Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Accident in Valley Village?
You were in a motorcycle crash in Valley Village, and you need to know who is responsible for your injuries. The answer depends on what caused the crash. In most cases, another driver is at fault. But liability can also fall on government entities, property owners, and even motorcycle manufacturers.
The Other Driver
The most common cause of motorcycle accidents in Valley Village is another driver's negligence. Drivers fail to see motorcycles because of their smaller profile, and this failure leads to crashes that would not have occurred between two cars.
The most common driver negligence scenarios in Valley Village motorcycle crashes include:
Left-turn collisions. A driver turning left at Magnolia Blvd or Laurel Canyon Blvd fails to see an oncoming motorcycle and turns directly into its path. These are the most dangerous motorcycle crash type because the impact is often head-on or broadside at speed. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21801, the turning driver must yield to all oncoming traffic.
Failure to check mirrors or blind spots. A driver on Burbank Blvd changes lanes without checking for a motorcycle already occupying the lane. This is especially common in heavy traffic where motorcycles are lane-splitting between vehicles.
Rear-end collisions. A distracted driver hits a motorcycle from behind at a stoplight on Laurel Canyon Blvd. Even at low speeds, the impact can throw a rider from the bike and cause serious injury.
Door strikes. A driver or passenger in a parked car opens their door into the path of a motorcycle on a side street near Valley Village Park or Colfax Square. This is called "dooring" and is a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 22517.
Right-of-way violations. A driver pulls out of a driveway, parking lot, or side street onto a Valley Village road without yielding to a motorcycle that has the right of way.
Government Entities
Road conditions that are minor inconveniences for cars can be deadly for motorcyclists. Potholes, uneven pavement, loose gravel, oil slicks, and inadequate road markings are all hazards that can cause a motorcycle to lose control.
If a dangerous road condition on a Valley Village street maintained by the City of Los Angeles caused or contributed to your crash, the city may be liable. Common government liability scenarios include potholes or pavement deterioration on Laurel Canyon Blvd, faded or missing lane markings that cause confusion, loose gravel or debris in travel lanes after construction work, and malfunctioning traffic signals at Valley Village intersections.
Government claims require filing a tort claim within six months of the accident, far shorter than the standard two-year statute of limitations. If a road condition played any role in your crash, contact an attorney immediately to preserve this claim.
Lane-Splitting and Liability
California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1 allows motorcyclists to lane-split when it is safe and prudent. If you were lane-splitting on Laurel Canyon Blvd or Magnolia Blvd when a car changed lanes into you, the car driver is likely at fault for failing to check before changing lanes.
However, insurance adjusters will scrutinize your speed and lane position during lane-splitting. If you were splitting at excessive speed or in conditions that made it unsafe, you may be assigned partial fault. California's comparative fault system reduces your recovery by your fault percentage but does not eliminate it.
The key evidence in lane-splitting crashes includes your speed relative to traffic flow, whether the car signaled before changing lanes, and the width of the gap between vehicles. Witness testimony and any available surveillance footage are critical.
Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers
If a defective motorcycle component caused or contributed to the crash, the manufacturer can be liable under California product liability law. Common defects include tire blowouts, brake failures, throttle malfunctions, and defective fuel systems. These claims require technical investigation and expert analysis but can provide an additional source of compensation.
Bars and Restaurants (Dram Shop Liability)
If the driver who hit you was intoxicated and had been over-served at a Valley Village bar or restaurant, the establishment may share liability. California's dram shop liability is more limited than in some states, but there are circumstances where a business that serves alcohol to an obviously intoxicated patron can be held responsible for the patron's subsequent actions.
Comparative Fault in Motorcycle Cases
California uses pure comparative fault, which means your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility but is never eliminated entirely. If you were 20% at fault for lane-splitting at an excessive speed, you still recover 80% of your damages from the other driver.
Insurance adjusters aggressively assign fault to motorcyclists, often citing speed, lane-splitting, or alleged failure to take evasive action. Your attorney's job is to present evidence that minimizes your fault percentage and maximizes the other party's responsibility.
Building the Liability Case
Establishing liability in a Valley Village motorcycle crash requires the LAPD accident report, witness statements, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, motorcycle and vehicle damage analysis, and potentially accident reconstruction expert opinions. If the case goes to litigation, it will be heard at the Van Nuys Courthouse West.
Our Valley Village motorcycle accident lawyers investigate every angle of liability and pursue all responsible parties to maximize your recovery.
Why Motorcycle Accident Claims Are Treated Differently
Motorcycle accident victims in Valley Village 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 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Magnolia Blvd, and Burbank 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 Valley Presbyterian Hospital 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.
Contact our Valley Village personal injury team for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Injured in Valley Village? Talk to a local attorney, no fee unless we win.
Learn about our Valley Village personal injury services →
Talk to a senior attorney directly.
