Motorcycle Accidents matters in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills draws riders to its scenic routes, from the curving canyon roads above Sunset to the boulevards that connect toward the 405. Those same roads mix tight curves, blind driveways, and luxury traffic with drivers who are often distracted, looking for parking, or unfamiliar with the area, and that combination is dangerous for anyone on two wheels.
Motorcycle injuries tend to be severe because a rider has no surrounding cage for protection, yet riders also face an unfair assumption that they must have been reckless. Overcoming that bias takes evidence and a lawyer who knows the law that protects riders.
Why motorcycle crashes happen here
- Left-turning drivers who fail to see oncoming riders on Sunset Blvd and major boulevards
- Curving canyon roads above Sunset with limited sightlines and blind driveways
- Distracted and parking-focused drivers in dense commercial blocks
- High-speed transitions to and from the nearby 405
- Door openings and sudden lane changes in valet-heavy areas
Lane-splitting is legal in California
California is one of the states that expressly permits lane-splitting. Under Vehicle Code section 21658.1, a motorcyclist may ride between rows of stopped or moving vehicles, and doing so does not by itself make a rider at fault. Insurers still try to use lane-splitting to shift blame, so it is important to show that the rider operated reasonably under the conditions. Because California uses pure comparative negligence, even a rider found partly at fault can still recover, reduced by their share.
Injuries and case types
- Road rash and severe abrasions
- Fractures and orthopedic injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, even with a helmet
- Spinal cord injuries and long-term disability
- Wrongful death in the most serious crashes
Compensation after a serious crash
California law allows recovery of economic damages such as medical bills, future surgeries and rehabilitation, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity, along with non-economic damages for pain, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Because rider injuries are often catastrophic, documenting the full arc of future care matters. We make no promises about amounts or outcomes, but we work to present the complete picture of what the crash cost you.
Deadlines, courts, and how we help
California generally gives you two years to file a motorcycle injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Beverly Hills cases are filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with Westside matters commonly heard at the Santa Monica Courthouse or the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. From our Glendale office about fifteen miles away, MMG Law Firm investigates the scene, secures any available video, and pushes back on rider-blame tactics. We offer free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we take cases on contingency, so you owe no fee unless we win.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with motorcycle accidents
Riders walk in facing a built-in bias, and Mihran M. Ghazaryan's job is to dismantle it. He documents the mechanics of the crash — often with reconstruction — to show what actually happened, presents your injuries in full, and pushes back hard when an insurer tries to blame the rider. You deal directly with the attorney building that narrative, not a rotating intake team.
Types of motorcycle accidents we handle
Left-turn and right-of-way collisions
The classic cause: a car turning across the rider's path. Witness statements and timing analysis are key.
Lane-change and unsafe-merging crashes
California lane-splitting is legal — but reasonable. We document compliance with CHP guidelines to defeat shared-fault claims.
Road-defect and dooring claims
Government-entity claims have a six-month presentation deadline. Dooring claims involve California Vehicle Code §22517.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every motorcycle accident claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Get medical care immediately — adrenaline and gear can hide serious injury.
- Photograph the bike, your gear, and the scene before anything moves.
- Preserve your gear — helmet, jacket, gloves — without cleaning it.
- Identify any witnesses; bystanders often vanish quickly after motorcycle crashes.
- Call us before talking to either insurer.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.