Document the scene. Photograph the intersection, vehicles, road surface, traffic signals, skid marks, debris, and your injuries. Note cross streets and business names that might have security cameras.
Get witness information. Reseda Blvd is a busy road. Other drivers, pedestrians, and people at nearby businesses may have seen the crash. Get names and phone numbers.
Do not talk to the other driver's insurance company. Decline to give a recorded statement and refer them to your attorney.
Preserve your gear. Keep your helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots as they are. Damage to your gear is evidence of impact force.
California Law and Your Rights
California treats motorcyclists the same as any other vehicle operator. You have the same right to the road. Under CVC 22350, every driver must operate at safe speed. Under CVC 22107, drivers must signal and ensure safety before changing lanes. Under CVC 21801, left-turning drivers must yield to oncoming traffic.
When a driver violates these rules and causes a motorcycle crash on Reseda Blvd, that violation is evidence of negligence. California's pure comparative fault system also protects riders who may share some responsibility. If a jury finds you 15% at fault, your recovery is reduced by 15% but not eliminated.
What Compensation Is Available
Medical expenses: Emergency care at Northridge Hospital, surgeries, imaging, physical therapy, and future treatment.
Lost wages: Income lost during recovery and, if permanent, lost earning capacity.
Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and impact on daily life. California does not cap these damages.
Property damage: Repair or replacement of your motorcycle and damaged gear.
Cases involving motorcycle accidents on Reseda Blvd have produced settlements ranging from $150,000 to $550,000 depending on injury severity and insurance coverage.
Why You Need an Attorney
Insurance companies treat motorcyclists differently. They assume jury bias against riders and use that assumption to lowball offers. A Reseda motorcycle accident attorney who knows this road and has handled cases filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse West can build a case that maximizes your recovery.
Why Motorcycle Accident Claims Are Treated Differently
Motorcycle accident victims in Reseda face unique challenges that car accident victims do not. Insurance companies and juries often carry an implicit bias against motorcyclists, viewing them as risk-takers who contributed to their own injuries simply by choosing to ride. This bias affects how claims are evaluated and how settlements are offered.
Crashes on Reseda Blvd, Sherman Way, Vanowen St, and Victory Blvd involving motorcycles produce more severe injuries than comparable car accidents because motorcyclists lack the structural protection of an enclosed vehicle. Common motorcycle accident injuries include road rash, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and limb amputations. Treatment at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills or Northridge Hospital Medical Center is often just the beginning of a long recovery process involving multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
California is one of the few states that permits lane splitting, where motorcyclists ride between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. While lane splitting is legal under California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, insurance adjusters frequently argue that lane splitting contributed to the accident. An attorney who handles motorcycle cases understands how to counter this argument and protect your claim from unfair fault assignments.
Helmet use also affects motorcycle cases. California requires all motorcyclists to wear DOT-approved helmets. If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your crash, the defense will argue that your head injuries would have been less severe with a helmet. This argument can reduce your damages even if the helmet would not have prevented your specific injuries. If your case reaches Van Nuys Courthouse West, having an attorney who can address these motorcycle-specific issues is essential.
Why Motorcycle Accident Claims Are Treated Differently
Motorcycle accident victims in Reseda face unique challenges that car accident victims do not. Insurance companies and juries often carry an implicit bias against motorcyclists, viewing them as risk-takers who contributed to their own injuries simply by choosing to ride. This bias affects how claims are evaluated and how settlements are offered.
Crashes on Reseda Blvd, Sherman Way, Vanowen St, and Victory Blvd involving motorcycles produce more severe injuries than comparable car accidents because motorcyclists lack the structural protection of an enclosed vehicle. Common motorcycle accident injuries include road rash, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and limb amputations. Treatment at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills or Northridge Hospital Medical Center is often just the beginning of a long recovery process involving multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
California is one of the few states that permits lane splitting, where motorcyclists ride between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. While lane splitting is legal under California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, insurance adjusters frequently argue that lane splitting contributed to the accident. An attorney who handles motorcycle cases understands how to counter this argument and protect your claim from unfair fault assignments.
Helmet use also affects motorcycle cases. California requires all motorcyclists to wear DOT-approved helmets. If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your crash, the defense will argue that your head injuries would have been less severe with a helmet. This argument can reduce your damages even if the helmet would not have prevented your specific injuries. If your case reaches Van Nuys Courthouse West, having an attorney who can address these motorcycle-specific issues is essential.
L&F Brown represents motorcycle accident victims throughout Reseda on contingency. Visit our Reseda personal injury page or call us today.
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